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Starting
to Walk
It is unwise to force a child to walk. When physically
and emotionally ready, the child will walk. Comparisons
with other children are misleading, since the age for
independent walking ranges from 10 to 18 months.
When
the child first begins to walk, shoes are not necessary
indoors. Allowing the youngster to go barefoot or to
wear just socks helps the foot to grow normally and
to develop its musculature and strength, as well as
the grasping action of toes. Of course, when walking
outside or on rough surfaces, babies' feet should be
protected in lightweight, flexible footwear made of
natural materials.
Growing
Up
As a child's feet continue to develop, it may be necessary
to change shoe and sock size every few months to allow
room for the feet to grow. Although foot problems result
mainly from injury, deformity, illness, or hereditary
factors, improper footwear can aggravate preexisting
conditions. Shoes or other footwear should never be
handed down. The feet of young children are often unstable
because of muscle problems which make walking difficult
or uncomfortable.
Sports
Activities
Millions of American children participate in team and
individual sports, many of them outside the school system,
where advice on conditioning and equipment is not always
available. Parents should be concerned about children's
involvement in sports that require a substantial amount
of running and turning, or involve contact. Protective
taping of the ankles is often necessary to prevent sprains
or fractures. Parents should consider discussing these
matters with their family podiatrist if they have children
participating in active sports. Sports-related foot
and ankle injuries are on the rise as more children
actively participate in sports.
Advice
for Parents
Problems noticed at birth will not disappear by themselves.
You should not wait until the child begins walking to
take care of a problem you've noticed earlier. Remember
that lack of complaint by a youngster is not a reliable
sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that
they can be twisted and distorted without the child
being aware of it.
Walking
patterns should be carefully observed. Does the child
toe in or out, have knock knees, or other gait (walking)
abnormalities? These problems can be corrected if they
are detected early. Going barefoot is a healthy activity
for children under the right conditions. However, walking
barefoot on dirty pavements exposes children's feet
to the dangers of infection through accidental cuts
and to severe contusions, sprains or fractures. Another
potential problem is plantar warts, a condition caused
by a virus which invades the sole of the foot through
cuts and breaks in the skin. They require protracted
treatment and can keep children from school and other
activities.
Be
careful about applying home remedies to children's feet,
as many can cause irritation and damage to the feet.
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