How do feet develop?
The development of a child’s feet starts very early on. By the 7th week of pregnancy, the feet are completely formed including the joints and toes. At birth, the average size of a baby’s foot is 7.5 cm. At this stage the bones are very soft and supple as many of the bones are just starting to calcify. The ligaments are loose, the muscles are weak and there is no sign of any arch. The feet will appear flat, largely due to baby fat and a lack of developed arch. The arches do not fully develop until age 5 or 6.

What is normal?
To put many parents at ease, only a small percentage of babies are born with any type of foot deformity. The feet will appear flat initially but the arches will gradually develop in most cases over the first 5-6 years. Children’s body proportions, shape and alignment change as they grow. At times they become “clumsy” and trip easily but this is usually temporary until muscles and ligament structures strengthen.

It is important to note that children do not develop “straight” legs until they are about seven years old. So there is no need to panic if your child is bow-legged, knock-kneed or flat-footed. Depending on their age, this is most likely just a normal stage of their development. If there is something about your child’s development that concerns you as a parent, we encourage you to bring your child in for an assessment.

Do babies need shoes?
The simple answer is no, as they are not walking and encountering any dangerous objects on the floor or ground. Many parent use soft shoes, such as slippers. This is fine as long as the fit is checked regularly to ensure the toes have ample room to function and grow normally. In the past, many parent put their children in “good” strong leather shoes. This is not necessary and may actually cause more harm than good – plus replacing leather shoes so frequently can be expensive.

What is the right shoe to buy?
When children start walking, shoes are necessary to protect their feet from harmful external elements such as heat, cold, sharp stones, etc. It is critical that the feet be measured at a reputable shoe store by someone who has extensive experience with fitting children’s shoes. A good shoe should have a flexible sole and the upper should be soft and comfortable. It is important to have a firm heel counter to support the heel as it strike the ground.

I personally have had New Balance running shoes for my 3 kids. They also have supportive sandals with a back strap for use in the summer and crocs are limited to the beach or pool area only.