Children and shoes

Children and Shoes

Shoes that fit are vital to a young child's rapidly growing feet. By the time a child reaches the age of 12, his or her feet will have reached about 90 percent of their adult length. Therefore, development of a child's feet is especially important in these first 12 years of life and it is the reason podiatrists consider the early years to be essential in the development of feet and foot problems.

Children who continuously wear incorrect shoes can develop many problems in later life and exacerbate inherited foot problems. Common problems such as hammer toes, caused by shoes which are too big or too small, ingrown toenails, cracked or fissured heels from continued use of sling back shoes, and corns under the toe nails can be prevented by selecting the right shoe.

Infants

Whilst many people consider shoes on infants cute, It is important not to restrict a baby's development with tight bedclothes, booties, socks or blankets. Allow them to kick and exercise legs and feet. it is also important to discourage poor sleeping and sitting positions (ie. sleeping on stomach or kneeling with feet turned out). Sitting with legs crossed is preferred, Walking frames place stress on bones and muscles prematurely. Babies will begin walking through natural development, which usually occurs, between 9 and 18 months.

Toddlers

Children with healthy feet generally don't need shoes until they have been walking for a couple of months, and then only to protect their feet from sharp objects. A toddler learning to walk receives important sensory information from the soles of their feet. Shoes, particularly those with hard and inflexible soles, can make walking more difficult. It is important to allow your child to go barefoot regularly to help them develop balance, coordination and posture.

School Shoes

Sports shoes are marketed so extensively, children can be under a lot of peer pressure to wear the most expensive brand sports shoes. But, as the name suggests, sports shoes are best left for sporting activities.

Not only are sports shoes unnecessary for children in their everyday school activities, but also some of the cheaper brands offer little in the way of support. Traditional school shoes are the best option for putting your children in good stead. Not only are they likely to outlast sports shoes, but also will provide the support so crucial to young feet.

Qualities to look for in a school shoe include:

Adequate length and width of a shoe (especially across the ball of the foot and toes).
A firm heel counter (the area that surrounds the heel).
A stiff sole, except at the ball of the foot where the shoes should provide adequate flexibility for the foot to bend. (Elastic sided boots are not normally advised as the elastic stretches after a short period and the boot loses most of its support and stability.)
A good lace up or strap to hold the foot firmly in the shoe.
Leather or open weaved uppers to help prevent excess moisture build up.

All parents want to ensure their children put their best foot forward when they go off to school - and there is no better way of doing that than ensuring they have the right shoes.

Tips for buying shoes?

Here are some useful tips for parents buying shoes for their children:

Try shoes on with socks that will be worn with the shoes
Stand-up to tie laces and check width
Check length from the longest toe - not always the big toe
Never buy a shoe for a child to 'grow into'
Ensure the shoe is flexible at the ball of the foot
Make sure that you check the fit each time you go shopping and again at the beginning of each school term.
Never wear hand-me-down shoes - they mold the child's foot to someone else's shape and can cause problems.
Try both shoes on - very few people have two feet with the same width and length
Perhaps the most important advice for parents is to visit a reputable shoe store where sales assistants are trained in correctly fitting shoes

It it important to have your child's shoes professionally fitted. This should include measuring each foot for length and width. Children's feet grow very quickly and their shoe size may need updating every few months. Shoes that are too tight can hamper your child's walking and cause problems, such as ingrown toenails and bunions.

It is also important to regularly check the shoe for wear. Shoes that are worn down badly can cause as many problems to a child's feet as ill-fitting shoes.