With just a few flicks of the tape measure in the right places, you’ll have a sure-fire shortcut to clothing that fits your infant properly. Most items of clothing will have these sizes listed on the webpage so you can quickly pick the right option, however if this information is not available then check the brand’s page for individual kids’ size guides.

Get your child to stand barefoot, and measure from their heel to the top of their head. It can be easier to make a mark on a wall or doorframe and measure their height from there - it's also a fun way for you to track how much they’ve grown.

Wrap a measuring tape around your child's chest, just under the arms at the widest point is best. Leave a little room for extra comfort.

Measure around the natural waistline which is just above the hips, holding the tape lightly loose for a comfortable fit.

Measure from the top of the thigh to where the bottom of the trouser should fall. It's easiest to take this measurement when your child has shoes on in order to get an idea of where the trouser leg will rest above the shoe.

Standing with their legs together, measure around the widest part of your child’s hips.

Carefully measure around the neck where the collar will sit, placing two fingers in between the tape so it’s not too tight a fit.

If your baby is starting to gain confidence and skill with walking, it's probably time to invest in pair of well-fitting shoes. Children's feet can grow over two full shoe sizes in the course of a year, so you need to be measuring regularly. Try to measure toddlers’ feet every six to eight weeks, and younger babies even more frequently. Providing the right amount of comfort and support is essential for your infant's natural foot development and will aid natural growth patterns. Try to choose shoes that will keep your child's foot securely in the shoe, think Velcro and straps rather than laces – this will make your life easier and save valuable minutes in the morning.

Most shoe shops will offer to measure your child's shoe size, but if you want to buy their shoes online then knowing how to measure them at home helps. Here are a few simple tips that will make it a walk in the park:

• Grab a piece of paper, pencil and measuring tape or ruler.
• Put the paper on the ground and secure it with some tape to stop it slipping around.
• Place your child's bare foot on the paper. You can either draw around it or make a line just behind the heel and slightly in front of the tip of their biggest toe.
• Measure between the lines you’ve made and use a kids shoe size chart to find the right conversion.

Once the shoe is on your child's foot, you should check the fit to ensure your measurements were accurate. Infant shoe sizes can vary somewhat, and every brand will be slightly different.

There are usually three widths available, described as wide (H), narrow (D) or average (F). Once the foot (with a sock on) is in the shoe, feel the inside and outside with your fingers to check there are no tight spots or pinching that might cause discomfort. The foot should be positioned evenly over the footbed and they should be able to wiggle their toes slightly.

Check that there’s not too much pressure on the top of your child's foot by running your fingers over the top of the shoe and ask your child to wiggle all of their toes. There should be ample room for some movement, but not too much – if the foot slips around it will rub badly.

With your child's heel placed securely at the back of the shoe, the longest toe should not reach the top of the shoe. It's a good idea to leave a small gap for them to grow into.

The final area to check is around the opening of the shoe, just around the ankle. Make sure there are no large gaps as this might mean the shoe is not securely attached to the foot. The hem of a low cut shoe should sit comfortably under the ankle, not over it. Likewise, a high-top shoe should cover the entire ankle.