Children's Feet

We want to see our children start life with a good foundation and develop to be healthy and strong. Our Podiatrists are trained to assess and treat children of all ages.

CHILDREN’S FEET

Children go through many development stages in their early years and it is often difficult for parents to know if their child is developing as expected.

LEARNING TO WALK

Children begin learning to walk between twelve to sixteen months of age. When children are initially learning to walk inside your home they do not need to wear shoes. Wearing shoes during early stages of walking can dull the sensory feedback children receive on the sole of their foot. This sensory feedback helps children to develop balance and co-ordination.

Outside of the home it always recommended that children wear shoes to protect their delicate feet.

If you believe that your child is delayed in learning to walk or still isn’t showing signs of starting to walk around fifteen months of age, it is highly recommend that you have your child assessed by a podiatrist or paediatrician.

CHILDREN’S SHOES

Children’s feet are constantly growing in their early years. It is important that you check your child’s shoes and socks regularly as shoes and socks that are too small can cause deformity to the toes as well as ingrown toe nails. Remember to check your children’s shoe and sock size:

0 – 3 years: Every 1 to 3 months

3 – 5 years: Every 3 months

5 + years: Every 6 months

COMMON FOOT CONDITIONS

All children develop at different rates making it difficult as a parent to know how your child is developing. At Showgrounds Village Podiatry we treat many of the foot conditions outlined below that your child may experience:

FLAT FEET & JOINT HYPERMOBILITY

It is normal for babies and infants to have flat feet. Until around two years of age, babies and infants have a fat foot pad that hides the shape of the arch. Children’s arch height will continue to develop until the age of between six and eight years. This is because young children have more flexible ligaments than adults.

By seven years of age most children will have formed their adult foot shape. Flat feet can cause problems and your child’s feet should be assessed by a podiatrist if your child frequently complains of sore feet and legs, has been late to learn to walk or shows signs of poor coordination and balance.

INTOEING, PIGEON TOED & INWARDS TURNED FEET

Children learning to walk may develop a turned in foot position. This turned in foot position during walking maybe caused by the leg being internally rotated and is known as intoeing or being “Pigeon toed”. The shape of the child’s foot may also cause the child to look as if they are intoeing because their feet are not straight and have a turned inward position known as metatarsal adductus.

If you your child is intoeing or has Metatarsal Adductus it is recommended to have your child assessed by a Podiatrist. In most cases treatment is not required but if it is, it is better to start treatment sooner rather than later. We highly recommend assessment by a Podiatrist if you notice your child’s intoeing is not reducing, if it only effects one leg, if they trip or fall over frequently or their foot is stiff and rigid.

TURNED OUT FEET

Out toeing or turned out feet is less common than intoeing in children. Children born prematurely or children with flat feet most frequently have turned out feet. Out toeing in children that were born prematurely will often correct itself as muscle tone, posture and balance improves. For children with turned out flat feet it is recommended you see a Podiatrist.

GROWING PAINS & SORE HEELS

Growing pains in feet, lower legs and knees are common in children especially those who are active and have inwards rolling feet (pronated feet) or flat feet. Children between eight and thirteen years of age will most commonly develop heel pain caused by a growing pain condition called Calcaneal Apophysitis or knee pain caused by Osgood-Schlatter Disease. Both of these conditions can be easily treated by our Podiatrists.

WARTS (VERRUCA PEDIS)

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus virus that effects the skin and commonly occur on children’s feet. A wart will often look like an area of hard, flat rough skin with small red/back dots being present in the rough skin. Warts may also grow as a single lesion on the skin or in clusters. There are many different treatment options available for warts that do not cause your child pain or distress.

INGROWN TOENAILS

Ingrown toenails commonly occur in children and can be caused by incorrect trimming of nails, tight shoes and socks, or trauma such as stubbing your toe. Ingrown toenails are one of the most commonly treated conditions by a Podiatrist. Depending on the severity of the ingrown toenail our Podiatrists can often painlessly trim the nail from the side of the toe to alleviate the pressure. In severe cases a minor procedure may need to be performed in our clinic using local anaesthetic to prevent the ingrown nail from returning.

WHEN TO SEE A PODIATRIST

You may need to see a Podiatrist if your child:

Complains of sore feet, lower legs, or knees
Has excessively flat feet
One foot looks different compared to the other foot
Suffers from feet that are turned in or turned
Is kept awake at night with sore legs
Is reluctant to walk long distance and partake in sporting activity
Has toes that are not straight
Is walking on their toes
Is limping
Frequently loses their balance and falls over
Has uneven wear on the soles of their shoes
Has a bunion
Is later than 15 months in age before they start walking

If you have any other concerns about the development of your child’s feet you should contact a Podiatrist for an assessment.

SHOWGROUNDS VILLAGE PODIATRY CARES FOR LITTLE FEET TOO

If you have any concerns about the development of your children’s feet or they way they walk please contact us

Perform Podiatry Foot Clinic - Alice Podiatrist

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Showgrounds Village Podiatry is committed to delivering high quality podiatry health care to our patients. Our podiatrists achieve the best results by working with you to develop a tailored treatment plan that meets your needs and allows you to get back to living your life the way you want. Flemington podiatry (foot clinic) within a short distance of Moonee Ponds