Baby Shoes

Baby feet! Aren't they beautiful? Imagine —within 18 months your child will walk on them! Small, active, and soft ... For how long? Few babies are born with foot problems, but how many adults have soft, beautiful feet with no discomforts?

Children's feet are continually growing and developing, and the bones, joints, and tissues are very soft and flexible. This means that the feet are vulnerable. They can form in the wrong shape if subjected to too much pressure from tight body-suits, socks, and (especially) shoes.

Infant booties should be soft, flexible, warm, and loose-fitting.

The purpose of shoes is to protect the feet against cold, wet, and hard and sharp objects. Shoes should be considered a protection when protection is needed. The first baby shoes should be purchased when the baby is walk­ing outdoors. Shoes don't have to be expen­sive — shop around.

The human foot has three parts that footwear needs to especially protect and support:

1.    A rounded, soft, buffer of a heel at the back of the foot

2.    A flexible but stable long arch under the foot

3.    A strong, straight big toe, plus 4 flexible little toes

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN

CHOOSING SHOES?

Many parents choose shoes that are too hard or stiff for young feet. Contrary to popu­lar belief, freedom of movement is much more important than support. Unless your child has a rare deformity of the feet, orthopedic shoes are not necessary and may even damage the feet. Good children's shoes should protect against damage and dirt, but don't have to provide sturdy support. The most important

features of shoes intended for outdoor use and activities on a hard surface are the following:

·     The shoe must be long enough, be wide enough, and support the back of the foot.

·     The area around the heel should be mold‑
ed and contain a shock-absorbing layer.

·     The front part has to be wide enough that all of the toes can move freely. The big toe must be able to point straight inside the shoe! The shoes should be shaped such that when they are placed next to each other, there's no gap between them.

·     The sole should be soft and flexible, to allow free movement of the heel and toes and development of the foot. You can test whether a shoe is flexible enough in the shoe store. Bend the shoe from toe to heel, then fold the shoe diag­onally. If this is easy to do, the sole is flexible enough for young feet.

It is important that shoes "breathe." Shoes made of leather or canvas are best. Leather and canvas absorb some foot moisture and bring it to the surface, where it can evaporate. They can also adjust their shape to that of the foot. The shoe lining should be of leather, wool, or another natural fiber. Synthetic mate­rials can be too airtight — foot sweat and fun­gus can be a problem even for small children.

Soles and heels should be made of a flexi­ble, durable material such as rubber. They should be shaped to help the child to stand

up well. To help avoid foot-twisting acci­dents, the shoes' heels shouldn't be too high.

The opening of the shoe must be flexible, to let you adjust the tightness of the fit. Lace-ups, Velcro' fasteners, or broad straps are best. Shoes with Velcro fasteners are easy for a child to take on and off, which eases the dressing procedure and delights the child by enabling him or her to "do it myself!"

WHAT SIZE SHOES SHOULD I BUY?

Feet vary greatly, ranging from small and narrow, to long and wide, and they may have a low, medium, or high arch.

Shoe length

Have your child stand up when you mea­sure the feet, so that the full body weight rests on the feet. Measure each foot from the tip of the big toe to the back of the heel. The shoes should be about 1/2 inch longer than the feet. This allows for growth of about 1/4 inch, plus another 1/4 inch or so of "slide length" that the toes need when walking. If shoes are longer than that, the feet will slide around and not be supported well enough. If shorter, there will be too much pressure on the toes.

Youngsters' feet grow rapidly, and you'll have to constantly check that your child's toes aren't touching the front of the shoe. Be aware that your child won't notice if the shoes do not fit. Because the feet are so soft and

moldable, your child will feel no pain if shoes are too tight. The feet grow in spurts, on average about 1/2 inch a year during child­hood, and about 1 inch during adolescence.

Shoe width

The general rule is that the inside of the shoe should be about 1/3 inch wider than the foot. Most shoe stores have a device designed to measure the foot accurately The child stands on the device, and the salesperson pushes little sliders up against the foot to measure its length and width. Some companies make shoes in dif­ferent widths, so you can find a shoe that real­ly fits your child's foot. The most important thing in buying shoes is to make sure that the foot has enough room to grow and develop.

SHOES ARE NOT A NATURAL PART OF THE BODY

Your child should walk without shoes as often as possible... That is, indoors, and out­doors during nice weather. This allows the toes to move freely, the muscles to develop well, and the blood to circulate naturally. It also gives your child the opportunity to feel and experience the feet in a different way than when they're "wrapped up" in shoes.

CAN CHILDREN INHERIT SHOES?

another foot. Children's feet are very different, and shoes fit only the first owner.

MATCHING THE SHOES TO THE SITUATION

When -you are buying shoes, think about when and where they'll be worn. Indoor shoes and summer shoes should be light and soft. Winter shoes should be thicker, but also light and soft. It's healthful — for the feet and for the shoes — that the shoes be changed according to need.

FOOT EXERCISES

Children make sure that their feet get a lot of exercise. Additional exercises are unneces­sary, so long as the feet are given enough freedom of movement from infancy on.

Infants and toddlers move their feet as much as they move their hands. When a 5­month-old baby grabs an object with both hands, he or she grabs with the feet at the same time. Fingers are usually allowed to be free, whereas toes are often limited in socks, tights, or stretch suits. Let your baby lie with­out socks several times a day, and ensure that any foot coverings are loose and large enough for the whole foot, especially the toes.

Play with your child's feet. Let the baby grab your hand with the toes and enjoy the movements. When your child is older, it's important that rolling, crawling, walking, and running be allowed without socks or shoes.