Children’s Shoes
Choosing the Proper Shoe for Your Child
Development of your child’s feet
Parents should understand that their child’s foot is very different from an adult’s foot. Children’s feet are still developing. The cartilage present in a child’s foot is relatively soft and bone is still forming. During the first year of life, your child’s feet will be extremely soft and pliable. Taking this into consideration, it is easy to understand how any abnormal, repetitive pressure (a poorly fit shoe) can easy cause the child’s foot to deform over time.
It is well documented that children’s feet develop best when they are barefoot. Walking barefoot early in life helps the muscles grow properly. This helps with development of the child’s muscle strength and coordination. It isn’t always practical to walk barefoot however, so parents must be aware of the proper shoegear to purchase for their child.
Proper Shoegear for pre-walkers, beginning walkers, and toddlers
Shoes for your child should have the following qualities:
- Lightweight
- Should not limit the child’s ability to move
- Flat
- Shoes should NOT have an arch
- This simulates barefoot walking
- Exceptions do exist in pathological conditions
- Arches limit the ability of a child’s foot to develop naturally
- Smooth
- Sole of the shoe should be smooth
- Avoid rubber soles
- Flexible / soft
- Your child’s shoes should not limit important toe and foot mobility
- Shoes should not restrict the growing feet
- No heel
- Shoes should be flat
