How to choose your baby's first shoes

How to choose your child's first shoes? You should know that children's feet differ from adult feet primarily because they are not yet fully developed. In children who are 6 months old, the foot is still mostly cartilage. The last bones only begin to ossify when the child is about 3 years old. By about 18 years of age, all bones have ossified. All children have low arches. The arches of the feet begin to form from about 3 years of age until the end of the growth period.

When a child starts walking, shoes should only be worn when the feet need protection (e.g. from cold, sharp rocks, and other surfaces). The child should be allowed to be barefoot as much as possible so that their muscles can become stronger.

First steps

Sometimes children walk with their toes turned in or out. In most cases, this is normal and children grow out of it by about the age of 2. Children under 3 years old sometimes walk on tiptoes and this is a typical developmental phase. If the child continues to walk like this after the age of 3, you should consult a specialist. A child taking his first steps often leans on the inside of his foot and seems to have no arch at all. As mentioned earlier, this is normal, because the arches of the feet begin to form around the age of 3. A beginning walker walks with his feet spread apart and his toes pointing outward. This is the best way to maintain balance. As the child becomes a more skilled walker, the feet will also turn inward.

Foot development

When a baby is born, their feet are bumpy due to a small fat pad under their feet. This is completely normal.

As the child grows, the axis of the knee joints also changes. At birth, the child has O-shaped legs (clubfoot). This is due to the compressed position in the womb. As the child grows, the legs become straighter. In children aged about 1,5-2, the axis of the legs is almost straight. 
Clubfoot can be assessed by measuring the distance between the knees when the child stands with their feet together. If the result is equal to or less than 5 cm, there is no reason to worry.

Physiological clubfoot develops from the age of two. The knees begin to straighten again around the age of 4-5 and reach their final shape by the age of 7-8. In overweight children, clubfoot may persist longer than usual.
Clubfoot can be assessed by measuring the distance between the ankles when the child stands with their knees together. If the result is equal to or less than 5 cm, it is likely a physiological condition and there is no need to worry.

The process of changing the axis of the knee joint is completely natural, but it is worth monitoring that it is symmetrical, there is no limping or pain. It is considered a danger sign if a physiological change in shape has not occurred by a certain age. For example, clubfoot persists after the age of 3 and x-leg after the age of 8.

Baby's first shoes

If a child is not yet walking independently, he does not need shoes. For an inactive child, so-called real shoes will not keep his feet warm. For a child who is not yet walking independently, it is most practical to use slippers or slippers. They are comfortable to move in and they also keep his feet warm. Start choosing your child's first shoes when the child is already walking more confidently. A baby's chubby feet change in size when he begins to move actively. Therefore, shoes bought too early may no longer be suitable for an active child.

Young children's feet grow very quickly. Children up to 3 years old should have their feet measured every 1-3 months to make sure their current shoe size is appropriate. You can find instructions for measuring your foot here.

Since a child's feet are not yet fully developed, it is especially important to choose footwear that will not deform the feet under abnormal pressure. Shoes that are too small and narrow can cause various problems in the future.
A child's first shoes should not interfere with the normal development of the foot.These should:

• follow the natural shape of the foot and should not squeeze the toes together,
• leave about an inch between the longest toe and the shoe 8-10 mm of free space;
• to be securely attached to the leg;
• to consider additionally to the length also a child's foot width ja with height;
• to be as possible lightso that it would be easy for him to move around with them;
• to be soft and flexibleso that they do not restrict his activities or the mobility of his toes and feet;
• to be without heel/heel height, without arch support, imitate being barefoot. This is the only way to naturally strengthen your leg muscles;
• to allow free movement also on the ankle. Therefore, the heel must not be reinforced. nor is the shoe orthopedic.

Barefoot shoes meet all of these criteria and are the best choice for children (and you too).

Material used:

https://www.podiatry.org.au/foot-health-resources/kids/childrens-feet218

https://mvperearstid.ee/mida-peaks-teadma-lapse-jalgadest/

https://www.footankle.com/children-feet/shoes-child/

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/childrens-feet

https://mvperearstid.ee/mida-peaks-teadma-lapse-jalgadest/

Tartu University Hospital. O- AND X-LEGS. Compiled by: children's clinic physiotherapists Karmen Viigand and Ülle Utsal 2012