"The Doreen Foot and Ankle Clinic prides itself in specialising in the diagnosis, management and observation of the growing foot."
HEALTHY FEET
Children's feet are not simply little adults feet - they have unique developmental patterns of their own.
A checkup with a Podiatrist at the Doreen Foot and Ankle clinic is recommended if:
- If your family has a strong familial history of foot problems eg. Mum, Dad, Grandpa or Grandma
- You notice uneven shoe wear
- you notice skin rashes, hard skin, lumps or bumps on feet
- your child complains of recurrent pain in the feet or legs
- your child becomes tired very quickly and complains about soreness in legs or feet while walking.
- your child is constantly tripping and falling, or you have
Birth
Children's feet differ from those of adults, as they are not yet fully formed. Around 10cm long at birth, the feet will double in size by the time your child reaches one years old. At 6 months of age the foot is still mostly cartilage, by 18 years most of the bones (one quarter of all the bones in the body) are fully formed.
Baby
By 6 months your baby will be aware and start to play with both feet. The only footwear babies need is socks for warmth, as they are not constrictive and allow the feet to grow normally.
Walking
At around 12 months most children will begin standing and walking. Those first steps are always exciting but just imagine - your toddler will probably walk the equivalent of four times around the world in a lifetime! Rapid growth during childhood may require changing the size of your child's socks and shoes every few months.
Play
By the age of three, children are learning to jump, skip, hop, kick a ball and pedal a bicycle. Learning to run is a more complex task than walking, is now being mastered. Shoes should offer protection from injury or cold and still allow freedom and mobility. Make sure there is enough depth, length and width to accommodate the foot. Laces or straps that hold the shoes securely to the foot to reduce slippage when walking.
School
By the age of six, children's feet will have a quite grown-up appearance and their walking will resemble the pattern of an adult. Teach them to tie their shoelaces - a skill they'll need for school. Keeping feet clean and dry and wearing thongs or sandals around the pool helps to prevent tinea and warts - two common skin infections.