Do toddlers need shoes?

Do toddlers need shoes? Well, that depends.

One of the most common questions we are asked about footwear is “When should my child wear shoes?” and “should my toddler be wearing a supportive shoe or a soft shoe?”

What is right for your toddler may be different for someone else.  

Does your child have any foot problems that result in pain?

Is your toddler having problems with their walking and running?

Does your toddler have a disability or condition that changes their feet or gait?

If you answered yes to any of the above three questions, you’re best to speak at a podiatrist that focusses in paediatric feet (like Alicia James or Cylie Williams).

General advice for typically developing little feet is to choose shoes that protect feet while helping toddlers master the skill they are currently learning. If that skill is walking, a flexible shoe is preferred. 

But toddlers need lots of barefoot time too.

Shoes should hold onto the foot rather than the foot holding onto the shoe. Little ones have enough to think about already. Going barefoot allows toddlers to increase muscle strength within their feet and provide sensory experiences for them. This allows toddlers to feel the sensation of their skin touching the ground.  There is little research to guide us in the optimal shoe at each stage of walking, in particular in younger children.

In older kids, we know how shoes change walking.

When kids wear shoes compared to walking barefoot, they walk faster with longer steps. We think this is because the shoe makes their legs longer, therefore they stride out further. Or maybe the increased weight of the shoe creates greater swing during walking. Or maybe just that wearing shoes gives more confidence to stride out further as their feet feel more protected. We don't know why it changes their walking, but don't think them going barefoot will slow them down either. 

There is no evidence that says older kids’ shoes should be flexible or stiffer in the sole. So again, the advice might sometimes need to be personalized. You will notice when shopping with older kids, you will have the option for a flexible or stiffer shoe. Some kids will do perfectly fine with a flexible shoe. Some kids will need a stiffer shoe as they may fatigue or get some foot discomfort after a long day in a flexible shoe.

Kids’ shoes need fixtures like laces, buckles or straps to hold their shoe onto the foot and the shoe should be the right length and width. 

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