Children’s Feet

Our feet have a lifelong role to play. The best thing we can do to ensure they can successfully carry us through life is to look after them from the very start. Initially it is best to keep babies’ feet free and unrestricted by tight booties or bed coverings for example. A bootie, sock or shoe that fits well one week may be too tight the next and keeping and eye on this will help your child’s feet develop normally. Parents often become concerned when their child starts to walk and a foot or feet appear to be turned inwards or outwards or the child is walking on their toes. This is very common and often a normal part of development. However, you may want to seek a podiatry assessment if:

• The feet are turned inward or outward a lot, or one foot is turned more than the other.
• The child continues to toe walk.
• The child regularly trips and falls.
• The child doesn’t want to weight bear evenly on both legs.
• The child doesn’t want to walk/be active and is complaining of pain anywhere in their legs.
• The child’s shoes wear unevenly.

Alternatively, you may just want to chat about normal foot development and shoe wear for the growing foot and that is fine too. It is very important to get the appropriate shoes for your child’s developing foot and the activity.