Healthy Baby Feet

It is a well known fact and a lesson usually learned the hard way that wearing shoes that fit properly and support your feet is really important. This helps to ensure that you don't get sore feet and to help stop the development of common foot problems. Good footwear also provides the added safety measure of minimising the risk of falling which could cause other bodily injuries.

In relation to babies and toddlers experts recommend that they have barefeet where possible to aid in walking and muscle development. Babies and toddlers can benefit from soft sole baby shoes because they mimic barefeet and encourage the development of balance and coordination. Shoes with soft soles can also aid in protecting babies feet from sharp, cold, slippery and rough surfaces.

A checklist of features parents should look for in baby shoes:

• Rounded toe
• Plenty of room for the toes
• Flexible, flat sole
• Breathable natural materials to prevent sweating
• Slip resistant soles

Tips for caring for your child's feet:

• Keep your baby's feet clean
• Cut toenails regularly to ensure they don't get too long
• If your child dislikes having their nails cut try doing it while they sleep or use a distraction such as photos, electronic games or tv
• Check feet for lumps, cuts and bumps regularly
• Seek help from your GP or podiatrist if you have any concerns about your child's feet.

When should you get your child move on from soft sole shoes?
Most experts recommend once your child is walking confidently is the right time to move on from soft sole shoes. In general toddlers take about 2-3 months to begin walking confidently. A reputable children's shoe store will be able to guide you with this decision. A good children's shoe store will also give you a time frame about when shoes need to be re-measured and fitted. Once your child is in shoes it is still recommended that they be given time to walk in barefeet, where it is safe to do so, to promote healthy foot development.

A lot of shoe manufacturers, put the design and cuteness of shoes ahead of the health of a babies feet when making their baby shoes. Spotty Dot Baby Shoes strongly believe in providing shoes that aid in the development of healthy baby feet. All of our shoes are specifically designed in natural breathable materials with wide, flexible soft soles. But we also know that babies need to look their best, so we incorporate beautiful designs around our functional shoes.

Where can you go if you have problems with your feet?
A podiatrist is a health care professional who can help you with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions of the feet. The Australian Podiatry Association can provide you with a list of qualified podiatrist. Podiatrist treat people of all ages including children and babies.