Baby Foot Development

Formation

• A baby is usually wrinkled, peeling and blue at birth; when he breathes and warms up, his feet turn pink. A baby's feet will normally look flat due to the fat pad in the arch area. As his foot and leg muscles develop with standing and walking, arches form, becoming apparent between ages 2 and 3.

  During the first year, a baby's foot reaches almost half the size of an adult-sized foot. Podiatrists consider this to be the most important time in foot development. Crucial bones form from pliable cartilage that's subject to malformation.

Attire

• Avoid putting shoes on a baby's feet before she begins walking; socks or tights will allow unrestricted movement while keeping the baby's feet warm. Make sure that socks, soft booties and bedtime attire are loose and do not compress the foot or toes. Allowing the baby to learn to walk without shoes lets the feet develop naturally. When she's indoors, let her walk barefoot on clean, safe surfaces so that the foot muscles strengthen without restriction.

Care

• Inspect the baby's feet often. Blisters indicate that there could be unseen damage, or that footwear is too tight or too rough. Make sure his feet are clean and dry to prevent infections and fungal growth.

Exercise

• Some time every day, let the baby exercise her bare feet and toes. Make it into a game by tickling her feet: This encourages her to stretch her foot muscles and flex her toes. Lying in one spot too long, especially on her stomach, can put strain on her legs and feet, so change her position often throughout the day.

Clubfoot

• Clubfoot (talipes) deformities are present at birth, affecting the foot's shape and bending it inward. Thought to be hereditary, clubfoot hinders foot development and impairs walking. Treatment typically begins immediately, including physiotherapy to gently manipulate the foot back into the proper shape. Sometimes a splint is used to hold the foot in place; severe cases often require surgery.

Flat Feet

• Babies naturally have flat feet at birth, but when the arch doesn't properly develop (usually between ages 2 and 3), a baby can't take mature heel-toe steps and will continue the waddling gait of a toddler. A podiatrist will prescribe gentle arch-support shoe inserts to force the arch to develop.

In- or Out-Toeing

• Some toddlers walk with their feet turned inward and with their toes rubbing together (often called being "pigeon-toed"); others walk with their toes turned outward. Both in-toeing and out-toeing can result in walking or running difficulties and may cause knee, hip or spinal problems. The underlying cause may be a developmental problem in other areas than the feet, such as in the hips or back, which requires professional care. Consultation with a healthcare provider is important for either in-toeing or out-toeing.