grannynet smart style

Top tips to get those 'Happy Feet'

By Sarah Rodrigues

Children's feet have got to be one of the cutest things about them - no wonder we take canvas prints and plaster casts of them. Hard to believe that one day they might look like ours - all cracked heels, hard skin, splayed toes and bunions!

But in actual fact, there's no reason why that should be the case - those tender little feet should be looked after from birth, not just so that they stay beautiful, but so they stay healthy, too.

Here's something you may not have known: adult feet have 26 bones each, but a baby's foot is largely made up of cartilage, which means that they are soft and susceptible to distortion. So although pram shoes may look sweet, they're really not ideal for a baby. In fact, barefoot is nearly always best (all the better for kissing those tiny toes, too). Where warmth is an issue, opt for soft booties or non-synthetic socks. Just make sure that they're not too small, as this can squash the toes. The same is true of babygros: better that they should be larger than smaller, to allow the feet to stretch and breathe.

Once your grandchild has started taking its first steps, that's when you need to start thinking about shoes to protect the foot and provide support. Bear in mind, though, that your grandchild still doesn't need to be shod all day - barefoot walking, especially indoors, will help the healthy development of their feet, allowing the muscles to strengthen. Remember, too, that encouraging a child to walk before he or she is ready will not do their feet any favours - so give baby walkers a miss and let the child go from cruising to taking their first independent steps at their own pace. They'll be pelting around soon enough and then you'll be longing for the days when they were virtually immobile!

There are two types of suitable shoes available for babies who are beginner walkers: soft leather moccasins or a more rigid, supportive shoe. Either way, ensure that you always choose shoes constructed from natural materials.

Leather moccasins allow the foot to function normally, while providing some protection and warmth. The feet can breathe, suede soles minimise the risk of slipping and elasticised ankles mean that the shoes stay on firmly without the child having to 'claw' their toes for grip. Expect to pay up to about £20 for this type of shoe; baby stores and stockists with an eco-friendly angle, such as those listed in our useful links box above, are a good place to look.
Robeez.co.uk provide stylish, safe and practical shoes, with expert information on the site, and Daisy Roots.com is devoted to making shoes for children up to 4, and their products are recommended by the Child Growth Foundation.

The other option, sturdier shoes, need to be fitted properly in a specialist shoe store. The child's foot needs to be measured for both length and width and the shop needs to be able to provide shoes that accommodate these different measurements: less than one-third of children have 'standard' sized feet, so buying shoes straight off the rack is never advisable. And, because children's feet grow quickly, a re-measure and fit-check should be carried out every six to eight weeks until the child starts school. By the age of 5, a child has all of their 26 foot bones but these are still not totally ossified, or hardened. The arch is also more developed, so the child is losing that 'flat-footed' appearance that you may have noticed when they first started toddling.

Start-rite manufacture shoes in whole and half sizes, and in up to six width fittings, to ensure a perfect feet for your grandchild's feet. Clarks make a range of shoes for children at all different stages of development, from crawling to cruising to walking, and beyond, to pre-school and school.

P.S. To get your grandchild in the shoe trying-on mood - we recommend you watch Kermit the Frog giving it his best shot....just press play twice on the image or if that doesn't work just click here!!

The crucial factors that a child's shoe should incorporate are:

  1. Adequate length and width
  2. A stiffened heel, to prevent the heel from slipping out
  3. A broad base at the heel, to provide stability
  4. Secure fastenings, such as laces, buckles or Velcro, to prevent toe deformities caused by the foot distorting to try and keep the shoe on
  5. Natural, not synthetic, uppers - leather or suede is ideal
  6. A toe area that follows the natural shape of the foot - avoid pointed toes
  7. Sufficient depth in the toe area, to avoid the toes cramping or curling
  8. Soles that are slip resistant and shock-absorbent