The Best Socks For Girls

Buying Guide

From birth, socks play an important role in helping with body temperature regulation. However, when the weather is warm enough or while indoors, infants should keep their feet bare to allow their toes to wiggle freely.

In infancy, you’ll want your child to go barefoot as much as possible. This will help encourage the movement that is necessary to form a healthy foot. However, once a child is walking, it’s important to cover the feet, especially on outdoor surfaces. Going barefoot can expose an older child to wounds or fractures as well as plantar warts.

Many parents spend a great deal of time researching the right shoes for a baby’s foot. You want the right fit, as well as support for a baby’s developing feet. But it can be easy to overlook the socks your little one wears underneath their shoes. Socks provide a little extra cushioning while also keeping a child’s foot warm and dry.

The right fit is important in a child’s sock. It’s especially important that the sock not fit too tightly, as this can get in the way of foot development, and encouraging healthy circulation is a good goal. For younger children, you can slide your finger between the sock and the foot to check that the fit is loose enough.

When checking to make sure a pair of socks fits your child properly, also pay close attention to the overall fit. When you put the sock on, does the heel match where your child’s heel falls when the toe is lined up and in place? Look for any areas where the sock might bunch. This may not seem like such a big deal when the child is wearing only the socks, but those loose areas can become uncomfortable once squished up inside a shoe.

• Sizing varies with socks, but usually it’s based on shoe size. Make sure you know that size before you start shopping for socks.
• As with shoes, it’s usually a good idea to consider growth when you’re buying socks. Chances are, your child’s foot will grow a half inch or so after you buy the socks, so it might be useful to allow for that when you’re looking at sizes.
• Socks are generally sold in sets. For younger girls, you’ll often find as many as a dozen pairs in one set. This can help you quickly fill a sock drawer.
• Most socks include cotton along with polyester and a little elastane for stretch. Cotton can soften the fabric while polyester helps extends its life, especially with regular washings.
• You can find socks in a variety of colors, but when worn with shoes, nobody will see that color. Some neutral-toned socks include small splashes of color to liven things up a little.
• Older girls might like socks that don’t show when worn with shoes. These socks have a lower profile to look great with sneakers, loafers or other types of shoes your child might wear.
• Ankle socks will often feature ribbed cuffs to ensure they stay in place once they’re on. Make sure this part of the sock won’t be too tight or constrict circulation, particularly in infants and toddlers, whose feet are still growing.
• Some socks are made with a thicker design that keeps feet warm. This can be especially useful in chillier weather. It might also help in warmer months if your home tends to run on the cooler side.
• Moisture-wicking fabric is useful if those feet will be sweating inside a pair of shoes. You’ll still want to make sure your child removes her socks right when she gets home from practicing sports or playing in the heat all day.