A few days ago we saw how barefoot children develop their intelligence better in the pre-walking stage, and that is why socks were recommended for babies that fulfill the function of protecting the foot from the cold. But the development of the foot is immense in the first years of life, therefore It is essential that we check, once they wear shoes, that they do not squeeze the child's foot.
The bones of the feet grow to 14-16 years of age before fully ossifying, and during this process it is very harmful to wear a tight shoe. Children do not usually complain that they squeeze the shoe, because they have very flexible feet that adapt.
During the first 15 months of life the foot grows approximately half a number (3 millimeters) every two months; from 15 months to two years, half number every three months; and from two to three years, half a number every three or four months. It is a rapid growth that will make the shoes “last a little”. And we have to monitor if a children's shoe is suitable or no longer serves the child, since they will not usually tell us.
In the first months, before crawling or walking, any stiff shoe will damage the physiological growth of the baby's foot, while preventing many stimuli.
During the crawling stage, the most suitable shoes should be reinforced at the heel and toe. And although they must be flexible so that they adapt to their movements, they are also hard enough to hold their ankle when they try to take their first steps or twist their feet crawling.
We reach the stage of the first steps, and it is then, between 11 and 15 months for most children, when the feet have to bear, for the first time during the time you are standing, the weight of your body . The first baby shoes are aimed at protect the foot and provide balance and stability so that the child feels safe, while favoring smooth functioning and musculoskeletal development.
The shoe must adapt very well to them: they must be soft, comfortable and free the joints to allow freedom of movement, finding the balance between flexibility and firmness, since while adapting to their movements, the shoes have to hold the ankle, and it is essential that they are reinforced at the toe and buttress to protect the foot from possible trauma.
The shoe does not have to be very wide (it would be almost as if the child were barefoot at this stage when the foot needs to be footwear for its good development) or very tight, since it would cause forced postures, “vices” when walking, wounds or deformations in the development of the foot.
How to know if you squeeze the shoe
Since the foot grows so fast during the first years, many times the shoe will be almost new when it comes to changing it. But it is not convenient to extend the life of the shoe (not for other children to use them) because it could cause problems in the development of the foot.
As we have said, let's not wait for the child to complain (he may do so already when it is too late, because he has a wound). Small shoes usually “silently” welcome the elastic fingers of the child, which shrink and adapt without causing pain.
Therefore, it is recommended check shoes once a month, and checking, while the child is standing and wearing shoes, the following points:
- From the longest toe (almost always the thumb, but sometimes it is the second toe) it should remain around 1.5 centimeters until it reaches the toe.
- This point is learned soon in children's shoe stores: it should be possible to introduce our index finger between the child's heel and the shoe without much effort.
- We do not trust the number (buying by catalog children's footwear is risky), since each manufacturer or model of shoe can have variations in shape and size. Therefore, the above recommendations should be made whenever we buy shoes for the child.
- The child's foot should be inspected from time to time, ensuring that there are no areas with chafing, red or white.
- Children's nails may also indicate that the shoe squeezes them if the distal part (the detached edge of the finger) follows the contour of the finger instead of being straighter.
In short, it is necessary to remember when buying a shoe for the child that the pressure on the foot while the ossification process takes place can produce significant deformations, therefore It is important to ensure that shoes are not squeezed. And, when in doubt, it is better to wear shoes that are a little big than very tight.
Photos | REUS and Chepe Leña on Flickr-CC
In Babies and more | Baby's first shoes, High heels for girls, to debate, Has flat feet
