The best shoes for your infant or toddler are no shoes at all. Going barefoot allows for optimal foot development in the early years by providing a rich sensory experience and unrestricted motion. Nevertheless, there are sidewalks to stroll, snowflakes to crunch, and puddles to splash, and so shoes must be purchased.
From the ages of 0-2, our feet are wide and flexible with almost no visible arch. Most clinicians don’t expect the arch of the foot to fully develop until children are around 8-10 years old. When you watch your child stand and walk barefoot, you’ll notice the muscles of their feet constantly shifting to maintain their balance. These little adjustments they make thousands of times a day help to build strong foot musculature and develop effective foot posture over the early years of development.
Shoes that provide rigid support can limit the foot’s ability to move freely through a variety of postures. Once your child is walking independently, we recommend looking for shoes with the following characteristics to allow freedom of movement:
Children who are not yet walking independently may benefit from a well-fitting sock with grippy bottoms to stay warm, but they do not require shoes to learn to stand or walk. Most developing feet need shoes for protection from the elements, not for support. Our therapists may recommend shoes with additional support for children with specific orthopedic or neurological conditions. Please speak with your child’s physical or occupational therapist for more information.
References
Uden, H., Scharfbillig, R., & Causby, R. (2017). The typically developing paediatric foot: how flat should it be? A systematic review. Journal of foot and ankle research, 10, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-017-0218-1
Morrison, S. C., Price, C., McClymont, J., & Nester, C. (2018). Big issues for small feet: developmental, biomechanical and clinical narratives on children's footwear. Journal of foot and ankle research, 11, 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-018-0281-2
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