All parents want the best for their children, whether it means choosing the right school, the right friends, or eating nutritional meals. There is one aspect of children’s developing years that is often overlooked: foot wear.

Selecting the right foot wear for your child is very important. Children’s feet are constantly growing and developing, so ensuring their health with a proper fit and supportive shoe is key. Children’s shoes are a huge factor contributing to a child’s posture and musculoskeletal development. It’s not necessary for an infant or young toddler learning to walk, to wear shoes constantly. Leaving them barefoot or in socks will allow foot growth and muscle development to occur naturally without the confinement of shoes.  However, for protection purposes, your infant or toddler should wear shoes when outside. Once your child is able to walk, proper fitting shoes are a must.

Chiropodist Brian Cragg recommends some simple tips to consider when choosing a shoe for your child.  They include the following:

• Measure your child’s feet each time you shop for new shoes. Remember that your child’s feet are constantly growing and changing.
• Shop for shoes later in the day. Children’s feet swell throughout the day, so it’s best for them to be fitted while their feet are swollen.
• Ensure accurate measurements. Have your child stand up so they are putting their full weight on their feet. There should be thumb’s width between the tip of their toes and the end of the shoe. Your child should be able to wiggle his or her toes easily.
• Buy shoes for the larger foot. Children commonly may have two different sized feet. Always buy a pair of shoes that fits the larger foot.
• Inspect the shoe before you purchase. Look for support in cushion, a built-in arch, and flexibility where the ball of the foot bends. Each of these supports ensures the correct amount of foot support and prevention for injury.

If you have questions about your child’s feet, or want more tips about shoe choices, contact the Markham Foot Care Clinic today to set up an appointment with Brian Cragg at (905) 294-8087.