When children are born, they usually have strong, healthy feet. As they grow up, it is important to use proper foot care methods to ensure that they don’t encounter any problems as they age.
As soon as your child is ready to take their first steps outdoors, you should purchase supportive shoes for their feet that provide adequate protection, take a look at the Orthotic shop for shoes.
Foot Care Tips For Babies
If you want your baby’s feet to stay healthy and strong, you should follow all of the tips below.
Tip #1 – Don’t Restrict Their Movement
Kicking their legs and wiggling around helps babies develop muscles, which is why it should always be encouraged. Avoid restricting the movement of their feet with booties, footed leggings, or bedding that is pulled too tight.
Don’t put shoes on your baby too soon. Crawling barefoot is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it helps ensure the proper development of their toes and feet. The only time that you should cover the feet of your baby is when it is cold outside or when you are going to be spending time outdoors.
Tip #2 – Choose Booties And Socks That Fit Correctly
The rate at which babies grow is incredibly fast. That means that booties and socks that fit them well last week may be too small today. Items made out of fabric can also shrink in the laundry. Always pay attention to how tight foot coverings are. This is especially important with footed clothing items like pajamas. Oftentimes, the body of the piece of clothing will fit fine but the portion that covers their feet may be too small. If this happens, try altering the clothing by trimming off the feet and hemming the bottoms of the pant legs. Don’t tie booties too tight around the ankle. Otherwise, the flow of blood to the feet could be restricted.
Tip #3 – Regularly Wash Your Child’s Feet
Using soapy water, wash your child’s feet on a daily basis. Make sure that they are completely dry, including the areas between their toes.
Foot Care Tips For Toddlers
Typically, children take their first steps anywhere between the time that they are 8 months and 18 months old. There is no need to rush the process. Every child develops at a different rate. Allow your child to set their own schedule when it comes to learning to walk. Avoid the temptation to use walking aids since they can wind up making it harder for your child to master the art of walking.
Don’t be alarmed if your child starts out walking on their toes or if their feet don’t point straightforward when they walk. Problems like these occur quite frequently.
If you notice any of the issues below, however, you should talk to your doctor or to a qualified health professional.
– Toes that are exceptionally turned out
– Differences in the amount of turnout between one foot and the other
– Failing to walk by the time they are 18 months old
You should also keep an eye out for any changes in your child’s walking behavior. For instance, if they start off walking perfectly and then develop a limp, stop walking, or show other changes, you should discuss the problem with your doctor.
Ultimately, however, the best option is to allow your child to develop at their own individual rate. After a long period of time spent walking, your child may complain about their feet or legs hurting. If this happens regularly, you may want to take them in for a checkup so that your doctor can look at their feet.
Selecting Shoes For Your Child
The whole point of wearing shoes is to provide protection for the feet while walking. Babies who aren’t yet walking don’t need to wear shoes. In most cases, toddlers don’t require shoes, either since most of their walking is done indoors.
As soon as they start walking outside, however, you should buy shoes for them to provide protection for their feet. Make sure that the shoes fit correctly to avoid causing your child’s feet to become deformed. It is worth putting time and effort into finding the right fit.
These tips will help you find the perfect shoes for your child:
The shoes not only need to fit the length of your child’s foot but also the width and depth. Each time you go shoe shopping, take measurements of your child’s feet to ensure a proper fit.
Opt for flexible shoes that don’t weigh very much and that are unlikely to fall off. Shoes that have fasteners like straps, buckles, or laces are the best choice since they do a good job of keeping the heel at the back of the shoe.
The shoes that you choose should have a straight inner edge and a wide, rounded toe box. The shoes should also be deep enough to comfortably accommodate your child’s feet without squishing their toes. Shoes with tapered ends are a poor choice. Instead, make sure the front of the shoe is round for a comfortable fit.
Make sure the heel of the shoe is low. Otherwise, the foot could be forced forward to the front of the shoe, putting undue pressure on the toes.
The soles of the shoes should be thick enough to protect your child’s feet but thin enough that they can still easily bend. Shoes with smooth soles are usually the best option. If the bottoms of the shoes have too much traction, it could cause your child to trip when they are first getting comfortable with walking.
Shoes that are made out of natural materials are the best choice since they are more breathable and are less likely to cause problems with perspiration.
Frequently check to make sure that your child’s shoes fit correctly. Oftentimes, kids don’t say anything even when their shoes start to get too small, which is why it is important to be attentive. The gap between the end of their toes and the front of the shoe should measure approximately 1 cm. If the space is smaller than this, you should buy them new shoes.