does footwear help or hinder children foot health?

Question

children foot devlopment
effects of footwear on child feet

Answer 1

My son has flat feet he's 5 after taking him to a podiatrist they said its best for kids to wear a good quailty trainer like New Balance as it cushions there feet. Ankle boots are no good as are most ill fiiting hard sole shoes.

Answer 2

Shoes are not essential to good foot health unless the child has an orthopedic problem that needs special handling. The American Indian wore no shoes and had very healthy feet. Young children learning to walk should never wear shoes since they kind of use the toes to grip the floor for balance. Obviously for a walking child that will go outside shoes are a requirement so good well fitting shoes are a good idea and most good sneakers will fit this requirement nicely.

Answer 3

The short answer is yes, footwear might hinder children foot development, since children feet develop best while walking barefoot. With the innovation of cushioned soled shoes our muscles lost their natural function. Padded shoes change our foot strike and leave important foot muscles weak. Therefore, it is recommended that infants and toddler walk barefoot as much as possible. However, when staying outdoors and in cold weather, walking barefoot is not practical. The best shoes for infants and toddlers are those that allow the foot to function similar to barefoot. This means shoes that have flat soles, which are soft and flexible, and allow the foot to move naturally without restriction. Another important feature is wide toe box, as the front part of children feet is much wider than in adults. KidOFit (http://www.kidofit.com) offer barefoot shoes for infants and toddlers, which feel as close as it gets to barefoot walking, and are wide in the front to match the shape of children’s feet.

Answer 4

When children are very small, (not able to walk yet and learning to walk), it's actually best for them to be barefoot (or warm socks or booties if it's cold). Putting shoes on them can shape and mold the foot in ways that are not natural, especially when they are learning to walk. Being barefoot (or just in socks) also helps them to learn to balance better. If you're not sure, ask your child's pediatrician.

Answer 5

Good,well fitting, Well made shoes = Happy Little Piggies!

Answer 6

foot wear helps but only if they fit properly,never put used shoes on kid's feet.I think like adults the shoe should have arch support ankle support etc.

Answer 7

You can look up info on this. But from experience, I think the less they have to wear constricting shoes, the better off they are.

Answer 8

if kids are from age 1-5,then give them socks and if they are older,give them good shoes.