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Toddler Steps
Properly Fitting Toddlers With Shoes By Carma Haley Shoemaker
While parents easily can determine how well clothes fit a child, determining how well shoes fit often can be more tricky -- and has more serious consequences if not properly done.
Only a small percentage of children are born with foot problems, but by the age of 5, 22 percent of toddlers and preschool children develop some type of deformity, foot pain, bone malformation or other problems with their feet, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). The lack of awareness of proper foot care, which includes wearing ill-fitting shoes, is a major contributor to these problems. Many parents do not know how to properly fit their children with shoes. They simply follow the steps taught to them by their parents, who were also ill-informed.
However, according to Tom Brunick, director of The Athlete's Foot stores' Research and Development Center in Atlanta, Ga., learning a new set of guidelines can make life much more comfortable. "It's just a matter of replacing some old myths and beliefs with a new set of guidelines," says Brunick. "Properly fitting shoes are very important for the overall health of a child's feet. Keeping these new guidelines in mind each and every time you shop for shoes will prevent unavoidable problems from occurring."