When you’re a parent, nothing is more important than your child, their well-being, happiness, and health. Before you became a parent, you probably never even thought about all those ‘small’ things such as hair washing, toenail clipping and picking the right socks. Nevertheless, once you have had your children, all these things become of the utmost importance. And since your child’s feet are incredibly important for their overall health and future, here are a few useful tips on how to take good care of your child’s feet.
The shape of their feet
Your child’s feet have 22 bones at first, and over the years the number changes and they will eventually end up with 26 bones altogether. The shape of their feet can vary, so you can notice they have tapered feet, where the big toe is also the biggest toe; rounded feet, where the second or the third toe are the biggest ones; or square feet, with all the toes being approximately the same size. They will likely have inherited the shape from either you or someone else in your family.
Don’t rush to buy them shoes
It is easy to understand that the best way for their feet do develop is to let them walk barefoot as much as possible. This way, the feet are developing naturally and the child is getting used to the walking. Of course, you cannot have them running around completely barefoot, so the next best thing is to have them to wear socks only. This way, they will be almost barefoot, but will not be cold, and will not restrict the movement.
Keep an eye out for feet problems
No matter how hard you try, you cannot protect them from everything. It can happen that your child has certain problems with their feet, and you could feel helpless. Ingrown toenails and athlete’s foot are easy to spot and treat, so you should not be too alarmed. If your child waddles while they walk, it doesn’t have to mean that they have feet problems. However, if it continues at the age of three, they might have flat feet. There are doctors specialized in children’s podiatry who can help you and your child with these problems.
What their first shoes should be like
First shoes should come once your toddler is confident enough to walk outside on rough surfaces, they should get their first shoes. The shoes should be as light as possible, with flexible soles and non-slip bottoms. Make sure they are fitted by a professional shoe-fitter and that they have enough space for the feet.
Taking the health your child’s feet seriously is very important, and you should always keep in mind that they should be as free as possible, but at the same time as safe as possible too. The balance isn’t always easy to achieve, but for the sake of your child you should tr. Don’t limit them, let them run around barefoot and have fun as often as possible, and don’t rush to buy them their first shoes just yet. They will have enough time for that once they get older.
