Did You Know...?

The foot is a very complex system consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. One quarter of all the bones in the human body are located in the feet. Because feet are the foundation of the body, when these bones are out of alignment, it can affect many other human mechanisms.

Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. It's neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care—specifically ill fitting shoes in the early stages of growth and development—that bring on foot, leg and back problems later in life. According to US government studies, 2/3 of all adults have problems with their feet by the time they meet middle age and 89% of the problems could have been prevented by shoes that were not too tight during preschool years.

The following facts and tips will help any concerned parent make the right choices about family foot care and adhering to them will be a real investment for your child's future.

• A baby's foot is not merely a smaller version of an adult's foot. At birth the foot contains 26 partially developed bones (made of cartilage) making them pliable and therefore at risk to injury.
• Pre-walking babies and crawlers only need booties to keep their feet warm or pre-walking shoes that do not bind their feet.
• For newborns and infants, footwear should be made of very lightweight and breathable materials.
• It is natural for babies to have flat feet (over 97% do). That is because there is a thick pad of fat in the soles of their feet. Once muscles begin to strengthen, arches will develop.
• 85% of young children ages 6 months to 3 years have wide feet.
• Baby feet grow quickly during the first year, perhaps going through three or four sizes. Feet should be measured monthly the first year, every two months between the ages of 12 months and 24 months, and every 3 months from 24 to 36 months.
• Baby feet exert a lot of energy, especially when standing and balancing. This causes the feet to get hot. Baby feet can sweat twice the amount of adult feet (up to half a pint of moisture can be produced each day), so shoes made of natural, breathable materials are crucial.
• Medical experts (including the American Podiatric Association) recommend flexible, soft-sole shoes for optimal growth and development of young feet. Traditional stiff, high-top, hard-sole shoes are actually detrimental to the growth and development of little feet.
• Many children's shoes are too small, but unfortuntely the children wearing them can't or don't tell us. Be sure to have ¼" to ½" from the longest toe to the shoe (when standing) when purchasing shoes. Also make sure they have sufficient width.