Taking care of baby’s feet
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This document provides guidance on taking care of babies' and toddlers' feet. It discusses keeping feet clean and dry, cutting toenails straight across, allowing babies to go barefoot when possible, ensuring shoes fit properly with room for growth, and knowing when to see a specialist for foot issues. Common foot conditions seen in children like flat feet and bowlegs are also mentioned. The document emphasizes the importance of foot health and development in babies and kids.
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Taking care of baby’s feet
- 1. Taking Care of Baby’s Feet Cameron Kippen toeslayer2000@yahoo.com.au
- 2. Taking care of baby’s feet • Baby’s are born with healthy feet. • The foot bones do not all ossify until late teenage. • Whenever possible let baby go barefoot.
- 3. Foot Hygiene • Bland soap and hand hot water • Dry the feet carefully, especially between the toes • Use bland creams and talc. • Inspect the feet for skin breaks
- 4. Nail Care • Cut straight across the nail’s free edge, leave approx. 1 mm beyond the toe. • Use the tips of the cutting blades and always cut small pieces at a time. • Use a file/emery board to smooth sharp corners.
- 5. Nail Cutting : Points to remember • Make the task as much fun as possible. • Try cutting one or two nails only if the child is restless. • When all else fails try cutting the nails when the baby is asleep. • Use small scissors/clippers and avoid biting the nails.
- 6. Baby Shoes • Barefoot is good • By 6 months baby only needs socks for warmth and protection • If shoes are worn ensure they fit and are flexible
- 7. Toddler’s Shoes • The same shape as the foot • Soft upper and flexible sole • Good fastening improves fit • Fit length and foot breadth • Leave 20 mm for toe growth.
- 8. Points to remember • Always have the child stand when trying on new shoes. • Check for growing room at the toes and make sure the shoe does not pinch at the sides. • Get them to stand on their tip toes and watch the heel, if slips out, then a smaller size may be indicated. • Check socks and shoe fit regularly. • Hand me down shoes are fine provided they are in good condition and fit the foot comfortably.
- 9. School Shoes • School shoes need to fit comfortably and provide protection for active feet. • Shoes must allow for natural growth and mobility so the child can move effortlessly. • Teach them to tie their shoe laces as this is a skill they will require when they go to school.
- 10. Make shoe fitting fun • On a piece of paper, run a felt tip pen around the foot and mark them left and right. Cut out the shapes. • Take these to the shoe shop and slip them into the shoe to check for fit. • This makes buying shoes a bit of fun for children and they can keep or play with the foot shapes.
- 11. Foot Growth and Development • Bow legs and knock knees • Pigeon Toes (hen toes) • Flat feet • Curly toes
- 12. When do you need to see a specialist? • Your child complains of continued pain in the feet or legs and always sits while others around play, actively. • Your child consistently trips and falls, and you may notice uneven shoe wear. • One foot is different from the other and may present with skin rashes, hard skin and or bumps.
- 13. Bouncers, exercisers and baby walkers • Walking is a learned activity which takes many years to perfect. • Baby cannot support their body weight until the leg bones adjust and the skeleton and muscles develop. This can take until 18 months and baby will decide for themselves when to walk. • Be cautious and do not leave the child unsupervised or for long periods in baby bouncers, exercisers and baby walkers.
- 14. Look after your feet Be good to your feet And they will carry you, All through your young years And all your old ones too. Keep them dry, clean and healthy, Keep your toenails short. Give them shoes that fit them, 'cos new feet can't be bought!
- 15. Commonwealth of Australia Copyright Regulations 1969 WARNING This material has been copied and communicated to you by or on behalf of Cameron Kippen pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act). The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further copying or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Do not remove this notice
Editor's Notes
- The vast majority of babies are born with good feet . Soft bones (cartilage) are still developing and continue to grow and form for the next 18 – 20 years. Soft pliable bones can easily be distorted, but baby’s feet are pretty sturdy and provided they are protected then little harm can come to them. Whenever possible Where ever possible let baby go barefoot in the early months as the size of their feet double in their first year. It makes common sense to have baby socks, tights or baby grows that fit and not too short. Even soft pram shoes can quickly become too tight so it is important to check for fit and make sure there are no hidden seams inside socks, tights or shoes because these can rub delicate skin.
- Regular washing of baby’s feet with bland soap in warm water, no hotter than hand hot (460 C) will keep the skin clean. Gently pat the feet dry with a soft towel and take time to dry in-between the toe spaces with a cotton wool bud. Cut the toenails regularly (at least every three weeks) and keep them short with a millimeter free edge. Avoid biting baby’s nails because this may be a source of cross contamination. Routinely check tiny feet for bumps, itchy spots, cuts and blisters and apply first aid or seek assistance. Rub bland cream (water miscible) to the skin and gently massage the feet. This will stimulate the circulation and give baby a real feeling of well being.
- Usually the ends of the nails are white. This is where the nail is no longer attached to the skin underneath (free edge). Leave a small piece of this, to avoid cutting the skin nail. Babies’ toenails are very soft and may peel during the early months. Nails of a newborn do not grow quickly and may not require cutting for a few months. Nails are softer and easier to cut after a bath or shower. When cutting baby’s nails, use the tips of the cutting blades and always only cut small pieces at a time. Cut the nails to follow the natural shape of the toe without cutting down the side of the nail. Bad cutting down the side may result in an in growing toenail. Use a file/emery board to smooth sharp corners.
- By 6 months the only footwear babies need is good fitting socks for warmth and or protection (sun). Baby will be aware of their feet and begin to play with them, so going barefoot, whenever the opportunity presents, should be encouraged. If shoes are worn make sure these low cut have a soft upper, preferably with a porous surface, have flexible soles and fit the shape of the foot.
- As the fad for fashionable clothing for toddlers becomes more apparent it can become quite a task to match junior, with fashion and function. Toddler’s shoes should be the same shape as their feet , and be soft on top, and flexible to allow joints to move. The sole should firm but flexible and bend easily. Reinforcement at the arch is not essential but often thought of as important. Good fastening (laces or Velcro) gives a better fit to the foot. Shoes need to be wide enough and long enough to accommodate the volume of the foot. When the child begins to walk (at about 12 months) shoes become a little more important and act as a protection from sharp objects. They are still not essential but most parents will but their first pair of shoes as a rite of passage. Always get junior to stand in their shoes and check there is growing room at the toes. Getting them to stand on their tip toes will demonstrate a good fit and if they slip out at the heel then a smaller size may be indicated. Children’s feet do not grow to any know timetable but will on average change sizes, three times a year until they are about aged 11. The infant’s f eet will grow quickly however so it is important to check socks and shoe fit regularly. Hand me down shoes are fine provided they are in good condition and fit the foot comfortably.
- Always get junior to stand in their shoes and check there is growing room at the toes. Getting them to stand on their tip toes will demonstrate a good fit and if they slip out at the heel then a smaller size may be indicated. Children’s feet do not grow to any know timetable but will on average change sizes, three times a year until they are about aged 11. The infant’s f eet will grow quickly however so it is important to check socks and shoe fit regularly. Hand me down shoes are fine provided they are in good condition and fit the foot comfortably.
- By the time the child is ready for school their feet will look like mini adult feet but it will take another decade or so to completely ossify. Children’s feet need to have good fitting shoes and because of the various activities they participate in, the shoes should be made to suite. Keeping feet clean and dry and wearing thongs around the swimming pool, helps prevent tinea and warts which are common skin infections in children.
- It is always preferred to have children’s feet fitted by a trained shoe fitter but this is not always possible. Most shoes are bought from the shelf without the child being there so a good tip for younger children to trace their footprints with the child standing on a piece of paper. Run a felt tip pen around the foot, mark them left and right then cut out the shapes. Take these to the shoe shop and slip them into the shoe to check for fit. This makes buying shoes a bit of fun for children and they can keep or play with the foot shapes. For the more inquisitive you can chart their height, weight and foot size.
- These are some of the quirky things about feet and legs which often give parents needless concerns: Babies are born with bow legs due to the position of the baby in the uterus. Over the next few years the knees change position and come closer together, eventually almost touching or rubbing when the child walks (knock knees) This is often more noticeable in girls and self corrects in the majority of cases. Toddlers walk when they are ready. Tempting as it is try not to force the issue because their body weight cannot be supported by their feet until they are ready. About a third of children intoed (pigeon toe) and this is due to internal rotation of their leg bones and in the vast majority of cases this will self correct as the skeleton and musculature develops. Most toddlers will have flat and floppy feet which is perfectly natural and part of normal development. When do you need to see a specialist? Your child complains of continued pain in the feet or legs and always sits while others around play, actively? Your child consistently trips and falls, and you may notice uneven shoe wear One foot is different from the other and may present with skin rashes, hard skin or bumps. Talk to your general practitioner who will refer you to specialists like a pediatrician of podiatrist, should the need arise.
- When do you need to see a specialist? Your child complains of continued pain in the feet or legs and always sits while others around play, actively? Your child consistently trips and falls, and you may notice uneven shoe wear One foot is different from the other and may present with skin rashes, hard skin or bumps. Talk to your general practitioner who will refer you to specialists like a pediatrician of podiatrist, should the need arise.
- Bouncers, exercisers and baby walkers. Walking is a learned activity which takes many years to perfect. Baby cannot support their body weight until the leg bones adjust and the skeleton and muscles develop. This can take until 18 months and baby will decide for themselves when to walk. Naturally parents like to see early development it does pay dividends to be cautious and not leave the child unsupervised or for long periods in baby bouncers, exercisers and baby walkers.