The 5 Most Common Questions Parents Ask About Kids’ Feet and Shoes – Find Out Now!
I have noticed that families seem to have the same questions related to their children’s feet. I will share these questions with you and show you the most effective way to resolve them.
Just so you know, I have helped hundreds of children who were experiencing foot and leg pain related to underlying conditions or due to wearing the wrong pair of shoes, and I believe I can help your child too.
Most children’s foot conditions are related to the shoes that the child wears and how they fit. You will be amazed by what a difference the correct pair of shoes can make in your child’s life! Don’t just wait for your child’s foot conditions to resolve on their own. I have noticed how several medical professionals advise parents to wait until the child reaches a certain age for the condition to go away, but please note that in most cases the condition doesn’t magically disappear.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 5 most common questions parents have about their kids’ feet and shoes.
Top 5 Questions Parents Ask About Their Kids’ Feet and Shoes
1️⃣ Is My Child Flat-Footed?
This is by far the most common question parents ask about their kids’ feet.
There seems to be a common misconception about flat feet in children. It is a fact that flat feet in children is common, but that doesn’t mean it should not be treated. The earlier you start treating this condition, the better.
All babies have flat feet, but by the time they turn 4, the arches should have already developed. Treatment can start as early as when the child is 2 years old by fitting the child in a pair of supportive shoes. I am not talking about orthopedic shoes, just regular sneakers that provide good support.
The biggest issue with flat feet is that children who are flat-footed tend to walk with their feet turning inwards, which shifts their body out of alignment and affects their overall posture
Once the feet are pronated, the knees and hips also become misaligned. This means the muscles that move those joints no longer work efficiently, and it will take more energy for your child to do the same work as other children who don’t have this condition.
The good news is that certain shoes can allow your child to walk and run straighter. However, depending on how flat your child’s feet are, your child might need a pair of orthotics as well. I always recommend to start by trying a pair of supportive shoes!
What a Difference These Shoes Can Make!
Let me help you visualize what I mean. Let’s take a look at the feet of a flat-footed child standing barefoot. Do you notice how the feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at what happens when we fit that same child in a pair of supportive shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the feet are a lot straighter?
Something so simple as fitting your flat-footed child in a pair of supportive sneakers can have a tremendous impact on your child’s walking gait and posture. The shoes below are made by New Balance, but this doesn’t mean that all New Balance shoes are going to be good for your child’s feet, bear in mind that there are certain styles that will work better for your kids’ specific needs.
Here you can access a selection of the best shoes for kids with flat feet. Now let’s move on to the second most common question parents have about their kids’ feet.
2️⃣ What Is My Child’s Foot Shape?
Children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes. Children can have narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet, and your child’s foot shape determines what type of shoe brands and shoe styles your child can wear. Parents of children with narrow or extra wide feet have the hardest time finding shoes that fit.
You also need to consider the instep of your child’s foot. Let me elaborate.
The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. Below you can find where the instep of the foot is located.. When children have high insteps there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside of the shoes:
If you are unsure of your child’s exact foot shape or whether your child has a high instep or not please refer to a different resource I created. Now let’s move on to the third most common question parents have about their kids’ feet.
3️⃣ Can My Child Wear Second Hand Shoes?
Second hand shoes can lead to your child developing several foot issues. The only type of second hand shoes I recommend are boots or sandals, but never allow your child to wear a pair of second hand sneakers. Boots and sandals tend to keep their shape better than sneakers do.
Second hand shoes don’t usually provide the same amount of support as the shoes tend to be stretched out. I tell parents that is always better to buy the cheapest new pair of shoes rather to use a pair of second hand shoes.
Let me show you the difference between a new shoe that has never been worn and a shoe that has been worn for 3 months. Both of these shoes are the same style but in different colors:
Wearing second hand shoes can lead to several foot issues such as blisters, calluses, corns, to more serious ones such as heel pain.
Now let’s move on to the fourth most common question parents have about their kids’ feet.
4️⃣ Does My Child Have Pronation?
It is a fact that we all have a certain degree of pronation, but the problem comes when it becomes excessive. Too much pronation will affect your child’s normal gait cycle and have a negative effect on your child’s overall posture.
The main cause of pronation is believed to be hereditary. Having flat feet or rolled ankles usually leads to pronation.
Once the feet are pronated, the knees and hips also become misaligned. This means the muscles that move those joints no longer work efficiently, and it will take more energy for your child to do the same work as other children who don’t have this condition.
If your child pronates excessively it can lead to foot and leg pain. The most effective way to help treat pronation is to provide your child with a pair of supportive shoes to prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards.
I helped improve the walking gait of hundreds of children with pronation by fitting them into the correct pair of shoes. Let me show you a video of a child with pronation walking barefoot and then walking with a pair of supportive shoes:
Here you can access a selection of the best shoes to help treat pronation. Now let’s move to the fifth most common question parents have about their kids’ feet.
5️⃣ Are My Kids’ Shoes Supportive Enough?
Parents usually want to know whether their children’s shoes are supportive enough.
I always recommend shoes that are supportive but that are lightweight and flexible at the same time to allow the child’s foot muscles to develop on their own. Shoes that are too heavy might make your kids’ feet and legs tire easily.
Follow these 3 steps to make sure your child is wearing supportive shoes that are lightweight and flexible at the same time:
- Your kids’ shoes should bend at the ball of the foot but not further. Let me show you an image to help us visualize what I mean:
- Your kids’ shoes should come with a substantial outsole instead of a thinner one. Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides good support versus one that doesn’t:
- The part of the shoe that provides heel support should be firm instead of soft. Let me show you the difference between a pair of shoes that provides good heel support versus one that doesn’t:
If you have any doubts about whether your child’s shoes are providing them with the correct amount of support please contact me directly and I will be able to tell you:
These are the parent’s 5 most common questions about their kids’ feet and shoes. If you have another specific question about your kids’ feet or shoes please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
