By Randy L. Brown, M.S., C. Ped.
We ALL need good shoes - especially kids. As kids grow and develop, their feet need support, stability, balance, control, comfort and protection. Here are some things for parent to keep in mind regarding their children's foot health:
Q: How do I begin to choose a shoe for my child?
A: First, select footwear based on the purpose for which
the shoe is to be used. For babies, their shoes should
complement how their bodies naturally move at that age.
Look for features that recognize that babies' feet are different
than older children. For example, as children grow
and become more active, they need more sturdy shoes
than they did when they were younger. The important
thing to ensure is that their footwear doesn't inhibit their
natural movements.
Q: How do I determine a shoe size for my child?
A: Pay less attention to size and more to fit! When a professional
shoe fitter measures a foot, he or she is measuring
for foot size, not shoe size. Proper fit involves many
aspects of an evaluation process; e.g., shape, arch, heel,
tread, length, width, girth and, in the case of children,
room to grow. The fitting process is an important step in
keeping your kid's feet healthy, so get help from a fitting
professional at your local shoe store.
Q: How long can I expect my child's shoes to last?
A: From birth to three years your child's feet will grow
approximately ½ a size (or 1/6 of an inch) every three
months. That means a new pair of shoes every three
months. Growth slows slightly from 3 to 5 years, though
shoe size should be checked every 4 to 6 months.
Randy L. Brown, a Certified Pedorthist, is qualified to help
parents determine which size of a particular shoe is best
for their kids.
...during the course of a normal day, kids bring several hundred tons of force to bear on their feet?
...kids' feet contain 250,000 sweat glands?
...by age 2½, the size of a baby's foot will be
almost exactly half of its full-grown size at 21
years? This fantastic growth can be not only in length but
also in width.
...most babies appear to have flat feet at birth, in part because they have an extra
padding of fat on each foot that hides their arches?
...that most toddlers are flat-footed when they begin walking? Arches should develop by age
5. Infant shoes should have less height in the arch while shoes for preschoolers and grade-schoolers should have
more of a distinct arch.
...that torsional imbalance is common in kids and is usually corrected between the ages
of three and five as the foot develops?
New Balance knows that no two kids are the same. That's why we offer kids' shoes in all different sizes and widths. To meet the active needs of developing feet we put shock- absorbing materials throughout the foot bed and doubled up in the heel and ball areas. We also make our footwear with a moisture management system to keep kids' feet cool and dry. To find a retailer closest to you, please visit the Find A Store section or call 800-253-7463.
