| Healthy Feet means a Healthier Life. It is said that the | | | | not preventing healthy growth. Also, feet should be |
| average human foot will walk over 100,000 miles in a | | | | inspected for red marks and sores. Both feet should |
| lifetime and take in excess of 18,000 steps in a day. | | | | be checked, as it is common for one foot to be |
| In adulthood, over three quarters of the population | | | | bigger than the other. Up to the age of five Children |
| will have some kind of problem with their feet. Many | | | | should have their feet properly measured every 6 to |
| of these problems could have developed during the | | | | 8 weeks by a trained person, as this is about the |
| childhood years and this is why it is very important | | | | time it takes for some children's feet to grow a half |
| that we take good care of the feet of a newborn | | | | size or even a full size. Every 4 to 5 months after |
| baby. They have a very long and hard life ahead of | | | | this age should be adequate. |
| them. | | | | Toddlers should learn to balance themselves and start |
| The Foot Structure of a Baby | | | | to walk unaided in bare feet and not wear shoes |
| Newborn babies' feet has very soft bone, muscle and | | | | made of hard materials until they are confident on |
| tendons and is extremely vulnerable to damage and | | | | their feet. |
| although experts advise that babies should not wear | | | | Fitting the Shoes |
| shoes, it is important that their feet are kept warm | | | | To ensure you choose the correct shoes, some |
| to encourage healthy growth. Therefore, booties | | | | experts advise that you take your child to the shoe |
| made from soft materials are adequate just so long | | | | shop in the afternoon when their feet are swelled to |
| as they are loose fitting. | | | | their largest. Shoes should be comfortable and easy |
| Tight footwear will restrict movement and inhibit | | | | to put on from the date of purchase, do not expect |
| natural foot growth and development. | | | | them to "break in". Kids grow quickly, so if the shoe |
| Fitted Shoes | | | | fits perfectly from the first day, they will become |
| Baby Shoes should enable the feet to breathe and | | | | too small within a few weeks but also, a shoe that's |
| develop without any restrictions and yet still keep | | | | too big can cause problems so it is very important |
| them at a comfortable temperature. An ill-fitting shoe | | | | that the shoe is designed to provide maximum safe |
| at any stage in development can result in pain, sores | | | | room for growth. The soft bones and cartilage on |
| and deformity. | | | | Children's feet can easily be bent out of shape |
| Growing Feet | | | | without the parent or the child realising. Properly |
| By the time an infant is one year old their feet will | | | | designed footwear is the first step to healthy |
| have grown to half its adult size and will then take | | | | children's feet. Only when the shoe is on the foot can |
| another seventeen to eighteen years to be fully | | | | trained personnel know if it fits well or not. This will |
| developed. By the age of five the foot will have it's | | | | be carried out with the use of a length and width |
| full count of 26 bones, although they will still not be | | | | gauge as well as their experienced sense of touch. |
| fully formed by the age of eight. | | | | Foot care, shoe selection, correct fitting and |
| Measuring Baby and Kids Feet | | | | education are essential issues in protecting your |
| Kids' feet do not grow at a consistent pace and | | | | children's feet from potential damage and other |
| therefore it is very important to check the shoe size | | | | complications in later life. |
| as regularly as possible to ensure the child's shoe is | | | | |