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Children's Footwear (Child's Shoes) |
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| Information for health professionals on footwear | ||
Child's shoes |
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Parents so often worry about their children's teeth, eyes, and most other parts of the body, but do not worry so much over the developing foot. As many adult foot problems can have their origins in childhood, attention to footwear in children can minimize the risk of these problems in adults. |
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Importance of the shoe to the child: |
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Poorly
fitting children's shoes can cause a number of problems in adults
such as hammer toes, ingrown
toenails, foot corns, calluses
and bunions. Given the high level of pain
and discomfort that these problems can cause, it is obviously logical
to attempt to prevent these problems by ensuring that the child's
shoe is fitted appropriately.
Foot problems in children are usually preventable. |
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Fitting footwear for the child: |
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The most important factor in shoes for a child is that they fit. Preferably, this means that shoes are fitted by someone who has had some special training in the fitting of children's footwear. Advice for the fitting of a child's footwear: * Children should have their feet measured about every 3 months (thus ensuring the need for new shoes as required). * Generally, for a shoe to be correctly fitted, there should be a thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe. * When looking at the bottom (sole) of the shoe, it should be relatively straight (not curved in too much) - the foot is straight, so the shoe should be straight. * The fastening mechanism (laces, velcro, buckles) should hold the heel firmly in the back of the shoe (the foot should not be able to slide forward in the shoe). * the heel counter (back part of the shoe) should be strong and stable. * the shoe should be flexible across the ball of the foot, as this is where the foot bends. The shoe should not bend where the foot does not bend (ie in the arch area). * Leather and canvas are a better material - they are more durable and can breathe. Synthetic materials do not breathe as well, unless they are of the 'open weave' type. Avoid plastics. * Check that the shoes have rounded toe boxes to give the toes more room to move. * Shoes should not need to be "broken in". If they do, they are either poorly designed or poorly fitted. * An absorbent insole is helpful, as the foot can sweat a lot - children are very active! * A number of retail stores specialize in footwear for the child - use them! * Fitting footwear properly in adults is also just as important |
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3 tips for checking the child's shoe: |
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There should be a thumb width between the end
of the shoe and the end of the longest toe = length
is correct. |
You should be able to pinch the upper of the
shoe between the thumb and forefinger (this may depend on the nature
of the material) = width is
correct. |
Does the shoe fit snugly around the heel and instep? How stable is the shoe when trying to 'pull off' the shoe? = good fit. |
Growth of the child's foot: |
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Those under the age of 16-18 months grow more than half a foot size every two months. Toddlers from the ages of 16 to 24 months grow an average of half a foot size every three months. When they are 24 to 36 months old they grow approximately half a foot size every four months. Over the age of 3 years of age, they increase half a foot size every four to six months. |
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Types of child's footwear: |
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Pre-walkers (babies and those still crawling) do not need shoes - they need booties or prewalking shoes that do not restrict the foot's movements. They should be flexible and not supportive, and conform to the shape of the foot. The first "real" shoes can be used when the child first starts to walk unaided (usually around ages 9 to 18 months). Fitting toddlers shoes should follow the guidelines above. Encourage bare foot in protected environments (eg indoors). A soft and pliable sneaker is usual ideal footwear for children at most ages, as long as it has plenty of room for the toes. |
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Support from the child's shoe: |
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Prevention
of injury is one of the primary purposes of footwear. It is seldom
possible for footwear to be used to correct a child's deformity
or alter the growth pattern of a shoe. If there is concern, consult
a podiatrist. |
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Links of relevance to the child's shoe: |
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Sever's disease (Calcaneal apophysitis) ePodiatry's resources on footwear Ask a question in the foot health forum about children's footwear Book on children's walking: |
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Buy foot care products: |
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| USA & Canada: | UK & Europe: | Australia & NZ: |
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Coming | |
Back to foot
problems or foot pain page |
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ePodiatry
is purely a source of information about children's shoes and should
at no time be considered as replacing the expertise of a health
professional. We recommend seeking professional advice for all foot
problems, especially fitting childrens footwear before embarking
on any form of self treatment or management. Neither the content
or any other service provided through ePodiatry is intended to be
relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Do not delay in seeking
health professional advice because of something seen on ePodiatry. |
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©2003.
The information contained on this page about child's shoes or children
footwear is subject to copyright. No part of the information fitting
childs footwear contained on this page can be reproduced in any
form without the permission of ePodiatry. |
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Child's shoes |
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