When should my child wear shoes? Torquay Podiatrist, Amy Hawker explains….
A common question we get asked here at Stance Podiatry is ‘when should my child wear shoes?’ and ‘should they wear a supportive shoe?’.
Feet are unique and are undergoing changes of development in childhood and teenage years, which means the footwear they wear must be appropriate to give the best chance for good foot health. Each stage of a child’s development is different and therefore, they have their own particular footwear requirements.
Shoe advice often depends on a number of factors but general advice for typically developing little feet is to select a shoe that protect the feet while encouraging kids to be healthy and active. For pre-walkers (newborns and babies) their feet are soft and the foot bones have not started to ossify yet, therefore barefoot is always best. Sometime shoes are needed to protect their feet from the elements so a soft, lightweight and flexible shoe with a smooth and seamless interior is best.
If a child is walking, a flexible, lightweight and durable shoe is preferred. However toddlers needs lot of barefoot time too. This can help increase muscle strength in their feet and provide sensory experiences for them. Shoes should hold the foot rather than the foot holding onto the shoe.
There is little evidence to guide us in the optimal shoe at each stage of walking therefore seeing a podiatrist is a great place to start as it can help shoe shopping become an easy and simple process. Here at Stance Podiatry we can help with measuring both feet, we have extensive knowledge on footwear models, and can help determine the best type of shoe for your child based on their foot function and structure. We always want to the best for children, so we recommend have their shoes professionally fitted for school and sports.
Overall, children’s shoes should have the following features: laces, buckles or strap to hold their shoe onto the foot and the shoes need to be the correct length and width.
In terms of specific brands, ASIC, Clark’s, Bobux, SureFit, New Balance, Ascent, Grosby all have shoes within their range for older toddlers and kids. Bobux, Skenie and Attipas have great soft soled shoes for new and early walkers.
Some shoe stores such as Sole Mechanics, Red Bootie and Shoes and Sox have a big range of kids footwear but it is best to see them with a list of requirements for the shoes from a podiatrist.
Children’s shoes are an investment so hopefully these tips help you select the right shoe but if you have any footwear related questions- please ask as we’re always here to help within our podiatry clinic in Ocean Grove, Geelong and Torquay!
Amy Hawker- Podiatrist
hello@stancepodiatry.com.au