{"id":54712,"date":"2019-09-16T15:07:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T15:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/choosing-the-right-toddler-shoes\/"},"modified":"2019-09-16T15:07:05","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T15:07:05","slug":"choosing-the-right-toddler-shoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/de\/choosing-the-right-toddler-shoes\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the right toddler shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We were given lots of cute shoes for our son, Carmelo well before he took his first steps. From soft leather slippers adorned with monsters to skateboarder sneakers, sandals and superhero-embossed rubber boots, there were plenty to choose from. But I wasn\u2019t sure if any of them were actually good for his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry to always find the best-fitting shoe possible,\u201d says Joseph Stern, former president of the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be overly concerned about the quality of shoes that are only worn very occasionally, but toddlers all need one good pair for everyday wear.\u201d<\/p>

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\nWhat it means when your toddler is toe-walking<\/span>That one good pair should be sturdy, fitted to your child\u2019s foot at a shoe store so it will support his foot properly and have rubber soles to stop him from tripping. \u201cEach shoe is designed for a specific function,\u201d Stern explains. \u201cFor example, sandals are designed to wear to the beach or pool<\/strong>, not to run around in. The bones in the foot are very soft at this age. Wearing badly fitted shoes won\u2019t deform your toddler\u2019s feet, but if his shoes aren\u2019t very supportive, it can advance any abnormalities that his feet may already have, such as flat feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

You should take your child for a professional fitting, says Stern, who recognizes that it can seem pricey to buy a good pair of shoes, considering how quickly kids grow out of them (little feet grow about 1.5 mm in length every month between the ages of one and three). \u201cIf your child needed glasses<\/strong>, you wouldn\u2019t buy them off the shelf instead of going to an optician,\u201d he says. \u201cA more expensive shoe is going to be made of better materials, and has been designed by a manufacturer who knows about the science of children\u2019s feet so it will better support them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fit and function<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Stern says that the right pair of shoes will have a toe-box that\u2019s wide and round or square, to naturally follow the shape of the foot, with adequate room so the toes aren\u2019t squished together. Materials should be breathable\u2014leather or the types of mesh used in running shoes. The shoe should flex at the ball of the foot, but the heel counter at the back should be stiff to hold the shoe upright. Look for a pair that has Velcro fastenings (or laces, if you have a co-operative kid) to ensure a snug fit.<\/p>\n

Is it OK to share shoes?<\/h2>\n

Lots of parents buy second-hand kids\u2019 footwear on neighbourhood Facebook buy-and-sell groups. But the experts warn against doing so. Only pairs for special occasions, which generally don\u2019t get much wear, are OK to pass on to younger siblings. Everyday shoes have formed to a child\u2019s foot in a way that may not give the necessary support to another child, says Stern. What\u2019s more, he says, \u201cfungus, like athlete\u2019s foot<\/strong>, or warts can be carried in all shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Measuring up<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When your child gets fitted for their first pair, it\u2019s about more than just having enough room for their toes. First, the foot is measured for length and width. Next he\u2019ll try the shoe on, then a list of things are checked. \u201cThe width, instep, and flex point\u2014where the sole of the shoe is most easily bent\u2014are all important measurements,\u201d says Linda Goulet, president of Panda Shoes, a Canadian children\u2019s footwear retail chain. As for length, given that your child\u2019s likely going to need two to three pairs of shoes each year until growth slows down, it can be tempting to buy shoes a size bigger. Goulet recommends you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same as it would be for adults: Are you going to be comfortable walking in shoes that are too big? No. Plus, if the shoe is too big, the flex point will be in the wrong place and won\u2019t support or protect the foot properly.\u201d Ill-fitting shoes may lead to slips, trips, and falls, which can cause ankle damage. Take your time in the store so you can watch how your child walks in each pair. \u201cIf they\u2019re on tippytoes or not walking properly, something\u2019s hurting. Have patience in the process,\u201d says Stern.<\/p>\n

While I got my first child properly fitted for shoes when he was a toddler, doing the same for Carmelo was the one task that kept slipping through the cracks of our busy life. He is never happier than when stomping around in his Spider-Man rubber boots, but when he eventually moved from toddling to more sure-footed steps, I took him in to get fitted for a proper pair of shoes\u2014and reserve his boots for puddle jumping<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Read more:
Should you be worried about your clumsy toddler?
3 ways to get toddlers to keep their hat on
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