Walking barefoot and feeling the world with your feet is not only fun for children, but is also the best thing for the development of their little feet. The barefoot shoes from POLOLO are ideal because they recreate this barefoot feeling. So-called minimal or barefoot shoes for children have a wide toe box, are made of breathable, ecologically and health-friendly materials, have a very thin sole and no drop - i.e. no height difference between the heel and the ball of the foot. Barefoot shoes allow children to feel the ground particularly well, so they constantly receive new impulses and their development is promoted. They are also very light and robust. That's why barefoot shoes are a good choice for all occasions - at the same time they promote optimal development of the feet.

Children's feet are not reduced adult feet because they are very soft and easily deformable. They still need to develop undisturbed, be trained regularly and need a lot of time to fully mature - well into early adulthood. The baby's foot skeleton still consists largely of cartilage tissue, which is only gradually being replaced by bone.

After birth, the feet grow in short spurt-like intervals until half of the final foot length is reached in infancy. The baby foot is a constantly developing system made up of cartilage/bones, ligaments, muscles and various joints and tendons that together ensure the mobility of the foot. It grows much faster than the other parts of the body - for little ones, growth is up to two centimeters per year, which can correspond to three shoe sizes. From the age of five until puberty, feet grow by an average of one centimeter per year.

We adjusted and standardized our sizes in 2021, so the shoes are usually normal.

A shoe size on the box or the shoe itself is not always 100 percent informative across different models or manufacturers/brands and is more of a guide. There is currently no binding standardization for shoe sizes in Europe. Around four size systems for shoes have currently been established worldwide - but it's not that easy given the many different models, whether sandals, winter shoes or low shoes, etc.

In Europe the “Parisian stitch” is mostly – but not always – used:

An EU shoe size corresponds to 2/3 cm (6,67 mm) in length.
The inside length of a shoe with size 30, for example, is then calculated as follows:

Shoe size 30 multiplied by 2 = 60,
then divide this result by 3: 60 : 3 = 20
(The number 20 stands for the inside length in cm).

It is still possible that, for example, this size 30 is written on the outside of a shoe, but only in the rarest of cases are the expected 20 cm actually found on the inside. According to experts*, children's shoes tend to be shorter and only rarely longer.

For our POLOLOs we have shown you size tables for single and double sizes on a website {https://www.pololo.com/groessentablen/}. You can see very clearly what the inside length of the shoe is. Remember: winter shoes that are lined tend to be smaller due to the lining, sandals that are open at the front tend to be larger.

* independent Austrian research team “Children’s feet and children’s shoes”

Unfortunately, research by experts has shown that most official shoe sizes on children's shoes can be very different:
If you choose a shoe that is, for example, a size 30 from one brand, it is quite possible to get a smaller number 30 from another brand, which is more like a 29.

Simply using the official shoe sizes as a guide is therefore not reliable enough - it is better to measure the length yourself in millimeters. POLOLO used to be too small: We therefore adjusted our sizes in 2021.

The true EU shoe size can then be calculated from your own measurement result (here e.g. 200 mm) as follows:

Multiply length in mm by 3: 200 * 3 = 600,
then divide this number by 20: 600 : 20 = 30.
The 200 millimeters inside length of a shoe measured here as an example corresponds to the true EU shoe size 30.

We have you on one website for our POLOLOs Size charts for single and double sizes pictured.

When buying children's shoes, it should be noted that the inside length should be at least 12 millimeters larger than the feet so that the toes and feet have enough room.

• Between the ages of one and three, children's feet can be expected to grow by an average of approximately 1,5 millimeters per month.
• The feet of three to six year old children then grow by an average of one millimeter per month.
• Between the ages of six and ten, the monthly growth in length of children's feet is a little less than one millimeter.

* Average values ​​- according to researchers, only 2,5 percent of children have greater linear growth in their feet.

Children's foot experts * examined the position of the big toe in kindergarten children and found that only 24 percent of them still have straight big toes.

They were then able to scientifically prove a statistical connection between shoes that were too short and slanted big toes: A clear connection emerged for both street shoes and slippers - children's shoes that are too short can damage feet!

* independent Austrian research team “Children’s feet and children’s shoes”

Sandals that are open at the front have the great advantage that they do not squash your toes. Actually, such sandals could have less than twelve millimeters of play. However, experts recommend the following: Provided that the children's feet can be securely secured in the sandals with the straps, they should still have a 12 mm clearance - for the following reasons:

• Occasionally the front edges of the sandals are quite sharp - if there is not enough room, the toes will slip over this edge every time.
• Children's feet continue to grow - and to ensure that the sandals fit for a few months, the 12 mm clearance is ideal.

You should note that sandals initially require small children to have a kind of training in how to wear them, because when they wear sandals for the first time, coordination problems can sometimes appear clumsy: suddenly walking no longer works as well as with open shoes are initially unfamiliar - they hang loosely on the feet and even become a hindrance at first. Experience shows that this happens very quickly: the children learn to walk properly even with sandals within a very short time.

1. The thumb test

With removable insoles: This allows you to determine whether the shoe length approximately fits or not - namely "as measured by your thumb". With POLOLO children's shoes you can usually remove the insoles. Our insoles are always adjusted in length according to each size. Please place your child on the insoles and see whether there is still room for a thumb at the front. Your child should stand upright and relaxed with their shoes on. Use your thumb to see whether it fits between the longest toe - which doesn't always have to be the big toe - and the tip of the insole. If so, the shoe should be long enough and the foot should have enough room to move.
With this method, you should always check that the toes are elongated. To do this, you can, for example, press lightly on the upper forefoot with your hand while measuring with the thumb of your other hand. Basically, both feet should always be measured.
According to a series of measurements by experts *, an average thumb has a width of approx. 18 millimeters - so the thumb test is ideal for new shoes, provided it is used correctly (see above).

* independent Austrian research team “Children’s feet and children’s shoes”

2. Making your own template

This is a simple method to make sure that your little foot actually has enough space in the shoe:
On the POLOLO website “Children’s feet” Franziska shows you in a video how you can easily make one. To do this, it is best to place the child upright and relaxed, barefoot, on a piece of paper in the afternoon.
Then the outermost point on the heel and longest toe is marked and the outline of the foot is traced. The distance between the heel and this end point is then measured with a ruler to determine the length of the foot. This template can then be cut out and applied directly to a removed insole, for example. It is then important to note that a clearance of approx. 12 mm or a maximum of 17 mm is taken into account.

Children's foot experts * investigated the question of whether children can actually feel whether their shoes fit or are too short. Extensive series of measurements have shown that there are always children who wear shoes that are four to five sizes too short.

As part of our own research project, a shoe test street was then built for children:
They were given a shoe that was much too short on one foot and a shoe that fit perfectly on the other foot. The children then walked a few steps in them and were then asked whether these shoes fit them. The astonishing result was that children cannot yet clearly define the fit of shoes and even describe shoes that are far too short as fitting. That's why regularly checking the fit of children's shoes is so important for foot health.

* independent Austrian research team “Children’s feet and children’s shoes”

The little ones only need their first pair of sturdy shoes when they are already running outside and their feet need to be protected against cold, dirt and injuries. Otherwise, children should walk barefoot or in soft leather shoes whenever the surface and climate permit. Learning shoes that fit around the foot like a second skin are a great alternative to healthy barefoot walking. Barefoot shoes or toddler shoes are just right - they give the feet the freedom of movement that is needed for healthy development: like a non-slip second skin, they nestle warmly and protectively around small children's feet.

The soles of the selected shoes should be soft, light and flexible in order to have as little impact on the natural development of the feet as possible. Pay attention to a non-slip sole and a round design, which helps to avoid stumbling and stumbling! The materials should be free of harmful substances, breathable and uncoated.

Children's foot experts advise parents to take their time with their first shoes. The first steps are by no means a reason to rush into buying children's shoes!

Small feet develop best without sturdy shoes. Otherwise they should be light, flexible Barefoot shoes which protect against cold and problematic surfaces.

Unless there is an explicit orthopedic need, children's shoes should in no way have a shaping or supportive effect - instead, they should be as light and flexible as possible. Ideally, healthy children learn to walk, run, jump and hop barefoot.

Baby walking shoes are just shoes that accompany you as you learn to walk: no more! They should be soft, flexible and as little impactful or supportive as possible. If your foot is healthy, you don't need a footbed or something similar. It's the same with the POLOLOs.

In no case do walking shoes shorten the actual process of learning to walk - they can only do this in the form of light, flexible shoes Barefoot shoes accompany protectively if weather conditions and the nature of the surface require this.

Unlike shoes for adults, which are sometimes worn for years and wear out according to individual wearing habits, children's shoes can only be worn for a few months in the first few years of life until they are too small - so it is a good idea to use older shoes, for example siblings to continue to use. This makes both economic and ecological sense because it protects your own finances and helps to reduce the use of valuable resources.

The following must be taken into account when reusing used children's shoes:

• As with new shoes, care must generally be taken to ensure they fit correctly.
• If, in exceptional cases, signs of wear are visible - for example, the sole of the shoe has worn off on one side in the heel area and the shoe therefore has a side impact - it should no longer be worn.

POLOLO even offers extra replaceable ones Insoles so that you can freshen up your shoes a bit and put in a new sole for the next child.

Experts have found that adult feet grow by around four percent larger over the course of the day - meaning they lengthen by a few millimeters and become approximately one centimeter wider.

There is currently no comparative data for children's feet. However, experience shows that feet also fluctuate during the day - which is why experts recommend adjusting shoes in the second half of the day.

This is a very practical method - but in order to achieve the right result, it must be ensured that the length of the insole actually corresponds to the inside length of the children's shoes. If it is too short, it could slide back and forth in the shoe, but if it is longer, it will bend at the front of the shoe.

With POLOLO insoles you can easily check the fit directly:
The heel must be placed exactly at the rear edge of the insole. It should be noted that the heel in the shoe is about one centimeter in front of the rear edge of the insole. The leeway can then be measured from the longest toe to the end of the insole: If there is 17 to XNUMX millimeters of leeway, the shoe fits.

This is easily possible (but it is better if the child comes with you) - the length of the child's feet must be determined in advance at home. It's best to use a self-made stencil:
On the POLOLO website “Children’s feet” Franziska shows you in a video how you can easily make one. To do this, it is best to place the child upright and relaxed, barefoot, on a piece of paper in the afternoon.
Then the outermost point on the heel and longest toe is marked and the outline of the foot is traced. The distance between the heel and this end point is then measured with a ruler to determine the length of the foot. This template can then be cut out and brought to us in the POLOLO ShowRoom.

When giving advice, our team ensures that the minimum clearance of twelve mm and the maximum of 17 mm are taken into account when selecting the size.

But the fit doesn't just refer to the length, the width and heel are also important. Therefore, it is better if the child comes with you, at least when making the first purchase. Of course, the shoes you choose must also fit well around the ball of your foot and heel. Once you have found your favorite model, you can buy the next one in the next size, even without a child, and try it on again at home to see if it fits.

Unfortunately, the topic of “width of children’s shoes” has not yet been sufficiently researched: There is therefore no scientifically based knowledge of how wide shoes should actually be in order to fit properly. In addition, there is still no easy and good way to reliably and easily check the width (or width - i.e. the circumference in the ball area) of children's shoes.

Although there are providers who offer children's shoes in different widths, initial reviews by experts have shown that - similar to length - the work here is not always reliable enough: instead of actually offering shoes in different widths, they are often all the same wide, but different widths!
What seems a bit confusing now simply means the following: These shoes are made with different heights in the ball area - which is by no means a healthy solution, since children's feet are of different widths.

Until this problem is solved satisfactorily, all that remains for now is the somewhat laborious recommendation of trying out different models with the child. It can be seen that there are children's shoes of different widths on the inside. With a lot of patience you should be able to find a shoe that fits well in width. However, this check is time-consuming because the material can only very rarely be lifted off the foot a little. But the width can be finely regulated using lacing or a Velcro fastener. Your trusted shoe retailer or, for example, our team in the POLOLO ShowRoom will be happy to advise you!

It has been proven that tanning with vegetable substances was already in use in the 4th millennium BC. was known in ancient Egypt. Vegetable tanning was the common method of producing leather for many generations - today only around ten percent of all leather is vegetable tanned. The tannins contained in plants, which actually serve to ward off animal predators, are used as active ingredients. Around 300 different plant species worldwide are used to produce tannins.
The leather used by POLOLO is tanned with parts of the Valonea oak and tara fruit extracts. Vegetable-tanned leather is very kind to the skin, while uncoated leather is particularly breathable.

Doctors estimate that there are already 500.000 chromate contact allergy sufferers in Germany and the number will continue to increase. A chromate allergy is an overreaction of the body's own immune system: there is a risk of skin damage in the form of irritation, eczema and, in the worst case, ulcers. In the first phase there is a risk of confusion with athlete's foot, which is why the allergy may not be recognized straight away. If exposed to the skin for a long time, chromate can even have a carcinogenic effect.

Not all chrome is the same: that hexavalent chromium (Chromate) is highly toxic and carcinogenic. The health effects of chromium depend on its value and concentration. Chromium(III) compounds have low toxicity because they are difficult for the body to absorb. On the other hand, chromium(VI) compounds, which can be formed during tanning with chromium, are very toxic.

Based on the frequency of sensitization, chromium(VI) is one of the most important allergens.

Chromium ranks third on the Blacksmith Institute in New York's list of top toxic threats. It has been proven that 3 million people are affected by health risks from chromium. 7,3% of the places contaminated by chromium are in South Asia. The high number of polluted sites in this region of the world is attributed to the high density of tanneries, many of which have inadequate environmental protection measures. Overall, the number of people suffering from environmental pollution from chromium is estimated at 75-13 million. Chromium(VI) can cause different types of cancer. Depending on the route of absorption, it can cause lung cancer, cancer of the digestive system or skin. The World Health Organization (WHO) diagnosed such cancers in 17 tannery workers in the Hazaribagh region of Bangladesh. In addition, the immune system can be damaged and reproductive ability and embryonic development can be disrupted. Although chromium(III) is considered to be less harmful to health than chromium(VI), studies in India have shown that people who permanently, e.g. B. in a professional environment, exposed to chromium (III), damage to the lymphocyte DNA.

In the list of the most polluted places in the world compiled by the “Polluted Place Initiative”, the Ranipet region in India is in the “Top 10”. Here, tannery waste, including chromium compounds, has contaminated the soil and water to such an extent that 3.500.000 people are at risk to their health.

Vegetable tanning agents from harvestable parts of renewable plants are used to tan the leather we use. 80 percent of it remains in the leather, the remaining tannins are completely biodegraded.
Out of responsibility for future generations and as an active member of the International Association for Natural Textiles (IVN), POLOLO is consistently committed to implementing the strict ecological guidelines of the IVN “Natural Leather” certificate.
By the way, the leather from used POLOLOs can be composted in order to close the ecological material cycle and avoid waste.

• It is cold in winter and only real wool, preferably wool from controlled organic animal husbandry like ours, should be used and purchased as a lining for children's winter shoes
• Wool can absorb a lot of moisture without feeling wet
• It also consists largely of air pockets. The air in these pockets keeps the foot nice and warm because we ourselves as wearers warm up these air pockets. That's the secret why wool feels so warm and you don't sweat in it!
• Wool from controlled organic animal husbandry also guarantees that the sheep are kept in a species-appropriate manner and that the wool is particularly skin-friendly
• Linings made of polyester and polyamide are cheaper but do not keep you warm very well and should be avoided in children's shoes, especially in winter, because on the one hand you are more likely to sweat in polyester and on the other hand because polyester is usually made artificially from petroleum.
• We therefore generally do not use polyester as an inner lining. This makes our children's shoes particularly breathable and comfortably warm.

The so-called “cactus leather” used for our sneaker line is not leather! The raw material for these shoes is a vegan leather substitute. The material is made from the leaves of the prickly pear cactus. The plant is not cleared, but only renewable leaves are used for production. Cactus cultivation is controlled organic. There is no extra irrigation and no use of pesticides. Our cactus leather comes from México! Viva Mexico!

Cotton is a wonderful material when produced ecologically. It refreshes, is particularly skin-friendly and doesn't scratch at all. We at POLOLO like to use cotton (organic / organic) as an alternative to leather for our sneakers. Cotton is also particularly elastic and light on the foot. Like leather, it is very breathable and also has good absorbency - making it ideal for children's feet, especially in the summer months. It is important to us that the cotton comes from organic farming. With organic cotton, monocultures are avoided and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers are deliberately avoided during cultivation - alternatively, plant-based products and humus are used. In organic farming, around 30 percent of the crop is rain-fed in order to avoid additional irrigation. The undamaged soil stores much more water.

POLOLO organic cotton shoes

• 100% cotton (organic / organic)
• Ban on genetic engineering
• No synthetic pesticides
• Optimized water consumption
• High social standards / fair wages
• Preservation of ecological balance
• Health-friendly colors
• Can be washed at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle

Together for a clean ocean! This motto of the seaqual ® Initiative inspired us to create our new colorful children's shoe collection made from recycled ocean plastic.

Unfortunately, millions of tons of waste still end up in our oceans every year. We all know this is a danger to our environment! At seaqual ® This plastic waste is collected by around 400 partner fishermen from the seabed off the Spanish coast. Initiatives also collect plastic waste on rivers and beaches, which is then processed into SEAQUAL® fiber. Every kilogram of SEAQUAL® produced corresponds to one kilogram of waste.

The goal is a clean sea

SEAQUAL® focuses on plastic waste from the sea or that could end up in the sea, such as from rivers or on the beach. The SEAQUAL® partner network starts with fishing boats and collection initiatives and extends to spinning mills, weaving mills and brands that are committed to clearing the sea of ​​trash and producing ecologically friendly yarns, fibers and fabrics.

The SEAQUAL® material: We usually do not use polyester, but this system and the quality of the fabrics have more than impressed us. SEAQUAL® has the same properties as fibers made from conventional polyester, but is far superior from an ecological point of view. It actively contributes to cleaning the seas, saves water and energy consumption and reduces CO2 emissions. Material traceability and certificates also assure the end consumer that by choosing a SEAQUAL® product, they are sustainably supporting the end of plastic pollution.

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