Podiatrist-approved footwear is so important for the healthy development of kids’ feet from a very young age. We’ve already covered how to choose first walker shoes for babies, and we’re now here to explain to you why you should buy podiatrist approved shoes for kids.
First, we’ll explain just what podiatrist-approved shoes are, what their importance is and why children need them to develop properly.
What are podiatrist-recommended shoes?
Podiatrist-recommended shoes are those which have been recommended by an expert in foot health. This means that they take into account all the important factors and features which are needed in footwear for young people.
Podiatrist recommended shoes incorporate features such as wider toe boxes and soft flexible uppers to allow for natural and uninhibited movement and development.
The importance of flexible footwear for children
Flexible footwear is so important to children because it allows them to walk, to some extent, as though they are barefoot, whilst still providing adequate support and protection from the elements. Lots of modern footwear places the emphasis on being ‘extra supportive’ or ‘structured’.
However, leading podiatrists suggest that allowing for as much freedom and movement for little feet is the best way. That’s why flexibility is so important in footwear for young children, using soft materials and adding features such as wide toe boxes to promote natural movement.
The developmental stages of children’s feet
Up until the age of around 6 or 7, there are three main developmental stages children’s feet go through:
-
Infancy - During this stage, the infant’s feet are mostly cartilage, whilst bones are still developing. Flexible footwear is vitally important from the ages of around 9 months onwards. Our leading podiatrist suggests that deformities are flexible early on, but as bones fuse, deformities which develop early on become inflexible in adulthood.
Barefoot kicking and moving around is crucial for strengthening muscles and allowing bones to form properly, and softer podiatrist approved footwear aims to imitate the barefoot feel from the start.
-
Toddler (first walkers) - As bones begin to fuse together, and arches start to develop, it’s likely that your child will start to crawl, and even walk. Our podiatrist suggests that even as bones do begin to fuse, there are still aspects of the feet that remain soft, allowing for further growth.
Whilst shoes aren’t always required for indoor walking, it's important to continue to get your child used to walking around in shoes which don’t inhibit their natural movement, both indoors and out.
-
Preschool/early childhood - From preschool and into the early childhood, your child is likely a more confident walker, and this confidence is ever growing.
However, their development is far from over, and as children begin to play and run around more during their early childhood, podiatrist-approved footwear helps keep the feet safe and protected whilst shaping natural growth and gait development.
Why you should always buy podiatrist approved shoes for kids
At an early age, your child' s feet are growing constantly and rapidly. Inhibiting this growth, or their movement at all at an early age can actually have lasting effects moving forward in life. As a result, buy high quality, healthy, and stylish shoes for your child, such as the Orion Purple Suede Kids Boots.
These cute boots come in a gorgeous purple colour, and have soft leather insoles which ensure ultimate comfort for growing feet, without being hard and restrictive. Also, lightweight and flexible outsoles ensure that your child can move comfortably and freely.
Little feet are very soft and fragile, so make sure you buy shoes which are podiatrist approved, so you can trust them to protect without restriction. The Luna Red Patent Girls Kids Shoes are a great example of shoes which are podiatrist approved and also very cute. Another example are the Comet Navy Suede Boys Kids Shoe, so check them out before it’s too late!
How podiatrist approved shoes helps kids when walking
Podiatrist approved shoes help kids when walking by protecting, but not inhibiting. What we mean by this, is that the shoes provide adequate protection against the elements, loose debris and other things that might cause harm or obstruction. At the same time, these shoes are not too tough or too tight, in a way that changes the way your child walks, or attempts to mould their feet into a certain shape.
Feet should be allowed to grow naturally, and that’s why podiatrist shoes are designed to cater for this. Also, every person learns to move and develops in their own way, and that’s also what podiatrist approved footwear is designed to allow. Natural feeling shoes for natural growth and movement.
How podiatrist approved shoes helps kids when running and playing
Podiatrist-approved footwear prioritises foot health in its design, and this directly benefits children when running and playing. Such shoes are specifically engineered to be lightweight and flexible with softer outsoles, which promotes natural foot movement, especially whilst running and playing.
Also, podiatrist-approved footwear pushes the design of baby shoes having little in the way between the foot and the floor, allowing for more natural movements and development. When it comes to kids’ shoes, proper adequate support, without restriction, is what matters most.
How podiatrist approved shoes helps kids when starting school
Podiatrist approved school shoes are perfect for kids when starting school because of the confidence they give. Especially if your child is used to this type of footwear, they’ll likely be very confident in themselves because they’ll have developed natural and beneficial walking and movement patterns, making them comfortable on their own two feet.
They also help because they massively reduce the chances of discomfort. Where traditional school shoes often give kids problems like rubbing, blisters, ingrown nails, achy feet and more, podiatrist approved footwear are designed to be breathable, looser fitting, softer and more flexible.
In most cases, this will prevent all of these issues.
Where can you buy podiatrist approved kids shoes?
You can buy podiatrist approved kids shoes direct from Prenta Shoes. Our collections include podiatrist approved baby shoes, podiatrist approved toddler shoes and kids shoes.
All of our collections are designed not only to be the healthiest options on the market, but also very cute and fashionable, which is what we believe truly sets us apart from the rest.