If The Shoe Fits - Children's Shoes
Essence, Oct, 1991 by Paula Lynn Parks
Before you rush out to buy sneakers for your 3-month-old, remember "prewalkers" look cute but do nothing for foot development.
Heed these do's and don't's when shoe shopping for your little one:
Do get booties with a skidproof sale for practicing walking indoors. They reduce the chance of your child slipping on floors and provide a flatter surface for walking on thick carpeting.
Don't be pushed into buying shoes for your toddler before she can walk well. "There is no need to get shoes until one is concerned about the feet getting injured," says Dr. James McGuire, a southern California-based pediatrician. Shoes aren't required until the toddler is walking outside and her feet need protection.
Do buy shoes, when your child is ready, with a flexible flat sole and durable tops that are well ventilated. Leather tops are a good choice because they allow the skin to breathe, keeping feet warm in winter and cool in summer. A flexible rubber sole, such as that found on a tennis shoe, is another good pick because it allows the the child to progress from a flat-footed walk to the heel-to-toe walk.
Don't feel you have to buy expensive shoes. "Expensive shoes are not shown to provide significant, if any, benefits," notes McGuire.
Do look for a good fit. Buy shoes a little larger, up to one half size, for room to grow. And make sure that the shoes are made well. Look for close stitching on seams and flawless construction between the sole and the top.
Don't buy high-top shoes to protect ankles; chldren who wear high-tops suffer the same number of sprains as children who don't , says McGuire, and high-tops don't help the feet or their development.
Do consider a three-quarter boot (midway between high-top and low-top shoes). A young child's heel is often narrow, so low-top shoes can slip off--if the toddler doesn't pull them off first--and three-quarter boots are toughter to take off.
Don't forget to take your little one for a size check every 3 to 4 months--toddlers outgrow their shoes fast!
COPYRIGHT 1991 Essence Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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