Your baby's first shoes: 7 things to know!
Choosing the right shoes for your child is essential for his health, especially if they are the first: they will help him to assume a correct posture, allowing the bones and muscles to grow in the best way. So how to orient yourself in the world of children's shoes? What must be the essential and fundamental characteristics of your child's first shoes?
Here are 7 very important things to know about her first shoes. And if you choose the right ones, your child will be the first to look forward to putting them on ...
1. Choose the shoe that best suits the delicacy of his first steps!
Every mom knows how delicate her baby's feet are. At birth, they are mostly made of cartilage and this makes them very soft and fragile at the same time. They grow up one day after the other with him and his autonomy: your child learns little by little to walk, without haste, but with determination, and he does so in the period between 10 and 24 months, when his motor development comes to fruition.
The baby gains an upright position in the first 24 months of life. You will see him crawl first, then look for support to get up and finally try to take his first steps. All these steps are fundamental and it is important that the right shoes support it: they must have a soft and flexible sole, with a wide tip and that allows the fingers to move freely. The back, on the other hand, must have a buttress that helps it to maintain the right posture, but without constraints of any kind.
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2. The right shoe must respect the physiognomy and development of the foot!
To choose the most suitable shoes for your child you will need to take care and attention: it is in fact very important to respect the physiology and the harmonious development of his feet. Ankle-length shoes are recommended between 12 and 24 months to prevent them from slipping off easily. They must support the first steps without forcing the foot. The materials must be soft and natural: leather, leather and fabric are preferred, but even the most innovative ones are fine if they are breathable. You can then choose both shoes with hook and loop closure, and with laces and buckles, preferable for chubby feet.
After 2 years, however, when the structure of the foot will be more defined and tapered, it is important that the shoe follows its shape. The ideal shoes must have soft but resistant uppers, flexible soles, but which protect the foot from the roughness of the ground. The closures, then, must be practical and safe at the same time. Finally, be careful that they let the sole of the foot breathe, favoring perspiration, which is essential in an age when you don't stand still for a moment!
3. Always choose the right size!
Choosing the correct size for your child's shoes is essential! With shoes that are too short, the risk is to block the development of the foot, while - buying too long ones - would favor incorrect postures and wrong movements, in addition to the risk of tripping.
To check that the size is correct, make the heel adhere to the back of the shoe and, keeping the sole of the foot well stretched, apply pressure in correspondence with the big toe, checking that there is a space between the toes and the front of the shoe. about one centimeter In the space between the heel and the inside of the shoe, you must be able to pass a finger.
4. Different shoes according to the season!
Always choose the right shoes according to the season. In winter you will need at least two types: one to go out, which proves to be waterproof and breathable to defy all the elements, and one to stay inside, light and comfortable. In the mid-seasons, however, focus on models of medium weight, preferring a light skin type.
Finally, in summer, the green light is given to sandals, but that they are tightly closed both on the toe and on the heel so that they can support the child and favor their movement correctly.
5. Consider the sweating factor!
The problem of sweating for your child's foot is fundamental: the feet are the part of the body that sweats most of all! In children, in particular, foot sweating is greater than that of an adult.
Here are some small tips: when you take your child's shoes off, let them dry in the open air, avoiding the sun's rays that could discolour them or heat sources that could wrinkle them. If necessary, remove some moisture. inside with newspaper.
Then remember to alternate at least two pairs of shoes per season, to prevent microorganisms from proliferating and wash the insoles and removable insoles. Finally, provide your child with a pair of shoes for the outdoors and a pair (lighter) for indoors.
6. Go for shoes with a removable insole!
Mothers are often convinced that their children's shoes must be provided with insoles, but this is not the case, or rather it is not the rule. In fact, it is natural that children have flat feet and, at least up to the age of 3, there is no reason to worry about it. The longitudinal arch under the sole of the foot is formed only later and an insole will only be necessary in case where this does not happen. Among other things, it should be a specific insole, made specifically for your child's foot: the use of standard or prefabricated ones could be counterproductive.
So don't worry if your child's first shoes do not have a structured footbed: as long as there is a soft and removable insole in leather that can allow him a comfortable support. The extendable insole, in fact, considerably improves the hygiene inside the shoe. Children tend to sweat a lot and, if you notice that the inside of the shoe is wet, it must be dried to prevent bacteria and mold from proliferating, causing stains and bad smells. An insole that is easily removed is comfortable, safe and easy to dry or possibly alternate.
7. No shoes in the first months of life!
Finally, avoid putting your baby's shoes on right away and let him loose as much as possible, at least until he starts crawling. Before, his foot will only be partially ossified and the use of shoes could represent a constriction.
Consider that shoes generally begin to be used around 12 months, although each case must be considered in itself.
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