I frequently get asked by new parents for advice on the type of shoe to get for their baby or toddler. It can be quite a confusing (as well as expensive) topic: do you go for soft or hard soles, lots of give in the uppers or firm support? As cute as baby shoes are, I tell my patients to leave the shoes for family photos and to let their little one take their first steps barefoot.
The human foot is an amazing structure that has evolved over thousands of years; the vast majority of those years were without the aid of shoes. Even now, countries where people do not generally wear shoes have lower instances of problems such as corns, bunions, hammer toes, athlete’s foot and ingrown toenails and much greater strength and flexibility than their shoe wearing counterparts.
A baby’s foot is not just a small version of an adult foot: it is very much work in progress with 26 small, partially developed bones. Your baby’s feet will develop best when not confined to shoes…no matter how sweet they look. It is important for the bones, muscles, blood vessels and nerves in your baby’s feet that they have room to grow and be tested as she takes her first tentative steps.
As a learner walker, the muscles in her feet will grip the floor and her toes will separate out to give her better balance and control. Walking barefoot gives the muscles and ligaments the exercise they need to develop arches and strengthen ankles. By the way, it’s rubbish that babies have wobbly weak ankles that need stiff boots to support them: that advice should have been thrown out with the practices of binding babies to restrict movement.
Even walking (supervised) on uneven ground is good for your baby as this will make her muscles work harder, helping to strengthen the foot structure and increase flexibility.
Shoes can hamper not only the maturation of your baby’s feet but how also how her feet communicate with her developing brain. Except for the spine, the foot has the most proprioceptive or movement sensory receptors: these are nerve endings that send messages to the developing brain to tell it how to recognise where the foot is in space. As you can imagine, being aware of where your feet are is pretty important for walking! Walking barefoot is thought to aid this communication between the feet, the nervous system and the brain at this vital developmental stage.
From a chiropractic point of view, the foot is the foundation for spinal health. Inflexible or poorly functioning feet affect all the joints upwards, including the pelvis and spine. Each poorly taken step translates into problems higher up the structure of the body. I have certainly noticed that children are more likely to maintain a good posture if they go without shoes on a regular basis. A level pelvis and straight spine depend upon healthy feet throughout our entire lives, beginning in infancy.
I know that some of you are now thinking ‘What about when it’s wet and cold or on rough ground?’ Granted, it’s not always practical for your baby to go barefoot so what is the best type of shoe for babies and toddlers? The short answer is: one that mimics going barefoot. The purpose of baby shoes is to provide a protective layer whilst allowing the foot to function as naturally as possible. Ignore stiff varieties and opt for soft soled shoes that allow the foot to flex. Ensure the shoes are made from breathable material as babies’ feet sweat an awful lot – up to half a pint of moisture each day! The shoes should be lightweight, wide at the toe and with rounded at the heel. Normal baby feet do not need firm arch supports or stiff supportive sides. Whilst we’re on the subject, what do normal baby feet look like? Babies nearly always start off with flat feet as the sole is covered in a thick pad of fat. As the baby walks she builds the muscles and ligaments that pull up the arches of the feet. This is a slow process that will continue well into primary school ages.
Some babies are born with feet pointing inwards, others begin walking with their feet rotated outwards. At this early stage this is nothing to worry about as these gaits will generally correct them- selves by six months to three years of age. Those of you with toddlers may have noticed that some children begin walking on their tiptoes. Again, this is something they generally grow out of.
When choosing booties for warmth for babies who are not yet walking, please remember that babies have very wide feet; don’t cram them into booties or socks that are too tight or narrow.
Once they start walking outside and shoes become necessary, it’s very important to regularly measure your baby’s feet. Baby feet grow quickly during the first year, perhaps going through three or four sizes. Feet should be measured monthly the first year, every two months between the ages of 12 months and 24 months, and every 3 months from 24 to 36 months. Having a 3 year old daughter myself has obviously meant buying shoes for her. So far in my experience the most consistent foot measurements have come from Russell and Bromleys, our local one being Bluewater. So when you are buying shoes, try a couple of different stores and find the most consistent measurements before you buy.
If you would like to reassure yourself by having your baby or toddler’s musculoskeletal health checked over, many chiropractically trained practitioners like those at Spinal and Natural in Benfleet, are very experienced at gently examining and safely treating very young babies and children. If possible it is worth seeking out practitioners that are specifically trained in paediatrics. The International Chiropractic Paediatric Association has a list of practitioners that have carried out post graduate work in the field of Paediatrics.
Kind regards
Stuart Lawrence BSc(Hons) MSc(Chiro) DC
Osteomyologist
All information given is intended for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice, medical opinion, diagnosis or treatment.
If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your GP.