Pediatricians and Podiatrists Recommend:

Flexible soles. The sole of the shoe should be thick enough for protection while allowing the foot to move as naturally as possible. As a test for a shoe you're thinking about buying, bend the shoe at the ball. It should bend very easily.

Non-SlipSoles. Traction is important, too, especially on hardwood and tile floors. Check the texture of the sole to make sure it provides adequate traction. High-grade flexible leather, cowhide (not pigskin) suede, Toughtek® or thin rubber are best.

Deep, wide toe box. Young toes are chubby and need plenty of room to wiggle. A tight toe box should be avoided because it squeezes the toes together; this can cause bunions and other deformities.

Soft, breathable uppers. Leather, suede & sheepskin are ideal. Avoid plastic, imitation leather, or other materials that can cause excessive sweating.

What Experts Say...

The following comments and observations are attributed to...
Dr. Lisa C. Moore
Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine
Auburn, California

"During foot development, it is important for bones, muscles, blood vessels and nerves to have room to grow without restriction.

"As the beginning walker stands up and takes the first tentative steps, the muscles of the feet grip the floor and the toes separate to help the child have better balance and control. If feet are confined within a rigid shoe, the toes cannot operate in this way, nor can the muscles of the foot and ankle develop the strength necessary to hold her upright.

"Throughout a lifetime, foot health depends upon the flexibility of the structures involved. This begins in infancy and continues as we grow. If we wear rigid shoes, the bones cannot move freely, resulting eventually in crippling arthritis.

"From a chiropractic standpoint, spinal health is connected to foot health. Inflexible feet affect all the joints above, including the spinal column. Many times, pelvic imbalance originates in foot distortion such as fallen arches or dropped metatarsal bones. Every step a person takes translates into either stability or instability for all structures above. This process begins with that first step.

"Soft soled baby shoes allow the beginning walker to grip the floor, developing strong ankles and flexible foot bones. This creates a solid foundation for bone and muscle formation in the rest of the body, especially the spinal column. A level pelvis and straight spine depend upon healthy feet throughout our entire lives, beginning in infancy."

The following observations and comments are attributed to...
Dr. Carol Frey
Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Manhattan Beach, California

"We don't need shoes for proper foot development. Walking is a collaborative effort requiring constant communication between the brain and feet. Nerve endings on the bottom of the feet sense the ground beneath and send signals to the brain that help it determine how and where weight should be distributed with each new step. Shoes alter that feedback to the brain. The thicker the sole, the more muffled the message.

"Shoes are not necessary for support or development of the arch, they only protect the feet from the environment. Babies and crawlers need only wear socks or booties to keep their feet warm. Early walkers, too, should be allowed to go sans shoes whenever they are in a safe, protected environment. Going barefoot helps children develop stronger and more coordinated foot muscles."

"[Children's] bones are soft cartilage, easily compressible, and they don't feel pain until the damage is done."

The comment was made on the need for parents to be aware of the damage that is being done by children wearing shoes. The Australian Podiatry Association provides a free community service in an effort to create greater awareness of the need to safeguard children's feet.

30% of the children checked in the association's survey (2,500 children) in an eastern Australian state were found to be wearing footwear inadequate for day long use.

"The effects of childhood foot damage can show up in posture and gait in the early twenties," the president said. "The inability for a person to stand for any length of time without stress can also be attributed to early foot problems. Shoes must take a lot of the blame for claw toes, under and over riding toes, bunions and ingrown toe nails, not to mention corns and calluses."

Foosies carries many brands of children's shoes for babies, infants, toddlers and children.