The Walking Clinic, 195 Mouat Street, Lyneham ACT 2612
Phone: 02 6249 1758
Phone: 02 6249 1758
CHILDREN'S FEET
Children's feet differ from those of adults, as they are not yet fully formed.
Development
At six months of age the foot is still mostly cartilage, in fact the last bone doesn't begin to form
until children are about three years old. By 18 years, most of the bones are fully formed.
It is important to remember that each child is unique and will move through the developmental
stages at their own pace. Each child follows a developmental sequence from lying to sitting,
crawling, standing, cruising, walking to running, jumping and hopping.
When your child first begins to walk, shoes are not necessary indoors. Allowing babies to go barefoot or to wear just socks helps the foot to grow normally and promotes the grasping action of toes.
When your child first begins to walk, shoes are not necessary indoors. Allowing babies to go barefoot or to wear just socks helps the foot to grow normally and promotes the grasping action of toes.
Arch development is also an individual thing and tends to stabilize by six or seven years of
age. Arch height does not always indicate that a child will have problems with their feet.
Some conditions (in-grown toenails, athlete's foot and warts) require treatment from a
podiatrist, while others may be helped by changes in hygiene or shoes.
Foot care can begin in infancy by keeping your baby's feet unconstrained. Grow suits should
always be loose around your baby's feet. Making time for your baby to kick freely will help with
the development of the muscles in the legs and feet.
Children usually begin to walk any time between 10 and 24 months of age.
Babies
Sometimes children walk with their feet pointed inward (in-toeing) or outward (out-toeing). In
most cases, these variations in walking are normal. Most children will have grown out of these
walking styles by the age of two. However, if these patterns persist, or you have concerns, you
should take your child to a podiatrist.
Walking
Growing feet
Warts
Children, especially teenagers, tend to be more susceptible to warts than adults.
Plantar warts that appear on the sole of the foot tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well defined boundaries. They can grow into cluster and become painful if left unchecked.
Plantar warts that appear on the sole of the foot tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well defined boundaries. They can grow into cluster and become painful if left unchecked.
Problems with the skin or nails on your child's feet may occur from time to time.
Shoes should, above all, protect your children's feet.
Skin and nails
Fitting footwear
• Always have both feet measured for length and width
• The shoe should fit the natural shape of the foot especially around the toes
• The toe of the shoe should allow toes to move freely and not be squashed from the top to the sides. Make sure there is about 10mm growing room for children between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe
• Shoes should fit comfortably around the heel and not be too loose or too tight
• The shoe should fit the natural shape of the foot especially around the toes
• The toe of the shoe should allow toes to move freely and not be squashed from the top to the sides. Make sure there is about 10mm growing room for children between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe
• Shoes should fit comfortably around the heel and not be too loose or too tight
Professional advice
• check-up with a podiatrist is recommended if:
• You notice uneven shoe wear
• You notice any skin rashes, hard skin, lumps or bumps on your child's feet
• Your child complains of recurrent pain in the feet and/or legs
• Your child is constantly tripping or falling
•r you have any other concerns about your child's feet.
• You notice uneven shoe wear
• You notice any skin rashes, hard skin, lumps or bumps on your child's feet
• Your child complains of recurrent pain in the feet and/or legs
• Your child is constantly tripping or falling
•r you have any other concerns about your child's feet.
Text reproduced with permission from the Australasian Podiatry Council
Children's feet are soft and pliable making them prone to damage from abnormal pressure, such
as shoes which are too small.
Children walking on their toes (toe-walking) is not normal and should be seen by a podiatrist.
Frequent changes in the size of shoes and socks are necessary to make room for rapidly
growing feet during childhood. Do a size check at least every one to three months up to the
age of 3, every four months up to 5 years and every six months from 5 years.
It is important that shoes are fitted by a specialist in children's footwear to avoid injury and discomfort.
It is important that shoes are fitted by a specialist in children's footwear to avoid injury and discomfort.
A child's foot will double in size by the age of one and they are approximately half their adult
length by 18 months of age. Between the ages of 5 and 12 growth is approximately 9mm per
year, with adult foot size approximated by 12 to 14 years of age.
Heel pain
Heel pain can also occur in growing children, usually between the ages of 8 and 13, as they
increase their participation in sporting activities.
Heel pain that limits activity or is present all the time should be checked by a podiatrist. The podiatrist will be able to determine whether or not the heel pain is related to the developmental process and give advice about ways to alleviate symptoms.
Heel pain that limits activity or is present all the time should be checked by a podiatrist. The podiatrist will be able to determine whether or not the heel pain is related to the developmental process and give advice about ways to alleviate symptoms.
Footwear