We all know that uncomfortable feeling of wearing shoes that are slightly too big or too small. Maybe we’ve popped our partner’s shoes on quickly to go and get the mail, or have borrowed a friend’s pair of shoes for a night out and they weren’t exactly our size.
Short-term this is no big deal. But constant wearing of improperly fitting shoes can have quite serious negative effects on your feet – and it’s even more serious for children.
Healthy development of children’s feet greatly relies on the wearing of proper shoes. Here, the experts at Forbes Footwear explain just how important it is for children to wear properly-fitting shoes, and what you can do to guarantee healthy foot development.
Properly fitting shoes for foot development
Properly fitting shoes are key in the healthy development of your children’s feet. Children’s feet are soft and spongy, made of cartilage which hasn’t yet developed into bone. It’s important that babies walk around bare-foot as much as possible, so that they get the chance to feel what they touch with their feet and develop muscle strength.
This spongy cartilage in your child’s feet hasn’t yet moulded and the muscles and ligaments haven’t strengthened. The fat pad hasn’t properly formed into an arch yet either.
Implications of ill-fitting shoes
Wearing poorly-fitting shoes can actually hinder the development of your child’s feet and cause irreversible damage in the form of improper foot shaping. Experts say that around 70% of adults experience foot pain and the majority of this is caused by having worn improperly-fitting shoes as a child.
How to guarantee properly-fitting shoes for your children
With this in mind, there’s no question about the importance of choosing properly-fitting shoes for your child’s foot development. Here are some ways you can guarantee your child’s foot health:
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Professional fitting before buying shoes
For all children under 12, it’s important to have their shoes fitted professionally. Shoe stores take measurements in length and width of your child’s foot to determine the correct sizing to allow for growth and support. The best thing is, a professional fitting is totally free.
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Consulting a podiatrist
If you’re concerned about your child having potential foot problems, it’s always best to see a podiatrist. They can monitor your child’s foot development and recommend the best methods to protect against future problems like flat feet, plantar fasciitis and others.
Every child deserves properly-fitting footwear in order to develop strong, healthy feet. For a free professional fitting, come in and see the team at Forbes Footwear. They’re Sydney’s specialists in high-quality shoes for children, ensuring the perfect fit so that you can buy with confidence. Since 1940, they’ve been Sydney’s finest team in shoe retail. The Forbes philosophy is simple: deliver quality products at fair prices and keep customers happy as can be. Browse the range online today, or visit their Hornsby location.