After a baby is born, the family's desire to shop significantly increases. Whether it's the parents or the grandparents, they can't help but buy a lot of beautiful clothes and shoes for the child every time they see them. However, many parents may not realize that beautiful clothes and shoes are not always comfortable. While wanting babies to look good is understandable, comfort is the most important factor. Doctors suggest that it's crucial to choose shoes carefully to promote the development and growth of children.
Faced with various types and a wide array of styles, parents often fall into misconceptions. Choosing the right shoes is particularly crucial for the healthy development of the baby's feet. Have you fallen into any of these misconceptions when selecting shoes?
For example:
1.Oversized Shoes with Reserved Sizes
Babies' feet grow rapidly, and they quickly outgrow their shoes. Some parents may intentionally buy shoes several sizes too big for their babies. Wearing shoes that are too large can cause instability while walking, making it easy to trip and fall. Additionally, oversized shoes can cause the foot to slide forward, leading to frequent collisions with the big toe and eventually causing it to deform and develop bunions. Moreover, wearing shoes that are too big not only makes walking difficult but also accelerates wear and tear.
Correct approach: When buying shoes, parents should have the baby stand and try them on (standing size is usually half or one size larger than sitting size), and let them take a few steps. The shoe is considered appropriate when the baby's toes touch the front of the shoe, and the adult's index finger can be inserted behind the heel.
2.Choosing Shoes That Are Too Soft
Parents often believe that soft shoes are the most comfortable, but excessively soft shoes can hinder proper foot development. For toddlers who are just learning to walk, it's advisable to select shoes with thin and slightly soft soles. This helps infants learn to stand by grasping the correct position of their toes and soles, aiding in mastering proper walking posture.
However, for children who are already running and jumping, with joints and ligaments still developing, overly soft shoe soles and uppers can be detrimental to their development. On one hand, it affects their walking posture, and on the other hand, it can harm their arches. This not only increases the risk of sprains but also fails to adequately protect the toes.
Correct Approach: Shoe selection should be based on the child's age. For infants, avoid shoes with elevated arches. For older children, shoes should have some rigidity in the heel and toe areas. Ideally, the front one-third should be flexible while the back two-thirds should be less flexible, providing proper protection for the feet.
3.Blindly Choosing Stylish Shoes
When adults shop for their children, they often rely on their own aesthetic preferences, resulting in many children's clothing and footwear choices being overly adult-like. Purchasing these shoes can negatively impact the growth and development of children's toes and soles, affecting their gait, and in severe cases, causing foot deformities.
Correct Approach: It's essential to avoid the following four types of shoes! Instead, choose shoes that are appropriate in size, made of safe materials, and have suitable styles according to the child's age group.
4 Types of Shoes Unsuitable for Babies
A.Functional Shoes, Not Suitable for Babies Learning to Walk
During the learning-to-walk stage, babies should not wear functional shoes. The ideal footwear for this stage follows the concept of "barefoot walking," as walking barefoot stimulates the development of the nerves on the soles of the feet, aids in exercising the baby's toe grip, and helps them establish a sense of balance. At home, babies can wear shoes that adhere to the concept of barefoot walking, with a slightly rigid sole and overall reinforcement design. For example, Superfit's learning-to-walk shoes.
Additionally, in China, functional shoes are still in the early stages of development, and there are currently no strict inspection standards for them. Therefore, the so-called functional shoes popular in the market are not suitable for babies learning to walk. So, avoid buying them!
B.Perforated Shoes, Especially Unsuitable for Babies Under 2 Years Old
Every summer, mothers like to dress their babies in perforated shoes for easy wear and comfort. However, there have been frequent reports of children tripping or getting stuck in elevators while wearing perforated shoes.
The hazards of perforated shoes go beyond these incidents. Most of these shoes on the market have varying qualities, with many made from unsafe materials that can cause skin inflammation after prolonged wear. Additionally, these shoes do not provide ankle support, hindering the development of proper walking posture in children.
C.Non-Breathable Winter Boots, Unsuitable for Babies
When choosing shoes for babies in winter, warmth is essential, but breathability should also be considered. Babies are active, and their little feet sweat easily. Prolonged exposure to damp shoes can lead to frostbite and foot odor. Moreover, prolonged wearing of damp and hot shoes can cause the muscles supporting the arches of the feet to relax, leading to flat arches and "bigger" feet. Therefore, regardless of the baby's stage, shoes must be breathable.
D.Flashing Shoes, Squeaky Shoes, Not Suitable for Babies Learning to Walk
These shoes appeal to a child's curiosity and are often liked by children. However, the flashing and squeaking devices are usually located in the heels of the shoes, prompting children to walk by forcefully striking their heels or frequently looking down at the flashing lights, potentially fostering poor walking habits such as hunching. Moreover, poor-quality loud noises may damage a child's hearing.
