Your Children's Feet
You worry about your children's teeth, eyes, and other parts of
his/her body. You teach washing, brushing, and grooming, but what do
you do about your child's feet--those still developing feet, which have
to carry the entire weight of the body through a lifetime?
Many adult foot ailments have their origins in
childhood and are present at birth. Periodic professional attention and
regular foot care can minimize these problems in later life. youngster
with troublesome feet walks awkwardly and usually has poor general
posture. As a result, these problems.
Your Baby's Feet
The human foot -- one of the most complicated parts of the body
--has 26 bones, and is laced with ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and
nerves. Because the feet of young children are soft and pliable,
abnormal pressure can easily cause deformities.
A child's feet grow rapidly during the first year, reaching almost
half their adult foot size. This is why foot specialists consider the
first year to be the most important in the development of the feet.
Here are some suggestions to help you assure that this development proceeds normally:
- Look carefully at your baby's feet. If you notice something that does not look normal to you,
seek professional care immediately. Deformities will not be outgrown by themselves.
- Cover baby's feet loosely. Tight covers restrict movement and can retard normal
development.
- Provide an opportunity for exercising the feet. Lying uncovered enables the baby to kick and
perform other related motions which prepare the feet for weight-bearing.
Starting to Walk
It is unwise to force a child to walk. When physically and
emotionally ready, the child will walk. Comparisons with other children
are misleading, since the age for independent walking ranges from 10 to
18 months. surfaces, babies' feet should be protected in lightweight,
flexible footwear.
No need to purchase expensive shoes. The shoes should only provide a
covering for the foot, and normally do NOT need to support the arch or
ankle. If the feet are normal, these structures will develop normally as
the child walks. A flexible sole is better than a hard sole. High-top
ankle supporting shoes are not advised.
Growing Up
As a child's feet continue to develop, it may be necessary to change
shoe and sock size every few months to allow room for the feet to grow.
Although foot problems result mainly from injury, deformity, illness, or
hereditary factors, improper footwear can aggravate preexisting
conditions. Shoes or other footwear should never be handed down.
The feet of young children are often unstable because of muscle
problems which make walking difficult or uncomfortable. A thorough
examination by one of our doctors may detect an underlying defect or
condition which may necessitate treatment.
Remember that lack of complaint by a youngster is not a reliable
sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that they can be twisted
and distorted without the child being aware of it.
Sports Activities
Millions of American children participate in team and individual
sports. Of particular concern are sports that require a substantial
amount of running and turning, or involve contact. Protective taping of
the ankles is often necessary to prevent sprains or fractures. Parents
should consider discussing these matters with one of our doctors if they
have children participating in active sports.