I Don't Understand Baby/Toddler Shoe Sizing

I take my kids into the shoe store at the start of every season and have them sized there. I don't want to end up buying shoes that are too narrow or too long/short and don't support their feet properly.

print this out and measure:

http://www.pediped.com/Files/content/ShoeSizingChart_Oct2...

Go to a shoe store and get your son sized. They have that fancy thing with the slides that will determine the best size. Months' sizing can vary radically. My son has long feet like his daddy, so we always get a fresh measurement/sizing when purchasing shoes, just in case he grew a size or two.

And no, some sizes are not the same across the board. We loved See Kai Run shoes and they size in European centimeters, I believe.

Size 4 is probably about right for a 13 month old. The sizes should be the same across the board, but like any shoe, it may vary a little by manufacturer. I've never been able to buy shoes online for my kids, because even if they wore a 4 last month, who knows what they wear now! Unless you know for sure, it's probably best to have the child try the shoes on before buying them.

Unless you are talking about buying robeez style soft shoes, I would go to a store get him sized and buy shoes that he has tried on first. My DD had long and skinny feet, she was different sizes in different brands depending on whether they ran small or large and how wide the shoes were.
I know I may be in the minority, but I firmly believe that improper shoes during the first years of life set kids up for a host of issues (from foot to back problems and hating to walk because their feet hurt), so this is really the ONLY baby/kid product that I do not skimp on. As a matter of fact I spend much more money on my DD's shoes than on my own...
I recommend going to a Nordstrom's or Stride ride for sizing and then take it from there.

I just took my son in and had him sized at the store.

They ALWAYS go up 1/2 size for room to grow. OTW you're buying new shoes every 2-3 months.

I have one of these shoe sizers I bought from One Step Ahead.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

I love it as I can keep it right at the changing table and check once a month or so. I've had my daughter outgrow shoes in 3 months and she's 2 1/2 so it's nice to have on hand. You can't go by age you have to go by foot size. The age listed on websites is only a guess and an average. My daughter has always had bigger then her age feet, she's also just bigger over all than her age. My boys were similar.
Payless is good at measuring kids feet for the most part. You can go there and then buy online.
Shoe sizes are pretty standard. If my daughter is an 8 she's an 8 where ever I've bought them. You might get some fluctuation like you do from any brands but typically I find them true to size no matter where I buy them from.

P.,
I am certainly no expert here, but I am only familiar with the shoes sizes that operate by the age. My 19-month old is in a five with some room to move still. I imagine a 6 is soon to come. I haven't seen it by inches but if that seems to be how they run, wait til nap time and run a tape measure along his foot.
Good luck!

my kid is 13 months and he is only a size three. He will be in a size four in a few months I think though. I go to the store and try on a few pairs of shoes, then find which fits. I think they are all about the same. good luck

my 18 month old girl still wears size 3-6 month robeeze, she is a size 1 maybe two (depending on brand) in toddler size, My 4yr old and 6 yr old both wear size 8.5 shoes, it really, really depends on the child. I would not go off of age, I have a friend who's son wears size 6 shoes at 18 months, and another who's child is ina size 4 shoe at 2 yrs.

I agree with everyone. Measure or go get him measured. At that age they can change shoe size every three months, and my dd did! Nordstrom rack has great quality shoes for decent prices. The inventory changes often.