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As your little one starts showing an interest in sports, it’s a super exciting time. It can also be expensive, as we parents need to fork out for all of the relevant equipment!
So, in this article, I will help you understand if soccer cleats for toddlers are necessary and answer some frequently asked questions in regard to the ideal cleats to buy for your toddler, should they require them.
Do toddlers need cleats for soccer?
This really depends on where you’re taking your kids to play soccer. If you’re introducing them to indoor soccer, for instance, there’s no need to invest in a pair of soccer cleats. Most children wear sneakers for indoor games, so you don’t need to invest in specialist cleats.
However, if you’re taking your kids to play soccer outdoors on a field, it makes sense to equip them with the right footwear. After all, when playing on a grass soccer field, cleats are an important piece of soccer equipment, regardless of age.
Equally, if your child is playing soccer on an artificial surface, it’s a good idea to invest in appropriate cleats for the surface. When playing soccer on fake grass, you should opt for cleats with molded (rubber studs), as they’re the most appropriate for the surface in question.
So, if your kids are playing soccer on grass, it makes sense to buy them a pair of cleats to wear. But how much should you spend on a pair of soccer cleats for a toddler?
How much do soccer cleats for toddlers cost?
In my research, I found that the vast majority of soccer cleats for toddlers are priced somewhere between the $20 and $50 mark. Given the rate at which your children’s feet grow at this age, it makes sense to pick up a reasonably cheap pair of soccer cleats for your toddler!
But equally, you need to make sure that you’re not buying a super cheap pair that won’t last the season – it’s key to get the balance right.
These cleats from Diadora tick all of the boxes for toddlers. They come in several cool colors, are relatively inexpensive, and are highly rated by previous buyers for comfort and durability. So, if you think that your toddlers would benefit from a pair of cleats, they’re a great option to conisder.
What about second-hand soccer cleats for toddlers?
As my two-year-old seems to be growing at an incredible rate, I’m a big fan of picking up second-hand bits and pieces for his wardrobe. In fact, my cousin has been super generous with clothes from her little boy, and my son has been rocking second-hand clothes since he was born!
If you have someone in the family who has a toddler that is slightly older than yours, you could ask them if they have any soccer gear that no longer fits that you could take advantage of – this is a great way to save money on soccer cleats altogether.
Another option is to look on eBay or Craigslist for second-hand soccer cleats for toddlers. After all, you can easily find some super affordable soccer cleats for a great price on marketplaces like eBay, and they’re probably in great condition.
When you’re done with them, you can stick them on eBay yourself and recycle them to another toddler instead of leaving them to gather dust at the bottom of the wardrobe!
How should toddler soccer cleats fit?
Most toddler cleats fit to size, and you can order accordingly. However, if your kids wear thick soccer socks, it may be a good idea to order a size up to provide them with additional room.
When you’re ordering soccer cleats online, make sure you read the terms and conditions of the return, so you can send them back if they don’t quite fit your little one. The last thing you want is for your kids to develop sore feet out on the soccer field.
It’s also really helpful to take your toddler to a sports store to get their feet measured specifically for soccer cleats, even if you don’t end up buying cleats from the store.
This makes it easier to do your research online and order the right-sized cleats for your kids without having to worry about returning them.
How to measure a toddler’s feet for soccer cleats?
As mentioned above, the best way to measure your toddler’s feet for soccer cleats is to head to a shoe store or sports retailer and ask a member of staff to take accurate measurements on your behalf.
Failing that, you can measure your toddler’s feet with a tape measure (if you can get them to stand still for long enough!). Run the tape measure along the inside of their foot, working from the big toe back to the heel.
It’s helpful to do this against a wall, marking the measurements with a pencil, as you can then measure the between the two points on the wall for an accurate measurement. You can then turn to a kids’ shoe size chart to work out the ideal size for your toddler, depending on where you’re buying cleats from.
Although most toddlers’ soccer cleats fit to size, be prepared for the fact that cleats that you order online might not fit your toddler perfectly. This is why it’s so important to ensure you can return the cleats, just in case you need to order a slightly smaller or bigger size.
Recap: Are soccer cleats necessary for toddlers?
The bottom line is that soccer cleats might be necessary for your toddler, but it really just depends on where they’re planning to play soccer. If they’re playing on a field with their soccer team, then it makes sense to invest in some cleats.
However, if your kids are playing soccer indoors, you can save yourself some money, as cleats aren’t necessary! Either way, we hope you have found this guide helpful and now have the information that you need about whether to buy soccer cleats for your toddler.
This article was reviewed and updated on October 2nd, 2022.