From first walkers to children’s boots to sneakers. Correctly selected children’s shoes are the foundation for healthy feet – but choosing the right shoes for children is not trivial! There are a few important things to keep in mind. Your children’s feet will carry your children for a lifetime – ideally, healthy and pain-free.
Don’t just choose shoes for your children at random. The wrong shoes may lead to Disorders in the feet, i.e. at the basis of the static human system, often lead to painful disorders on the levels above, ie in the ankle, knee, and hip joints, sometimes even in the lumbar spine.
What to look for in children’s shoes?
- The flexibility of children’s shoes. The soles of the ball of the foot and the toes of the first shoes for your children should be slightly flexible, this is the only way for the foot to roll without impairment. If you bend your shoes up with your hand, the resistance must not be too great. At the same time, however, the shoe must offer firm support on the sides to protect the ankle.
- As soon as children jump, jump and run, orthopedic specialists say you should pay attention to harder soles and a stronger grip in the shoes. This means that older children may have stronger footwear and the resistance tested may be somewhat greater.
- The right size of children’s shoes plays an extremely important role. Shoes that are too small, in particular, can cause problems. Hallux valgus, the crooked big toe, is a frequent consequence of shoes that are too small.
- Determine shoe size. In the first few years of life, children do not yet have a sufficient sense of pain. Children do not recognize for themselves when a shoe is too small – among other things because of the malleability of soft shoes, which are recommended in the first few years of life. And the specified shoe size often does not match the actual size. Therefore it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children’s shoes are the right size! To do this, the children’s feet must be measured correctly – ideally with a shoe template or a measuring device.
- Material. Children’s feet tend to sweat more than adults’. Therefore, breathable materials are recommended, such as leather and textiles. Hands off, on the other hand, when it comes to shoes made of air-impermeable plastic.
Manufacturers and brands. According to a test magazine, examples of recommended children’s shoes are those from the manufacturers like Bundgaard, Richter, or Superfit – the latter is recommended by 98% of the pediatricians and orthopedic surgeons surveyed by the manufacturer. But you can still find the right shoes for your children so long as you follow the checklist above. Online shops like Techwear offer ergonomic techwear shoes for children and adults.