Concern for your child’s flat feet

By Ryan Cochrane on January 14, 2020 in Health & Care

A guide to the growth of children’s feet

They grow so fast!

There is nothing cuter than baby feet! But who am I kidding everything is adorable in a smaller version. Before you know it they will be stomping around the house with feet either the same size as you or bigger. At times, you are baffled as you just spent money on new shoes that are already too small. Unfortunately, it’s necessary during those growth spurts to update their footwear to ensure healthy growth. One concern I get is parents who worry whether their child’s flat feet are normal, so I’ve tried to summarize a guide to healthy foot growth. Hopefully, your kids will grow into happy healthy adults with minimal foot problems.

Unfortunately, you can come across many conflicting studies and information on the internet regarding children’s feet. Some of them say to wear shoes, others say to go barefoot! Which is the best?

Barefoot

Going barefoot at a young age helps develop muscles in their feet as well as allows them to feel different textures and temperatures as they walk around. Of course, shoes have their place but when young children are learning to walk, the shoe should be flexible and provide an ample amount of wiggle room for their growing toes. With this in mind, shoes during childhood until age 6 are most important to protect them from sharp objects on the ground.

Correct Shoe Size

I cannot stress enough on shoe size! Such a simple concept but it can go unnoticed. Even I have been guilty of letting my own child wear a pair of shoes too long!

Be sure to have your child’s foot measured regularly as you may be unaware that their shoes are too small before it’s too late. Expensive shoes do not always mean better quality. It is important that not only does your child want to wear the shoes you buy but the shoe fits and has some of the key structure points. Hopefully, in your local area, there is a shoe store that has the tools to measure their feet. If they don’t, I recommend, if possible, pulling out the insole and have your child stand on it. There should always be a thumb space from their longest toe to the end of the shoe. This is a simple way to ensure that the length is correct if you are unsure.

Age 0-5

When buying shoes for your pre-school aged child these are some points to keep in mind:

1. Shoes should be comfortable in length and width – the rule of thumb is always a thumb width from the end of their longest toe to the end of the shoe
2. Flexible and flat (should have enough bend in the toes)
3. Plenty of wiggle room for the toes
4. Laces or straps to keep their feet from moving around in the shoe

Age 5 and up

By the time your child starts going to school their arch should be developed. Below are certain precautions you must take.

1. The heel counter, the back portion of the shoe, should be a bit stiffer to prevent the ankles from rolling in or out. As kids tend to play on harder surfaces now that they are attending school this is necessary to keep their alignment straight.
2. Laces are better- they ensure that the heel remains in the back of the shoe
3. Slightly more stiff sole to prevent unnecessary wear on the shoe and improper wear

If your child is like mine, these guidelines are important to follow. Their feet tend to roll in and their shoes will wear to the point they can end up walking on the inside material. If their alignment looks like this (see below picture), it is important to consider foot orthotics. Take note that the ankles are rolling in and they will be prone to premature shoe wear and pain.

Is your child complaining of pain (growing pains are never normal) or have premature shoe wear? It is best to get your child’s feet assessed by a professional. Sometimes a little bit of arch support and some exercises help keep feet on track.

The best advice is to check your children’s feet regularly! Feet are important and must be able to carry you through the rest of your life.