What does TD mean in shoes? Everything you need to know!

Last November, it was my nephew- Frank’s 1st birthday! He was officially entering the toddler phase! Being a sneakerhead, I wanted to gift the perfect kicks for his tiny little feet so he could run comfortably. I started searching for suitable toddler shoes for him. Finally, I got him a pair of spectacular Nike Air Max 270 TD!

With all the giggles and wiggles, this gift made his birthday memorable. He was so happy walking in those shoes!

My sister, Ana was so grateful to see him walk like a gentleman! One of her friends at the party asked me curiously, ‘Hey Marty, this is really a cool gift, but, what does TD mean in shoes?’ (She saw the TD tag).

I said, ‘TD is a tag name for Toddler! It represents the shoe size for toddlers.’

Big brands like Nike, Adidas, Vans, etc., have recognized the need to make shoes with proper length and comfort with appropriate toe boxes for toddler’s feet. Some of us may be unaware of this term when selecting shoes for our little ones. That’s why, through this article, I wish to answer ‘What is TD in shoes?,’ its importance, features, and more. So, let’s start.

TD in shoes: What does it mean?

In shoes, the term TD represents ‘Toddler’. Shoes with a TD label are specifically made for kids between the ages of 1-4 years. These shoes are designed for small children to cater to their walking needs, provide adequate support for their feet, and ensure feet safety to avoid imbalance.

Does TD matter?

YES! TD matters for shoes.

A child’s first few steps always become a lifetime memory for his/her parents to cherish!

As soon as these little kids start to walk, parents become cautious about keeping their walking areas clean and free from pointy and sharp objects.

Do you know what can help in this merry yet worrying situation?

Yes! You guessed it RIGHT!

None other than- getting the right-fit TD shoe for your child!

The primary development of a child’s foot occurs in barefoot conditions. However, the main aim behind using TD shoes is to provide ideal support for developing arches and protection while walking.

While selecting a birthday gift for my nephew I visited a shoe shop for kids. The salesman walked me through various shoe models for toddlers, explaining to me- TD shoe sizes, their importance, and their uses. We spoke about shoe fitting, comfort, snugness, shoe closing, etc. After a brief discussion, these were the insights I got for TD shoes:

1. TD shoes have a perfect fit

Kids tend to grow faster. Their shoe sizes and height change drastically in a few months. During the growth years, parents may often fail to realize that their kid’s shoes are becoming tighter. As a result, most of the impact comes on their toe box area. TD shoes come with at least ‘1 cm’ of free toe space in the front area for easy toe movement and rapidly growing feet.

Many TD shoes come with non-slip or anti-skid features to avoid slipping accidents in children. They also have flexible foam insoles for a soft feel and sufficient arch support.

2. Ankle support

Toddlers like to run, hop, and jump continuously when they go outside. To feel comfortable and maintain a healthy posture, their shoes need to have proper cushioning and support. TD shoes come with reinforced sidewalls and mid-foot support to prevent ankle twisting, rolling, foot pain, and muscle spasms.

Some TD shoes also have rubber toe caps that support the front areas and protect tiny toes from collision on hard surfaces. Their padded cushioning reduces fatigue, absorbs shock impacts, and promotes steady walking.

Selecting the right shoe in the early walking stages can positively impact a kid’s foot anatomy and functioning. Shoes that are too tight and lack support cushioning can cause bunions, hammer’s toes, corns, or ingrown toenails. In extreme cases, compressive shoes can also lead to weakness and immobility of joints.

3. Lightweight feel

A lightweight feel is as necessary as support and protection in shoes. Light shoes allow kids to easily lift their feet, run, and move without any fatigue.

Especially, if your kids are a year old or older, wearing heavy shoes can affect or disrupt the development of their soft and tender bones.

4. Breathability

Most TD shoes have meshy uppers. These meshes help enhance the breathability and ventilation of these shoes.

This is also helpful, since, kids tend to play for hours and may sweat in their toes and soles. Ventilated shoes maintain a regular air-flow to keep their feet safe and healthy, also preventing infections and fungal invasions.

Being lightweight, reducing foul odor, and managing overheating are a few other advantages of these shoes.

How do you choose the right TD shoes?

Here is the basic diagram of bone development in children’s feet.

As you can see, a one-year-old toddler has less developed bones than a two-year-old. To fill that gap of support and protection, we should select the right kind of TD shoes so our kids can rock the floors!

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has set some basic guidelines to help parents choose TD shoes that fit their little buddy perfectly.

• Utmost comfort: TD shoes must be lightweight and flexible enough to provide natural foot movement and a stable base.
• Ample ventilation: These shoes must offer adequate ventilation to keep the airflow inside the shoe. For that, it should have meshy materials on the uppers.
• Traction and grip: The soles must be made from rubber or anti-skid material to avoid slipping and falling hazards in children.
• Shock absorption: These shoes must absorb shock and jerks when a kid energetically jumps, hogs, or hops. They must provide firm support and balance to avoid wiggling in a child’s legs when he takes those tiny little steps!
• Must be right-sized: The shoes should not slip away from the feet. Also, if a child wears too tight shoes continuously, it may cause deformity in his natural foot structure. 
• Barefoot model: You must select kids’ shoes on a barefoot model for the right size selection.

This video can help you understand how to select the right shoes for your child in a better way:

Are there any other shoe sizes for kids?

If you have ever entered a kid’s section shoe mall/shop, you must have noticed labels such as TD, PS, and GS.

Let’s compare TD shoes with alternative kids’ shoe sizes including GS and PS shoes.

PS (Preschool)

PS comes after TD! It means ‘Preschool’. 

These shoes are suitable for preschoolers beyond the toddler phase and between 3 to 5 years of age. These shoes have great arch support, flexibility, comfort, and ease of toe movements.

GS (Grade School)

GS stands for ‘Grade School.’

These shoe sizes are designed for children in age between 6 to 12 years. The main focus behind making these shoes is higher durability and sufficient support for a child’s active play and daily activities. School-going children in high school are ideal for wearing these shoes.

TD, PS, and GS shoes compare to each other in the following manner:

How to measure foot size in toddlers?

Measuring children’s feet is almost like making them wear clothes!

I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!

If you are a parent, you must have gone through hilarious experiences of making toddlers wear their clothes. The same applies to shoe size! Because kids don’t sit quietly for a longer time as they want to play and explore things all the time.

I know this as a father of two boys and an uncle to many kids. They are always jiggling constantly when their parents try to make them wear clothes, diapers, shoes, or socks! Kids are interesting, aren’t they?

After seeing them struggle, I have some cool ideas to measure toddlers’ shoe sizes:

1. Using paper and a ruler

I call this ‘THE OLD SCHOOL METHOD!’ My grandma used to measure the foot sizes of my father, uncles, and aunts using it.

You just need paper, a ruler, a glue tape note, and a pen/marker.

• Stick the paper on the ground using glue tape.
• Make your child stand on a clean A4-sized paper.
• Mark the end point of the toe and heel for both feet using a dark pen.
• Draw a straight line from toe to heel point using a ruler and measure that distance.
• Now, you can take this marked paper to the shoe shop to select relative shoe sizes.

Simple! Isn’t it? You can also use this method when your child is sleeping. You will just need a clean paper attached to a writing pad to get the right measurements.

Tune into this video for more practical visualization:

2. Standing near the wall

Here’s how you can do it.

• Make your child stand comfortably in front of a wall with his heels against the wall.
• Measure the heel-to-toe length of both feet using a ruler or tape.
• Measure to the longest point of the toes for the right size selection.
• TADA! You have the foot size of your child!

Marty’s final words

Every child needs comfort, gentleness, and love! And, surely they should get that from their shoes too! TD shoes offer kids a proper fit and lightweight feel with wide toe areas for growing toenails and flexible soles for jerky foot movements.

Whether sandals from the historical times or sneakers from the Gen Z era, the toddler’s shoe needs are catered to by keeping their comfort and safety in the center! To secure your child’s comfort, make sure to pick the right pair of kicks when you shop for TD shoes!

Which TD shoe models are you considering for your little one? I would love to hear from you in the comments!

FAQs

Got more queries? Not to worry! I am here for you guys. 

Let’s look at some common questions that may cross your mind.

1. Are TD shoes expensive?

Not all. Some limited editions and collaboration TD shoes are expensive. Apart from this, the rest of the regular TD shoes fall into the average price category.

2. Are TD shoes only for toddlers?

TD shoes are mainly made for toddlers by keeping in mind their energetic playful activities. They are durable enough to sustain continuous jumps, hops, and dives.

3. What if my child outgrows TD shoes?

TD shoes are made for children 1 to 4 years. You can replace your child’s shoe with a size higher until they reach age 4. After that, you need to shift to PS-level shoes for proper snug and comfort for their growing feet.

4. Where can my child wear TD shoes?

These shoes can be worn indoors and outdoors. Many parents prefer to get their children in TD shoes for outdoor plans as kids develop faster in free play activities on open playgrounds. Vice versa, parents also get elegant TD shoes for their kids for indoor play, birthday parties, or any other occasion!

5. Can we clean TD shoes?

Yes. You can. It is the same as cleaning adult shoes but with some special care. You can wipe the dirty TD shoes using a squizzed wet cloth dipped in soap water, remove debris in their sharp corners using a soft-bristled toothbrush, and use appropriate shoe shine if available. Always air-dry TD shoes to prevent mold infestation and fungal growth. Keep them in a warm and dry place.

6. Can my child with flat feet wear TD shoes?

Yes. You can consult your child’s pediatrician or podiatrist to add Orthotic insoles for the foot arch in the TD shoe to get proper support and stability while walking. They must be lightweight and flexible enough so your child can move their feet easily without any strain.