Seven Child Foot Care Tips You Should Know

Seven Child Foot Care Tips You Should Know

If you ask most parents what they actively do to take care of their children’s feet, you might be surprised at how little is done. Child foot care is often overlooked to take care of the ears, nose, and throat (ENT) and other upper body structures.

That’s not to say children do not need foot care because they do.

In this post, we look at seven foot-care tips to help parents ensure optimal child foot health.

1. Buy well-fitting shoes

Kid’s feet grow quickly, with some kids moving up a half or full size in a matter of months. The best way to ensure your child has the right-size shoe is to take them with you whenever you go shoe shopping. At the shop, have them measured each time to get the right size and avoid the formation of corns and calluses from tight shoes.

2. Cut toenails the right way

Since you are most likely your child’s manicurist and pedicurist, you should ensure all their nails are cut straight across. Cut them into the corners might predispose your child to ingrown nails, especially toenails. Cutting across ensures the nails grow straight up and do not grow into the skin.

3. Allow more shoeless time

Kid’s feet need the space and tactile pressure to grow and develop in the right way. When indoors, encourage your children to stay barefoot to learn how to support their weight naturally, and their toes learn how to grip the floor as they walk.

4. Lookout for injuries

While you may encourage your kids always to wear shoes while outdoors, it is a good idea to always be on the lookout for minor injuries that might go unnoticed. Small nicks and cuts might not bother your child but might develop into other conditions like plantar warts or fungal infections if left untreated.

5. Encourage clean and dry feet

You probably know by now that kids are the most impatient bathers in the world. Because of this, feet will mostly be poorly cleaned and left undried. To encourage better foot health, encourage your kids to wash their feet properly and dry them well to avoid the development of athlete’s foot.

6. Dress minor injuries properly

There’s a common belief that leaving wounds open allows them to dry quickly. What this theory does not account for is that when it comes to kids, open wounds mean an increased risk of infection. To prevent germ exposure, dress all wounds until dry enough.

Conclusion

Kids with healthy feet and healthy foot care habits will often grow into adults who take care of their feet. Start applying these tips to set your kids on a solid path to healthy feet, both now and long into the future.