Do you put shoes and sock on your toddler when leaving the house?

Question

Or do they wear sandals, flip-flops or go barefoot? Mine always wear athletic shoes with socks. It seems like allot of parents are now allowing flip-flops. From what I have read they are bad for the feet due to their lack of support.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=health&id=5595184

Answer 1

It's good for children to go barefoot, and they don't need as much support.
From "The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot":
In Europe and America flat foot is a common reason for attendance at a children's orthopaedic clinic, but in India children are seldom brought for treatment for flat foot. The few children who do attend with this complaint are from affluent urban families and they all wear shoes. In our clinic we have never seen a child from the farming community or from the family of a manual labourer who complained of flat foot.

From ""Survey in China and India of Feet That Have Never Worn Shoes"
One hundred and eighteen of those interviewed were rickshaw coolies. Because these men spend very long hours each day on cobblestone or other hard roads pulling their passengers at a run it was of particular interest to survey them. If anything, their feet were more perfect than the others. All of them, however, gave a history of much pain and swelling of the foot and ankle during the first few days of work as a rickshaw puller. But after either a rest of two days or a week's more work on their feet, the pain and swelling passed away and never returned again. There is no occupation more strenuous for the feet than trotting a rickshaw on hard pavement for many hours each day yet these men do it without pain or pathology.

From "Take Off Your Shoes and Walk by Simon J. Wikler D.S.C. (Doctor of Surgical Chiropody)"
. . . most adults' foot trouble would either not exist or would be much less bothersome if properly-shaped shoes had been worn during childhood or, better yet, if those people had gone barefoot . . . . . . Grandmothers with gnarled toes would scold their grandchildren and insist no one could possibly walk without support in their shoes. Yet, those who disregarded that advice are the ones who have the better feet today . . .

Answer 2

Why do we cling to this notion that feet need some type of support. A vast majority of the world's population goes barefoot, and you never hear about some outbreak of foot problems. These problem exist when we unnaturally force our feet into shoes.

As toddlers start to walk, they use MORE muscles in their feet and legs if they walk barefoot. I do agree that you should be careful of certain situations, like hot pavement, or rough terrain, but that's just common sense.

Our kids grew up going barefoot all the time, as much as possible. They wore flip flops to school when it was warm, and sneakers for PE, and when it got cold. Shoes are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria that cause athelets foot. Nothing's more healthy than the open air and sunshine for bare feet. So what if they get a little dirty. Don't your kids take showers or baths and get clean?

Keep 'em BARE!

Barefoot Tex

Answer 3

I have my little girl in socks and shoes now that it's beginging to get cold, but during the summer days I let her wear sandals. I would never give her flip flops (she's not yet 2), but I did let her try a pair that goes between her big toe and the next one and also has the band that goes around the back of the ankle. She hates those shoes!!!! Now she is wearing tennis shoes and socks, I would never let her leave with out socks though.

Answer 4

I say the same rules go for your toddler as for yourself. i think the type of shoes you put your child in depends on where you are going, just as it does for yourself. My son is now in first grade and has to wear tennis shoes to school everyday and well, he never wore flip-flops, ever, he does wear those slip on athletic sandals, the ones like the soccer players wear. I however, wear flip-flops almost everyday, everywhere and can tell you that I don't think they can be very good for the arches of the feet. I'm not a podiatrist simply a mother and perpetual flip-flop wearer.

Answer 5

Usually when leaving the house my kids have on shoes and socks. When there going to play in the park where theres grass, I let them wear flip flops so they can take them off easily and run in the grass to let there feet air out. Even though there children constantly wearing tennis shoes they can still get athletes foot. I would say talk to there doctor about the bad for feet, due to lack of support part.

Answer 6

The best kind of shoe is one that bends with the foot, not one that is stiff as a board. Socks? I don't put socks on my son with his sandals, but I do with shoes, feet get sweaty. But I do sometimes take my 19month barefoot, when I'm harried, because she's not going to be walking where I'm going and I can't always find socks or shoes...

Answer 7

Nah if it's hot; those socks and shoes won't stay put for long! Maybe get them crocs or some proper sandals from a shoe shop if you don't want them to wear flip flops.

Answer 8

Sandals are not much better if worn all the time. Most foot doctors will tell you that a good sport shoe worn with socks is best for growing children. My kids always have shoes and socks on even in the summer. Who cares if their feet sweat a little. At least I know their feet are protected and their is less threat of them falling. Shoes never hurt me growing up.

Answer 9

Poor babies - shoes & socks in the summer can really make a baby overheat. If it is super hot outside, there is no reason to make your baby wear socks & shoes - their little tootsies need to breathe!!! I hate wearing shoes myself... I am always barefoot or in sandals or mules. I hate socks!!!

My daughter wears regular walking shoes & socks to school and play time or if we are going somewhere that she will walk alot.. I got her those tennis shoes with bungee laces so they just slip on and I don't have to constantly redo the velcro or laces! Those are great! I got her some crocs too and she loves them to pieces - she has a pair at school for inside wear only (they require slippers with hard soles, so the crocs work out well for that use). Other than that, I let her run around barefoot at home and in the car (She tends to take her shoes off everytime we are in the car). :^)

Answer 10

Honestly for me it depends on how much walking my son is going to be doing. For example, if we are going to the zoo and he is going to be riding in a stroller most of the day and it is going to be hot, I will put sandals on him or let him go barefoot. But if he is going to be doing a relatively large amount of walking then I will put tennis shoes and socks on him because of the support they give his little feet! Hope this helps!