Children’s Shoes – Your Ally for Safe Feet

Healthy feet and ankles are essential as a child develops. They allow them to perform a wide array of activities that play an essential role in not only physical but also social development. Little children running around with their friends on school playgrounds or at places like Otsiningo Park are not aware of this, but they are actually developing social skills while they play.

Given the importance of child development, you need to make sure that your child’s feet and ankles are protected. Knowing more about children’s shoes and how to pick out the right pair will help. This is an essential component of child foot care.

Here are some tips when buying shoes for your youngster:

• Have your child’s foot measured every time. As the base of the human body, feet develop quickly to support everything else. This means that your son or daughter’s feet have likely grown since their last pair. So enlist the help of an employee in the store or use the measuring device as a guide to determine your child’s current shoe size.
• A shoe size is only a guide. Of course, keep in mind that not all makes of shoes fit the same way. It is entirely possible to be a size-7 for one brand and a size-8 in another. So instead of relying on the number printed on the inside of the tongue, have your child actually try on shoes before buying them.
• Go shopping later in the day. Feet actually widen during the course of the day, which means that it is best to head to the store later (when feet are at their widest) for optimal comfort.
• Your child’s toes should be able to wiggle freely. If they can’t, he or she needs a different pair.
• There should be room in the front. A pair of shoes that fits well will have about a thumb’s width of space between the longest toe (not largest!) and the front.

If you have questions, would like more information children’s shoes, or need to see a foot doctor in the Greater Binghamton area, contact Southern Tier Podiatry. We provide first-class foot care services for patients of all ages, so give us call at (607) 217-5668 or take advantage of our online form to schedule your appointment today.