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Podiatrist Jane Warne BSc SRHCh gives her top tips for looking after your children’s feet!
Many people regard footwear as purely shoes but it relates to any covering for the foot and include: -
Baby grows and sleep suits
Pram shoes
Tights and socks
Care should be taken that the foot is not constricted, especially after items have been washed and tumble dried, as this may have shrunk them, without you noticing the impact.
Shoes for toddlers and early walkers
These should be fitted professionally.
A child’s foot is a different shape from an adult foot.
Reputable manufacturers design their shoes accordingly.
Ignoring this feature may lead to deformity of the big toe.
School Shoes
Should be fitted professionally, width and length.
The toe box should have sufficient depth to allow the toes to move freely.
The heel height should be a maximum of 4cm with a broad base.
Held on the foot snugly with a strap, lace or Velcro fitting.
Made of leather.
Plimsolls
Fitting for Plimsolls is difficult.
They should not be worn for any length of time, as they do not provide sufficient support, encourages seating and as they tend to be kept at school in shoe bags, they can become too small without you realising.
Trainers are a better option as they are fitted, but they should be leather.
Flat shoes
Many children are wearing very flat shoes with no fastenings. They can cause stress to the structure of the sole of the foot and back of leg resulting in pain and inflammation.
Baby walkers
Are best avoided as research suggests baby walkers can delay normal walking and activities such as standing and crawling.
Content kindly provided by Jane Warne BSc SRHCh– www.funkylilfeet.co.uk
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