The welly check: are your children's wellies still the right size?

How many of us have looked out of the window, seen the rain, grabbed the wellies from the cupboard and pushed them onto little feet without a second thought, because we're trying to get out of the door for school or an activity? Those children's wellies may not have been worn for six months. In that time a small child's feet can grow a lot, and the youngest can't always tell you their wellies are too small. Busy parents don't check every time. I know I didn't.

Start with the experts

If you haven't come across The Footwear Hub yet, please look them up. It's a not-for-profit directory of independent children's shoe fitters, set up this year by specialists who care deeply about children's feet, and its 53 member shops are on a mission to help parents. Their Fit Well, Grow Well campaign focuses on the under-5s, the age when feet are most vulnerable and children are least likely to say something hurts. This week they asked the Government, ahead of the Budget, for national guidance for parents on children's foot health, recognised training for shoe fitters, and support for the specialist shops that do this work. As co-founder Tanya Marriott put it: "Every week, fitters across the country see children in shoes that are too small, with parents who had no idea." You can find a fitter near you at footwearhub.org.

Check the fit

Children's feet grow fast, but not steadily. As Nadia Arden-Scott, one of the founders of The Footwear Hub, told me: "How quickly do children's feet grow? How long is a piece of string? Growth is sporadic and varies from child to child and age group, so a good rule of thumb about checking the fit of their footwear is once every 10 to 12 weeks. This does not mean they will need new shoes, but it will give an indication of growth. A specialist fitter will never sell you shoes you do not need."

If you can't get to a fitter, Nadia's signs to look out for are red marks on the toes, or socks leaving a bigger mark than usual; becoming clumsier and tripping more (that's height as well as feet); refusing to wear shoes or persistently taking them off; complaints of tired or sore feet; and difficulty getting them on or doing them up.

With wellies, look for about a thumb's width of room at the toe, and no more. Buying a size up so they last longer lets the foot slide about and rub, so watch for redness at the heel and ankle. And remember, wellies are made for puddles and play, not a whole day. Pop a pair of breathable shoes in the bag for indoors, and let wellies dry out between wears.

Choose the welly

Look for natural rubber over PVC. Natural rubber comes from trees, it's renewable and it breaks down far better at the end of its life, while PVC is very hard to recycle. Since 2020 the law has restricted the chemicals used to soften PVC to tiny amounts, but natural rubber avoids the question altogether.

Some brands doing it well for children: Frugi's Puddle Buster wellies are 100% natural rubber with a soft cotton lining; Little Green Radicals made the first Fair Rubber wellies for children, paying a premium so the people who tap the rubber are paid fairly; Start-rite's children's wellies are natural rubber and PVC-free; and Muddy Puddles says its Puddlestomper wellies are made from FSC-certified natural rubber. But I'll be honest: natural rubber is better for the planet, but no welly lets a foot breathe. Which is why the sock matters so much.

The sock is the secret

Always put socks on with wellies, and make them natural fibres. NHS podiatry advice is that wool or cotton are best because they let the foot breathe, while man-made fibres make feet sweat, and damp feet rub. Lots of welly liners are polyester fleece. They're cosy, but they don't let the foot breathe, so a natural-fibre welly sock is the better choice. Choose socks that fit well, not too thick or too tight, and change them if they get damp. There are some lovely options, from Cambridge Baby's organic merino boot socks to PITTCH's children's merino boot socks, made in England.

When they're outgrown

Most children grow out of their wellies long before they wear them out, so pass them on. South Lanarkshire Council has run a Welly Swap at its libraries, where families hand in clean, outgrown wellies and take home a bigger pair, saving money and keeping good wellies out of landfill. I'd love to see one in every town. Before you pass a pair on, be honest with yourself: lightly worn and clean, swap or sell them; worn down at the heel or split, recycle them. Hunter, for example, takes old boots back and turns them into playground surfacing. We all want to protect children's feet, so we should all make the right call on their behalf.

What this means for you: if you make or sell children's wellies, the rainy-morning scramble is an everyday problem you can help solve. I haven't yet found anyone pairing a welly trade-in with a fit check, so be the first. Invite families to bring back the outgrown pair, measure their child's feet, and give them money off the next size: you protect children's feet, bring families back at exactly the right time, and keep good wellies in use. Send a friendly "time for a welly check?" reminder when the weather turns. Sell natural-fibre welly socks at the till. And design for the end of life from the start: natural rubber, removable insoles, and a take-back promise printed on the box.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How often should I check my child's welly size?

The Footwear Hub suggests checking the fit every 10 to 12 weeks, because growth comes in spurts and varies from child to child. Always check before the first wear of the season, leave about a thumb's width at the toe, and watch for red marks, more tripping, or a struggle to get them on.

What socks should children wear with wellies?

Natural fibres such as wool or cotton, because they let the foot breathe. Man-made fibres and polyester fleece liners can make feet sweaty, which leads to rubbing. Change socks if they get damp.

Are natural rubber wellies better than PVC?

For the planet, yes: natural rubber is renewable and breaks down far better than PVC, which is hard to recycle. Neither lets the foot breathe, so fit and natural-fibre socks matter just as much.

If you'd like help designing a welly trade-in or take-back scheme, or an introduction to the right partner to make it happen, just get in touch with The Nest. That's what we're here for.

The Nest News lands every Tuesday: three insights shaping maternity, baby and children's products, and the actions you can take. Sign up at thenest.uk.com

Build BETTER. Grow CONSCIOUSLY.