While some fashionable shoes are appropriate, others might not be a good choice for your child – or for you either, for that matter! Two-inch high platform soles, narrow-strapped sandals, shoes with metal shanks imbedded into the sole, and spike heels can hurt your children's feet. The best shoes are ones that are comfortable and supportive, and that fit right.
Once a child starts walking, shoes that fit properly will protect their feet from injury. Shoes should be wide enough for your child's toes to wiggle and have a finger's width of extra space beyond the longest toe. They should be flexible, but also hold your child's heel in place. Lace-up or Velcro® shoes are the best choice, particularly:
- Leather lace-up shoes that are flexible but with firm heel support
- Leather sandals with heel support and adjustable straps, such as sports sandals. Be aware, though, that constantly wearing open-heeled sandals increases the risk of cracked heels. Look for sandals that have an enclosed heel.
- Sports shoes with leather and nylon uppers
- Desert boots with firm heel support
- Soft, flexible shoes such as lace-up or Velcro sneakers
Avoid These Shoes
Shoes that should not be worn, especially on a regular basis according to the Australian Podiatry Association (APA) and others, are:
- Platform-soled shoes
- Shoes with elevated heels (anything higher than an inch)
- Flip flops or rubber slippers (For older generations, the term was "thongs.")
- Sandals that don't provide firm support
- Rubber boots
- Desert boots without heel reinforcement
- Plastic or plastic-coated shoes.
- Steel-shank shoes and other inflexible shoes
- Cheap sports shoes that don't provide good support. If you can fold the back of the shoe down to the sole, leave the shoe in the store.
- Shoes made primarily with nylon or other synthetic materials, such as many sport shoes. Synthetics can trap moisture, creating a "breeding ground for bacteria and fungus that can lead to infected nails and foot odor" says the APA. Sports shoes should be worn while you child is participating in sports, but not for everyday activities.
- Hand-me-down shoes. Pre-worn shoes have conformed to someone else's feet and can worsen a child's foot problems or create problems that weren't there.
They Keep Growing!
You don't have to be told that children's feet grow at a phenomenal pace. The pair of shoes you just bought for Jimmy might not fit him three months from now. However, resist the urge to oversize. Shoes that are too big can cause problems (such as hammer toes), just as shoes that are too small can cause problems.
If you can't seem to keep shoes on little Shelly's feet, perhaps they are too small. Look for signs of too-tight shoes: redness, calluses, blisters, and in extreme cases toenails or toes that are beginning to curl. Don't wait for your child to complain that the shoes are too small. Many children can wear shoes up to two sizes too small without feeling pain. Sadly, even though they don't necessarily cause pain, too-small shoes can cause permanent deformity to your child's toes and feet.
If the shoes fit, then it could be a simple matter of your child preferring bare feet.
Bare feet are natural and healthy. Many people worldwide don't wear shoes. However, shoes can protect your child's feet from injury and infection (for example: stepping on a nail or being exposed to a wart virus). For this reason, shoes are recommended when your child is outside your home. But let Shelly go barefoot in your home if she wants!
More Than One Pair
Your child should own more than one pair of play shoes or school shoes so they can be worn no more often than every other day. Why? Because feet sweat. And if your child's shoes don't have a day to dry out, your child's feet will be prone to rashes, athlete's foot, and other fungal and bacterial infections.
Also insist your child put on a clean pair of socks each day. If your child has particularly sweaty feet, socks should be changed more frequently. The APA recommends cotton, wool, cotton/synthetic, or wool/synthetic socks. Synthetics should be limited to 40 percent of the sock's content.
A Final Word
The primary purpose of shoes it to protect your feet from injury, not to correct foot problems. If you suspect your child has a foot problem, talk with your healthcare provider or a podiatrist. |
