Foot Care in Children
Foot care is important for your child’s healthy growth and development. Babies’ feet are made of soft, flexible cartilage that gradually hardens into bone in early adulthood.
Children’s feet grow rapidly, especially during the first year of life. Proper foot care is very important at this stage of development. This includes selecting age-appropriate shoes that fit well and being aware of possible problems. These may include:
- Feet that curve inward instead of pointing straight ahead (in-toeingor pigeon toes).
- Feet that angle more than slightly outward (out-toeing).
- Walking on tiptoes (toe-walking).
- A birth defect that twists the heel and foot inward (clubfoot).
Noticing and addressing any potential problems early is the best way to prevent future foot problems. Children may outgrow some foot problems, but others can affect posture and walking if left untreated.
How is this treated?
Infant
- Check your baby’s feet for anything that looks unusual or out of the ordinary.
- Do notput tight-fitting booties or shoes on your baby. These can restrict movement and interfere with healthy development.
Toddler
- When your baby starts to walk, let him or her walk barefoot when it is possible to do so safely.
- Watch for possible problems with in-toeing, out-toeing, or toe-walking.
- If you have a family history of foot abnormalities, talk with your pediatrician or schedule a checkup with a foot specialist (podiatrist) to make sure your child’s foot and way of walking (gait) is developing normally.
- Choose
sturdy shoes that fit well. Children’s shoes should have:
- A stiff heel cup.
- A rigid middle section that does not bend or twist in the middle.
- A flexible toe box with enough room for your child’s toes.
- Make sure your child always wears shoes when playing outdoors to prevent foot injuries.
School-age Child
- Have your child’s feet measured when buying shoes.
- Check whether your child’s outgrown shoes have worn out in a particular spot. This can indicate a possible problem.
- Watch for red spots and blisters. These indicate the shoes do not fit well.
- Do notwait for a child to say that he or she is in pain before addressing any problems that you notice. Children’s feet are so flexible that a problem can exist for a long time before it causes pain.
- Do nothand down shoes. A shoe that was a good fit for one child may not fit another child. This can also spread fungus, like athlete’s foot.
- Choose socks that wick away moisture and do not have large seams.
- Buy your child athletic shoes that are appropriate for the sport that he or she is playing.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You notice any physical problems with your child’s feet.
- Your child walks in an unusual way.
- Your child has a foot injury or unexplained foot pain.
