Do Toddlers Need Expensive Shoes?
The basic role of a toddler's shoe is to protect his foot from injury. Expert opinion is divided on whether shoes are necessary to promote development of the foot, which may come as a shock to parents who are persuaded by shoe retailers that only the best quality, most expensive shoes are good enough for their toddler's feet. Your toddler will be fine going barefoot when indoors and generally only needs shoes when venturing outdoors to protect his feet from potentially dangerous objects and unsafe surfaces.
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Foot Development
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According to Orthoseek, recent research appears to contradict the theory that a toddler's feet need support to prevent them from becoming flat. Foot problems, such as bunions and hammer toes, are extremely rare in primitive cultures where people don't wear shoes, but common within shoe-wearing cultures. A British study of children aged between the ages of 2 and 4 revealed that of the children who constantly wore shoes, eight out of 10 of them suffered from a deflection of the big toe's terminal phalanx, and three out of 10 of them had incurving of the fourth and fifth toes. These issues were not present in the children who did not wear shoes often.
Ankle Support
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Parents may believe that high-top shoes are essential to support a toddler's ankles as she takes his first steps, but studies dispute this theory. Using high-top shoes to encourage a child to walk when she is not ready can do more harm than good. This does not mean that high-top shoes are not suitable for a toddler, but they should not be used solely to help her walk.
Sneakers
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A Stanford University study led by Dr. E. Bleck followed 40 children with normal feet over a decade. All 40 children wore nothing but sneakers, and at the end of the 10 years there were absolutely no issues with flat feet. This suggests that there is no substance in the belief that wearing only sneakers is bad for children's feet. Parents may worry that their child has flatfeet, when in actual fact he simply has low arches, which will not cause any functional problems whatsoever, according to Orthoseek. According to foot and ankle specialist Steven G. Tillett, DPM, sneakers are a good choice for toddlers because they don't restrict movement and let the foot develop naturally.
Fit
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Pricey shoes are not always the best option for a toddler. In many cases, the price relates to the brand name and not the superior quality of the shoe. Joanne Cox, associate chief of general pediatrics at Boston's Children's Hospital, confirms that for toddlers who are learning to walk, inexpensive shoes are fine. A good fit is far more important than the cost of the shoes. Visit a reputable children's shoe store and ask an experienced salesperson to measure your toddler's feet. A toddler's feet need to be measured every two to four months, advises WebMD. Check your toddler's shoes regularly to make sure they're not getting too tight. There should be some room at her heel; test this by slipping your little finger inside the back of the shoe. If you can't get your finger down to your first knuckle, the shoes are too tight.
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