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Children’s Feet

Your paediatrician will guide your child to a healthy body, your dentist will ensure healthy teeth and your chiropodist will lead you and your child to healthy feet. *

-When will your child begin walking ?-

Most children begin walking somewhere between 10 and 18 months. They learn by imitating adults or older siblings. They strive to interact with others and to discover their environment. To do so they require mobility. They crawl, stand, walk with the aid of tables, etc and finally walk alone.

This is a natural process that occurs within the natural time span. Please do not compare your child to other children who may begin walking sooner. Also do not force your child to walk. Let nature take its course.

In a toddler’s normal gait (walking) cycle, the feet will appear flattened and turned to the outside like a duck walk. This is all part of the normal process of development. As bones begin to harden and ligaments begin to strengthen, you will notice the feet and legs rotate into a more straightened position. This will take time, you should notice less flattening of the arches and a straight walking cycle by the age of 6 to 7 years. If the feet remain flattened, an assessment by a chiropodist should be sought.

-When should my child begin to wear shoes?-

Our feet have evolved over the millennia to support our upright bodies. They did not evolve with footwear in mind. Footwear is generally used for protection from injury and the elements. If the floor in your home is safe from sharp objects, it is alright to let your toddler walk naturally. When she or he is to leave the house, shoes and socks should be worn.

From birth until walking, shoes are not suggested including booties. They can be restrictive to natural growth if they are too tight or small. They do not aid or encourage the child to walk.

-Type of Shoes-

Any properly fitting, name brand, basic running shoe is best. They should be lace up or velcro. Shoes and socks should be checked every month to ensure sufficient space in the shoe. The ball of the foot area in the shoe should be flexible to allow normal foot movement. In children 6 to 12 years old, the fit should be checked every 3 to 4 months. Most foot problems result from injury and hereditary factors such as flat or high arched feet. Improperly fitted shoes can exacerbate the problems.

Never hand shoes down to others as heavily worn shoes can cause grave foot problems.

-Ingrown nails-

An ingrown nail occurs when a damaged portion of nail pierces the skin in the sulcus (fold of skin along the side of the nail).

Active children are particularly susceptible to this condition. There are many causes including incorrect cutting or peeling of nails, too tight or too small footwear, poor foot mechanics and significant to children is sporting activities. Hot sweaty feet, sharp nails along with running and kicking create the right conditions for ingrown nails.

Unfortunately children will often say nothing until it has become infected and is quite painful. Encourage children to cut their nails to the contour of the toe. Teach them to file the edge round and not to cut down the sides. Also do not pick or peel the nails. Encourage them to report sore toes allowing time to consult with a chiropodist before the condition becomes too painful or infected.

-Foot pain and leg pain-

Children should not complain of foot pain when they walk or run reasonable distances. Pain in the legs at night is usually not growing pains. These conditions are indications that foot and leg muscles are not functioning properly. These complaints are most often mechanical in nature and a chiropodist should be consulted. Often special exercises along with proper medical orthotics can correct and control the problem. Remember your feet are your foundation. Like the foundation of a building, if it is not functioning correctly, structural problems will occur.

-Athletes Foot-

This is a very common fungal infection in active children. It is seen most often in gym showers and public pools as well as sweaty running or soccer shoes.

Symptoms:

Peeling, red, itchy, cracked skin often scattered with small brown marks or dried blisters can indicate fungal infection. Eczema can have a similar appearance. Affected children need to consult a chiropodist as this infection is contagious and there are medications to treat these conditions.

-Bone Protrusion-

Bony protrusions no matter where they occur on the feet need to be explored, even when pain does not exist.