Selecting Shoes For Kids
Topics: Kids Shoes, adult shoe, shoes, High-top shoes
There is nothing more natural to a parent than kissing a newborn’s soft pink feet and counting its tiny toes. But once the baby starts to take its first steps, it is not so easy to know if its feet are developing normally.
The good news is that doctors no longer take such drastic corrective measures when dealing with most foot disorders. In fact, many such conditions aren’t considered problems at all. “A baby’s foot undergoes many changes that aren’t serious, don’t require any treatment, and are often normal parts of development,” says Micheal Goldbearg, M.D., F.A.A.P., Professor and Chairman of orthopedics at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.
Although the adult shoe has changed from being a protective covering to becoming a status symbol, the child’s shoe has remained in its basic sole-protecting the foot from the hazards of the outside world. Regardless of age, a shoe’s main purpose is to provide a protective covering during cold weather and prevent injury caused by stepping on sharp objects outdoors. But when kids are just learning to walk, they need plenty of shoeless time. Inside the house, socks with rubberized soles will provide protection without the risk of falling. But kids at some point have to leave the safety of their house and be able to move outside, without endangering their feet. Thus, when parents are buying a child’s shoes it is important to remember to have their babies’ and children’s feet measured by an experienced salesperson as nobody wants the shoe to slip while the kid is walking or to rub against the ankle or toes. “Make sure both feet are measure while the child is standing!” adds Dr. Mi
cheal Goldbearg.
A recent survey of professionals who give advice on children’s feet, including pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, pediatric orthopedics, and podiatrists, revealed wide divergence of opinion regarding shoes and footwear in both normal and problematic feet. Then, what is a parent left to do? The only rational approach to the subject is to examine some traditional ideas in the light of recent studies and experience, so as to determine if the professional views should be upheld or discarded.
1. Shoes are necessary to promote foot development: In other words normal children’s feet need support, otherwise they will become flat. Recent studies seem to contradict this. Feet deformities like bunions and hammer-toes are very rare among children who wear no shoes, in contrast to those who do, where such deformities are commonly detected.
2. High-top shoes are necessary to support the ankle as the child takes its first steps: Well-meaning but misinformed relatives often perpetrate this myth. Studies have shown that when a child is strong enough to stand up and walk, he will have ankles strong enough to support his body.
3. Sneakers, if worn for more than a couple of hours a day, are bad for children: This is a widely held belief among consumers as well as professionals. There is absolutely no evidence that normal feet develop into flatfeet if tennis shoes rather then hi-top or leather shoes are used.
4. Shoe salesmen are competent to diagnose foot problems and advise remedial shoe war for children: This is totally erroneous. Most shoe salesmen are well intentioned and desire to sell you the most comfortable shoes they can find. But they are not trained to give advice regarding foot problems. Responsible salesmen should suggest to parents that their child should visit a doctor, in case its feet do not appear right.
5. The Price of Shoes: The price of shoes is often related to the kind of material used. Leather is the most expensive, especially if it used for both uppers and soles. Since leather allows the feet to “breathe” in the shoes it helps avoid sweat accumulation and skin irritation. But while leather uppers are desirable, leather soles are not necessary and can be replaced by rubber or crepe soles.
6. The Soles of the Shoes: The soles of the shoes whether leather or rubber, should be thick enough to protect, yet flexible enough for walking. It is also important to look at the bottom of the soles to determine depth of the grooves. The deeper the grooves the better the traction.
7. Fitting Children’s Shoes: Parents must remember looking for a pair of shoes to fit their child’s feet, not vice versa. To get a good fit, both the shape and the size of the shoes should comfort to its feet. Foot size increases whether standing, sleeping, or running. Once the shoes are on, parents should check for adequate length and width, depending on their child’s unique case.
8. The Appropriate Shoe: Certain types of shoes are appropriate depending on the child’s age. Babies and crawlers do not need shoes. They only need booties, warm socks, or pre-walking shoes that do not bind feet. Shoes for toddles, on the other hand, age 9months to 3 years, should allow the foot to breathe due to perspiration. Style and shoe-fit is important for school-age children. For any child age, parents should be aware that problems such as flatfeet or high arch could be developed, and they should always pay attention to the anatomic nature of the shoes purchased.
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for 4kidsandteens.com - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for learntobecloser.com and familyinformationsource.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Your Child Brought Home A Dog (1)
The connection formed is not only beneficial to the animal, but also to the child. Kids that have pets become responsible sooner and behave proactively. These are just two of the positive outcomes your child will experience from your decision to allow a "stranger" to enter your house.
Use Water Efficiently (2)
If you use a sprinkler, make sure you don't water sidewalks or driveways. Install a drip or other water conserving irrigation system, as slow drip and deep root watering systems can save up to 60% of all water used during garden care.
Disaster Planning For Small Business (3)
If you're a sole proprietor, your plans to protect your human resources probably dovetail easily with your plans to protect your home and family. However, if you have employees, you need a more detailed plan to estimate how long employees will be unable to get to work, what your policy will be for compensation while employees are out of work after a disaster, and how you will make payroll if computer systems and banks are inaccessible.
Michelle Wie Is The Real Deal (4)
.But let's not forget that she also deserves our attention for her outstanding golf prowess and for her remarkable accomplishments to date. She may not yet have what it takes to compete with the big boys, but Michelle Wie is the real deal.
The Impact Of Multinational Enterprises (5)
Thus, the argument that both the home and host country may gain from Foreign Direct Investment rests partly on the assumption that resources are not necessarily fully employed and partly on the industry specific and complementary nature of capital and technology.
Learn How To Price Your Products & Services (6)
On the one hand, we've just implied that you should lump the components together and tell the truth about the minimum combination that is actually usable. On the other hand, one way to give customers a reasonable number of pricing options is to break the system down into interchangeable parts.
Affiliate Programs Directory - What Are The Uses Of Affiliate Program Directories (7)
4. List your own affiliate program on the affiliate program directory. You can also list your own affiliate program in the affiliate program directory. Because the directory is the starting point for a lot of people planning to be affiliates, listing your own affiliate program in the directory ensures that you will get an opportunity to get some sub-affiliate sign-ups, and earn some commission.
Home Based Business - Offline Marketing Strategies (8)
2. Mail-out newsletters and flyers Mail-out newsletter or flyers can be effective if you target it to a specific 'group'. You could create one to distribute to local day care centers just as an example - and in your newsletter or flyer, highlight the benefits of an online business to the targeted group, for example earning money at home for stay at home moms or dads.
Starting Your Own Successful Internet Home Based Business (9)
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 90% fail within the first five years. In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure: 1:Lack of experience 2:Insufficient capital (money) 3:Poor location 4:Poor inventory management 5:Over-investment in fixed assets 6:Poor credit arrangements 7:Personal use of business funds 8:Unexpected growth Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book: 9:Competition 10:Low sales More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead.
Internet Affiliate Marketing Program - Making Your Website Earn More (10)
The same in the world of business, you have to learn to work with other businesses to stay ahead of the game. The more people working hand in hand in an endeavor the more likely the success will be.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
The Wonderful World Of Motorcycles (1)
This goes for countries that are on their way towards development. Motor bikes are not hard to assemble and there are people who have managed to build their very own bikes.
SUV Pros And Cons (2)
As far as comfort, many drivers prefer being higher up from the road, but older drivers and those with disabilities may have a hard time getting into the raised seats.
Identity Theft Is Not Science Fiction (3)
Finally, avoiding publishing personal codes, passwords, credit card numbers and any other personal information, if not adequately reassured by trusted sources that possible threats can and will be detected, is considered a must in today's vulnerable online environment.
Tips For Getting A Good Plane Fare (4)
Also, if you are flexible about when you want the plane to depart from the airport, you can save a good amount of money. Flights that leave very early in the morning and those that leave in the late evening are the fares that are most likely to be unfilled and therefore, cheaper.
Dog Training Equipment For House Training (5)
Moreover learn the techniques of leash correction. Another effective and productive dog training equipment is the clicker. Dog clickers make a very distinctive sound which lets you control your timing and eliminates the variation of tone in your voice due to fatigue, frustration and other factors.
Key Reasons Why You Should Start Your Own Work At Home Business (6)
A day job can practically take up all your life. If you start your own work at home business, you can have a better work-life balance since you can work from home and set your own goals.
Four Major League Ballparks Worth A Special Trip (7)
Home runs splash into San Francisco Bay where boaters and kayakers float, listening to the game. Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for baseballstuff.net - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for everythingaboutgames.net and universeofentertainment.com
8 Linking Strategies That Work (8)
You would score this a -1. If you were playing a game to win you would want the most pluses you could get. So it is with linking strategies.
Invest In A Recreational Vehicle (9)
Considering the above, the great mobility opportunity a recreational vehicle offers cannot be easily matched. Combining the advantages of a home and a car in one transportation vehicle is the original idea that has gained supporters all over the world.
Do New Media Technologies Contribute To A More Democratic Polity (10)
A rich American tradition of critical media analysis and pedagogy can aid people make their way further into the corporate-dominated, advertising-saturated, information-and-communication-based, world economic order of this century and beyond.