Taking good care of your child’s feet is essential in ensuring that they will grow up to have healthy, well-functioning feet. One critical element of maintaining the health of your child’s feet is measuring their feet properly before going shopping for shoes. There are several different ways in which you can take an accurate measure of your child’s feet, but you might consider performing a tracing. Simply have your child stand on a piece of paper with one end touching a wall. Your child should have their heel against the wall. Using a ruler, mark on the paper where your child’s longest toe ends. You can then perform this on the other foot. You might consider even adding one centimeter onto the final measurement so that your child’s shoe provides enough space in the toe box. If you want to learn more about children’s foot health, contact your podiatrist today.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact John Horlebein, DPM of Northern Cascades Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Chelan, WA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.