FOOTCARE FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Good foot health is worth pursuing and it enhances your life more than you realise.
Foot Fact: 98% of babies are born with healthy feet…the rest is up to you.
Foot Fact: At 50 years of age 50% men and 64% women complain of problem feet.

WHY?
There are two reasons for problem feet:
1.Hereditary factors
2. Ill fitting footwear, hosiery and neglect.

When should footcare start?
Footcare starts with newborns: cot blankets should not be too tight, all in one suits tend to have small feet and it is often the case that babies grow out of them feet first.

Pay attention to socks: they should have a high natural fibre content, seams that are not too bulky, smooth patterns and may be more comfortable worn inside out and need changing every day. Be careful with little material bootees and foot muffs on pushchairs - are the feet long enough? Even though they are soft they can cause problems if there is insufficient room for the feet.

Infants skin is so soft it can be rubbed easily, especially in the summer. Little feet can be more comfortable wearing cotton socks when it is warm than wearing footwear with no socks.

Nails should be cut to a neat length, easiest after a bath, avoiding going down at the sides of the nail. Don't let nails get too long.

A child's first pair of shoes is needed, for protection, when the child has started to walk. This can vary from 9 to 18 months.

Do shoes need to be fitted? Yes - as children are constantly growing it is important to wear shoes that fir properly. 98% of babies are born with healthy feet and only 40% still have healthy feet by the time they reach adulthood.

How to get shoes that fit properly:
- Always buy shoes from a shop, which operates a proper fitting service.
- Have both feet measured - most of us have slightly different feet.
The shoes come in matching pairs the feet often don't.
- Fit the larger foot.
- The gauge and measurement are a starting point in the fitting process.
Don't worry if you end up with a different size.
- The shoefitters skill is to see if the shoe fits once on the foot.
- All shoes vary, from different suppliers, different styles from the same supplier, different lasts fit differently, so it is impossible to say a child is size 9F so therefore all shoes marked 9F will fit or should fit. They won't all fit and it is naïve to expect that they would. If you looked at the feet of three children who measured 9F they could all be quite different in shape and require different shoes.
Remember that shoefitting is an art not an exact science.

How often should children's feet be measured? As a general guide every 6-8 weeks for infants, 8-12 weeks for older toddlers and then 12 weeks for children 5years and over. Feet grow faster, proportionately, the younger the child, hence the need for more regular checks in the early years. Growth is not always regular and a good shop will tell you if a new pair of shoes is needed now, or you may be advised to return at a later date to re-check.

Be observant about your child's feet- especially coming up to check time. Are the shoes getting difficult to put on? Does the shoe look full? Look at the feet for any pressure points.

Is it alright if shoes are too big? No - shoes that are too big can cause damage just like shoes that are too small.

The best shoes should be made from natural materials as far as possible ie leather, linings - leather or cotton are best, flexible - to be able to move with the foot and last but not least, foot shaped!

Is it worth having your child measured and buying good footwear? Yes, definitely. Preserving the gift of healthy feet is well worth the effort. If you get your children to adulthood with healthy feet, you have given them a fantastic start.

Being pro active about footcare pays dividends, as feet respond to care and attention, at any stage of our lives. Comfortable feet allow you to get on with your life but painful feet can stop you enjoying yourself.

Don't forget to look after your feet, even though they are further from your mind than your eyes or your teeth!

Elizabeth Presswell
Howorth's Shoes