Buying kids shoes in Chile: Children’s shoe size conversion charts and how to avoid throwing your computer out of the window

Today I nearly threw my computer out of the window. I’d been trying to buy shoes for my child online and couldn’t figure out the sizing.

Why does every country insist on different sizing systems? To mess with our minds? To make us buy more shoes because, let’s face it, we’ll never have the time or the energy to return them to the store?

I just can’t face taking my kids to the mall for new shoes, but I do feel guilty that their feet look like circus clowns / Japanese bound geishas.

I asked round friends and it turns out Chile has its own system – Chile sizes are one size below European sizes.

As for measuring your kids’ feet, you’re going to need a foot measuring gauge tool. We bought ours in the UK from a store called Clarks (here it is), but similar options are available on Chilean online marketplace MercadoLibre.cl

There are also PDFs you can download online and get your kids to stand on, but unless you have a musical statues champion, it isn’t easy to keep your child still.

I also have it on good word that shoes tend to come up small for many brands, so if in doubt err on the generous side of the sizing.

We’ve ordered a few pairs here in Chile, here’s hoping they fit. Yes, Cinderella, you can go to the ball!