How should children choose shoes?
When to Start Using Shoes?
The average age for children to start walking is around 1 year old. For this reason, the use of shoes in children should be after they start walking.
How to Choose Shoes?
It is not necessary for children to wear shoes in the house. However, if something is to be dressed, non-slip socks can be preferred. Light and flexible soles should be preferred for children who are just starting to walk. The most important thing is that the shoes are not narrow, wide or high heels. The child must be able to fully grasp his foot.
During periods of rapid growth, new shoes are needed every 3-4 months.
In children under 16 months, the foot grows 1-2 sizes every 2 months.
16-24. feet grow 2 numbers in 2-3 months,
In small children aged 24-36 months, 1-2 numbers grow in 3-4 months,
If it is between 3-5 years old, it grows 1 number in 4-6 months.
Outside
The upper part of the shoe should be made of leather, canvas (linen fabrics with a thick structure) or knit. It should be noted that it is made in a way that it will take air but also protect it from external factors. The nose part should be rounded to allow finger movements. Children’s feet sweat a lot, so those made of natural (non-plastic) materials should be preferred.
Insole
Since children’s feet sweat a lot, the insoles in the shoes should be able to absorb sweat. Since the arch of the feet in children occurs around the age of 3-4 years, it is normal for them to look like flat feet until this age. For this reason, special orthopedic shoes are not needed unless otherwise diagnosed or if there is no additional problem in the foot of the child.
Bottom Base
The subfloor should be non-slip and flexible. As the hard sole prevents the foot from flexing, it can cause falls. Shoes with non-flexible soles do more harm than good as they prevent ligament and muscle development in children.
Heel
The heel of children’s shoes must be flat so that the child can walk comfortably. High-heeled shoes should never be preferred. According to the child’s condition during adolescence, 2-3 cm high heels can be worn.
The child’s shoe width, length and height should be chosen carefully. Poorly chosen shoes can cause ingrown nails, hammer toes, calluses and deformities in children’s toes.
Comfort should be at the forefront when choosing shoes for both children and adults.