Your baby’s feet
Be sure to cover your baby with loosely fitting clothes (especially “onesies”) as tightly fitting clothes can impact on the way their bones develop.
Avoid placing your baby on their stomach for extended periods of time, as this can cause excessive strain on their feet and legs.
Your baby is starting to walk
Walking barefoot can help normal muscle development and should be encouraged. If shoes are to be worn, they sho
uld be fitted properly by a shoe fitter (that has experience with toddlers) after a child has been walking for several weeks.
Sitting positions may also affect your children’s feet and leg development. In particular, avoid your children from “frog sitting” with their knees turned in and their feet turned out. Sitting with legs crossed should be encouraged.
Your baby is growing up
“Don’t worry – they’ll grow out of it” is a common response to parents concerns about the development of their children’s feet or legs. In some cases this can be true, however as children grow, their feet and legs undergo various stages of development.
Your podiatrist will be able to assess and advise you whether or not your child’s development falls within normal limits for their age, or if treatment is required.
Don’t dismiss your child’s complaints of aches as “growing pains”. The reason for frequent aches is often due to poor foot or leg posture.
When choosing footwear for your child, it is important to note that footwear should be comfortable from the moment they are harbouring your feet and should not need a “break in period”