We want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their health and wellness. As our children grow, we want to ensure everything is developing properly, and that includes their ankles and feet. In today’s blog, we want to share some tips for how parents can help their child’s feet develop properly.
Helping Your Child’s Feet Grow
Here are a few tips to help give your child the best chance at having healthy ankles and feet as they grow.
1. Go Barefoot – We didn’t come out of the womb with shoes on, and we shouldn’t over-rely on shoes as we continue to grow. They are essential when we’re out on the town, but let your child go barefoot at home. This will help with muscle and ligament development, and it can also improve our ankle joint and toe flexibility. Shoes can help protect our feet from rocks and other sharp objects when walking, but when those dangers aren’t present, let your child go barefoot so they can put all their foot muscles to use.
2. Proper Fitting Shoes – Don’t just rely on hand-me-downs or assume that those shoes from last summer will fit again this year. A number of different foot and ankle problems can develop as a result of wearing the wrong size shoe. Your child’s feet will grow fast, so make sure you’re keeping a close eye on how their shoes fit. If you have questions about how your child’s feet should fit in their shoe, ask Dr. Silverman or an in-store shoe fitter.
3. Get Regular Foot Checks – Finally, make sure your child is getting regular physicals to have a professional look at their foot development. Between sessions, keep an eye on your child’s feet. Are they walking correctly, or are you noticing some walking abnormalities? If you have any concerns, reach out to a foot specialist. Like most foot health conditions, the sooner a problem is diagnosed, the better treatment results tend to be.
For more information, or to talk to a foot specialist about your child’s feet, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.