Accidental author
May 4, 2026
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Our latest guest blog is from Sam Chetwood at CeCe&Me explaining why ‘one pair is all they need: why well-fitting children’s shoes are better for feet and the planet.’
In a world where fast fashion tempts us at every turn, it’s easy to forget the true cost of our clothing choices, especially when it comes to our children, who we all know grow fast! While we’re big advocates of second-hand clothes for little ones, shoes are the one item that really shouldn’t be handed down.
Why? Because little feet still have a lot of developing to do, and the shape, support and structure of a shoe can significantly impact how a child walks and moves. Shoes that have already moulded to another child’s feet can alter how your child places their feet, affecting their posture, balance and even long-term musculoskeletal health. It’s a small item of clothing, with a big impact.
Shoes are more than a fashion choice. A well-fitting shoe should support a child’s natural movement and healthy development without restricting their foot growth and function, or affecting the way they move. It’s much better to invest in one high-quality, well-fitting pair that your child wears most of the time, rather than buying several cheaper pairs that don’t support their feet or the planet.
When it’s safe, being barefoot is also brilliant for development. It helps build strength, coordination, strong neural pathways and a more natural walking pattern. Shoes are primarily for protection and should enable the feet to continue to move and function as naturally as possible.
Footwear is notoriously difficult to recycle. Shoes are typically made from a mix of materials… rubber, leather, foam, plastic… making them hard to break down and repurpose. As a result, over 22 billion pairs of shoes are thrown into landfill each year globally, 149 million in here in the UK, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Add to that the emissions generated during manufacturing, packaging and shipping, and the environmental cost climbs quickly. Choosing one well-made pair over multiple cheap pairs not only reduces waste, it significantly lowers your carbon footprint too. Fewer materials used, fewer products shipped and less energy consumed overall.
Look for shoes made from durable, responsibly sourced materials, such as leather from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, recycled materials, vegetable-based dyes and glues free from harmful chemicals. And always check that a brand’s sustainability claims hold up under scrutiny, greenwashing is still all too common.
While it’s not recommended to pass shoes between siblings or friends… since they’ve already moulded to one child’s foot shape and walking pattern… many children outgrow their shoes before they outwear them. That’s where charities like Sal’s Shoes come in. They take preloved children’s shoes and match them with a child in need, either in the UK or abroad. It’s a brilliant way to ensure your child’s shoes continue to be useful and protect little feet, instead of polluting the planet.
Let’s stop thinking of children’s shoes as disposable. They may be small, but their impact is anything but. One thoughtfully chosen, ethically made, well-fitting pair at a time really is the best choice, for your child, for their health and for the world they’re growing up in.
Sam Chetwood, CeCe & Me
Sam is the founder of CeCe & Me, a mobile children’s shoe fitting service that’s transforming the way parents shop for shoes for their little ones. Her journey began as a frustrated mum, struggling to feel confident about buying shoes for her toddlers. Determined to make the process easier for other parents, she launched CeCe & Me to take the stress and guesswork out of shoe shopping for young children, with a focus on promoting long-term foot health.
What started as a personal mission has grown into a thriving business with seven franchise territories around the UK. Sam has developed a comprehensive CPD-accredited training programme to equip franchisees with the knowledge and skills to provide an expert fitting service to families in their local community and help educate parents on the vital role of properly fitted shoes in early childhood development.
Website: www.ceceandme.co.uk
Emal: sam@ceceandme.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ceceandmehq
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