Proper foot care for children’s feet is an excellent way to prevent painful orthopedic and mechanical problems that can occur in adults. Pigeon-toed walking, bowleggedness, and flatfeet can be noticed as soon as your child starts to walk. These conditions may not be painful to your child, but they can be damaging to the feet in the long run.
Pigeon-toed walking, also called toeing in, is seen when the feet are slightly turned in when walking. Most babies’ feet are turned slightly outward in the womb, but sometimes if the baby’s feet are pressed incorrectly against the womb they can be born with their feet turned inward. This can make learning to walk difficult – the first sign to watch for is tripping. If your child is turning his or her toes in while walking, they can benefit from seeing a podiatrist, who can show them some exercises or offer other conservative treatments to correct their feet and prevent future damage.
Bowleggedness is a condition where the feet turn outward. It can be hereditary and usually corrects itself by age 2. If your child continues to exhibit exaggerated bowleggedness after the age of 2 or in only one leg, it could be a sign of a more serious condition such as rickets, a bone growth problem due to lack of calcium. This can often be corrected with adding Vitamin D to the diet. Another condition that bowleggedness may be an indicator of is Blount’s disease, which can cause abnormal growth above the tibia bone by the knee joint. If your child exhibits bowleggedness that occurs in only one leg or gets progressively worse, it would be wise to bring them to a podiatrist.
Flat feet occur in most newborns, who then develop arches as they grow. However, some children’s arches do not develop fully. Many children who have flat feet will complain of weak ankles and may be slightly clumsier on their feet than those with developed arches, but flatfeet in childhood are often not painful and will not cause any impairment in sports or daily life. If your child has flat feet that are painful, a podiatrist can help relieve pain by recommending arch supports for your child’s shoes.
