Recommended products for Kids feet

Right from the start
A new baby is a wonderful thing, most people's feet are perfect when they are born, but develop foot problems as they grow older. Many of these problems could be avoided by good foot care during childhood. Because the feet of young children are soft and pliable, abnormal pressure can easily cause deformities.

Maintaining and caring for a child's feet will benefit their health, mobility and wellbeing throughout their entire lives. There is very little hard bone in the very young foot - just soft gristle and cartilage. The cartilage takes up to 21 years to develop and harden into the 26 bones (plus two sesamoid floating bones) in a fully formed adult foot.

Baby's feet
Feet that are mostly cartilage with little hard bone make a child's foot delicate and vulnerable to the pressure.

Baby feet should be left as free as possible and not be cramped by tight bootees and socks. The toes are curly at birth and need the chance to straighten out. Barefoot feet should be encouraged. Encourage your baby to kick by ensuring cot covers are loose enough. Kicking is a vital exercise in the development of foot and leg muscles. If you use all-in-one baby suits, make sure they do not restrict tiny legs and feet.

The first step
Do not encourage your baby to walk too early; they know when their legs and feet are strong enough. Baby's first steps are toddling steps. The baby's foot has a square toe shape and narrow heel; it's plumper and softer with the arch area filled and padded with fatty tissue. That's what gives the illusion of a flat foot; they walk with their feet wide apart and often turned out with toes gripping the ground. This helps them to keep their balance. The arch will become more defined with exercise as the child grows.

The growing foot
Children's feet should be washed as part of the daily bathing using soap and water. The adolescent foot tends to perspire and may lead to athletes foot and skin fungus. Hygiene is paramount. Make sure you dry between the toes and use dusting powder to prevent moisture to accumulate. Make sure to change socks regularly. Toe nails should be trimmed regularly. They should not be cut too short but should rest on the pulp at the end of the toe. Avoid cutting the nails into the corners as this may encourage an ingrown toenail.

Any conditions that a child may develop, such as verucca or pain in the foot due to flat foot or heel pain should be addressed by a Chiropodist/Podiatrist.

All about shoes
Because children's feet are not fully formed, they can easily be molded into the wrong shape by badly fitting shoes. Children may not feel the pain, but a shoe may be too small and may cause problems later on. Children should be measured by an experienced fitter when they buy shoes. They should be standing up because feet should always be measured while weight bearing. Childrens feet grow in spurts, so it's important to have your child's feet measured regularly.

Flexible shoes that bend easily with the foot encourage a natural springy step. All shoes should be supple especially where the toe joints bend, but should be firm in the shank or arch. Shoes with laces or an adjustable strap are best because they hold the foot firmly in the shoe.

Fun for ten toes
Encourage exercise that will help the muscles and tendons of the foot to develop and grow properly. By strengthening foot arch and keeping toes flexible, parents can give their children's feet a great start towards perfectly shaped feet.
 
Fun Foot Excercises

• Walking the line A simple game to show children how to walk with toes straight ahead, the natural way. Chalk a line on the floor and pretend with them that they must not fall off. Posture is important too, so make them take a pride in the way they walk the line.
• Foot and toe drill special exercises to stretch and move the foot in every possible direction. Rest the feet on the heels parallel to each other (or the toes nay be turned slightly inward). Then flex, wriggle and extend the toes for up to twelve times. Starting with the foot at rest and at a right angle to the leg, the toes are extended and pass outwards, down and upwards to complete a circle. The foot should be stretched to reach the outermost limits of the circle.
• Counting toes Keeping the toes movements free and supple. Sitting in bed, the feet are extended and stretched as far as possible towards the foot of the bed. Then the right foot is drawn up to the left knee, the toes are gently pulled to the right starting with the little toe and the spaces between rubbed slowly and gently. Repeat to the left, starting with the big toe, then finally push each toe upwards and downwards as far as possible without discomfort. Repeat with he left foot.
• Pony Pawing Exercising the ankle. Standing on one foot, the child paws the ground with the other, just like a horse, with the toes pointing downwards. Repeat twelve times, then change to the other leg.
• Pigeon Parade Exercising the ankles and sides of the feet. The outer sides of the feet balance on the floor, the inner sides are raised with the toes slightly curled in. The exercise is walk in this position for one minute. This is sufficient since a longer time may strain the foot.
• The clock game A favorite among foot experts. Helps restore the balance of muscles controlling the ankles. Laying or sitting comfortably, the child imagines the big toe as a piece of chalk with which to draw a circle. Then, stretching the leg out straight, the foot makes a complete circle in a clockwise direction. The foot only, not the whole leg. After six circles, rotate in the opposite direction, then repeat with the other foot.
• Marble race To develop the flexibility of the toes. Place some marbles on the floor and near them a small dish. The object of the game is to pick up a marble with the toes, hop to the dish, and drop it in. A race can be made of it with two or more children. Use up to ten marbles with the first to get all ten in the dish the winner.
• Drawing with the toes For well trained muscles and supple toes. Children should be encouraged to pick up objects with the toes, and even hold a piece of chalk with them, and try to draw with it. Place the chalk under the toes, and not between them.
• Reefing the towel Another good game to strengthen muscles. Stand on a towel, feet turned in, with the heels touching the edge of the towel. Then using the toes, roll up the towel under the feet. This is another game that can make an enjoyable game between two or more children.
• The roller game This helps rebuild muscles otherwise hard to improve. A thin rolling pin, round ruler, or even a piece of a broom handle is needed for the exercise. Place it under the arches and roll it backwards and forwards for periods of a minute or longer.

This information is for guidance only. If you are in any doubt at all, please consult your Doctor or Podiatrist.