Foot problems in adult life can often be prevented through early intervention in childhood. By the age of 12 a young person's foot has nearly reached its adult size which is why early childhood is an important time for correction of any developmental and structural abnormalities. 

GUIDELINES TO AVOID CHILDRENS FOOT DISORDERS

Don’t restrict a baby's development with tight bedclothes, booties, socks or blankets. Allow them to kick and exercise legs and feet.

• Discourage poor sleeping and sitting positions (i.e. sleeping on stomach or kneeling with feet turned out). Sitting with legs crossed is preferred.
• Walking frames place stress on bones and muscles prematurely. Babies will begin walking through natural development, which usually occurs, between 9 and 18 months.
• Babies are bow legged up to 2 years of age then can go through a knock knee stage which can last up to 7 years of age

When your child begins walking, look for signs that may indicate abnormalities in their structure and development. Such signs as:

- Feet turned out excessively

- Painful, tired legs at the end of the day (also known as: 'Growing Pains')

- Abnormal wear patterns on shoes

- Skin lesions (i.e. corns, blisters, calluses)

- Warts – viral infection

Many of these problems can be treated with exercise; shoe modifications or custom made insoles (orthoses) in the shoe.

Nails should be cut straight across and down the sides.

 Does your child show some common signs of foot problems?

• Children toes pointed inward or outward
• Persistent tripping
• Children overlapping or underlapping toes
• Knock knees - When a child walks or runs with his/her knees very close together, perhaps even touching when walking he or she has knock knees or Genu Valgum. Although it is of an understandable concern to you and your child, it does not cause any serious complications or problems in life.
• Bulging ankles
• Leg cramps, tired legs or feet
• Corns, calluses or warts - Plantar warts occur on the sole (plantar surface) of the foot. They can be very painful because the entire weight of the body presses against them continuously when standing or walking. Plantar warts are usually rough, bumpy, and spongy, although some may be thick and scaly.
• Children flat feet - Flat feet are low arched and fairly common. Most flat feet are what podiatrist’s term, pronated. Closer examination of the weight-bearing pronated foot reveals:

- Turning out of the heel bone away from the centre of the body

- Inward rotation of the leg

- Bulging of the inner aspect of the ankle

- Shifting of the forefoot outward from the heel

Abnormal shoe wear - When choosing shoes for your child make sure the shoe shape matches the foot shape and the upper is firm in the heel area but is flexible around the front of the shoe. No one brand will suit all feet. The upper of the shoe should be made of leather or material, which will allow air to circulate around the foot. Don’t use hand-me-down shoes unless they are showing NO wear on the sole or upper.