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While it might not be something you think about often (or at all), the health of your child's feet is important. Your child is growing by leaps and bounds and certain habits and other factors can affect how your child's feet develop or if they experience injuries or other problems down the road. Unfortunately, a lot of children end up wearing shoes that are far too small for their feet, which can lead to pain, structural imbalances and certain foot deformities.
We know that going shoe shopping is certainly not a walk in the park for most parents; however, it's an important component to making sure your child has healthy feet. There are many things to think about when it comes to picking the right shoes, and your podiatrist can also provide suggestions and tips to make the world of shoe shopping easier for you and your little one.
Some factors that you should consider when shopping for the right shoes include:
- Your child's age
- The shoe's material
- Your child's shoe size
- The shoe's structure
A good rule of thumb is to shop for shoes every 2 months when your child is between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. Once they reach three and four, you'll want to purchase new shoes approximately every four months. When your child is five or six years old, you can swap out your kids' shoes every six months.
As you might already know, the bones of a baby or infant's feet are soft and haven't fully developed. To protect your child's feet, it's important they wear socks and soft shoes. Make sure that as your child's feet grow that the toes have room to wiggle and move around within the shoes. Bunched-up toes can lead to serious problems.
Because children grow up so fast, it is important that you are constantly checking their shoe size for changes. Remember that feet swell throughout the day, so shoe shopping should be done at the end of the day when feet are at their largest. If you aren't sure what size shoe your little one wears, you can ask one of the store's footwear specialists for help.
Of course, you can't forget the importance of choosing the right socks as well. Socks can prevent your little one from blisters, calluses and other foot problems. They can also wick away sweat and prevent fungal infections. When it comes to choosing the right socks for your child, consider the type of fabric, your child's activity level, the size of your child's feet and sensitivities they might have to certain fabrics.
When in doubt, you should talk to a foot doctor who can provide you with advice, answer any questions you might have about your child's developing feet and also provide comprehensive care, when needed.
For more information, check out the website for Academy Foot & Ankle Specialists at www.texasfootdoctor.org or contact us at (817) 424-Foot (3668)