When it comes to taking care of your child’s body, you may be overlooking their feet. Children are in a constant state of development and growth. Studies show that children ages 2 to 6 require a change in shoe size every couple of months. With such a rapid growth rate, children’s feet demand continuous monitoring and medical attention. That’s where the role of a podiatrist comes in.
What Does a Pediatric Podiatrist Do?
A podiatrist is a medical professional who is trained to treat foot and ankle disorders and injuries, as well as other related leg structures. A pediatric podiatrist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle disorders and injuries specific to or common in children.
Foot disorders and deformities can happen without showing any warning signs, and keeping a close eye on your child’s feet and having frequent podiatrist visits can help maintain foot health.
How to Maintain Healthy Feet?
Our feet serve multiple purposes, from stabilizing and supporting our body weight to acting as shock absorbers. Getting an expert opinion on how to maintain healthy feet can help you avoid common mistakes. Here’s our expert podiatrists’ guide on how to keep your child’s feet healthy.
Avoid Tight Foot Coverings
Tight shoes or socks on your child’s feet can hinder their movement and natural growth. Loosely cover your child’s feet instead of using tight shoes. This can help your child’s feet move and kick freely without any restrictions.
Watch Your Child’s Feet Closely
Always check your child’s feet for wounds and unusual symptoms. Some children are born with deformities that don’t go away on their own and require medical attention. Regularly checking your child’s feet can help identify these problems early enough for easy treatment.
Choose the Right Footwear
When you go shoe shopping for your child, there are a couple of things to consider. Choose a comfortable fit for your child and keep an eye out for signs of discomfort. Don’t go for small shoes and rely on a break-in period. Your child’s shoes should be comfortable from the minute they put them on. Also, keep in mind that both feet aren’t always precisely the same size, so you should always buy for the larger foot. Finally, no pair of shoes fits every situation. If your child does sports of any kind, make sure that they have the suitable footwear for that sport. This will help keep their feet comfortable and prevent injuries.
Frequently Change Footwear Size
Studies show that a child’s foot grows at a rate of approximately half a shoe size every couple of months from the age of 2 to 6 years, so regularly change your child’s shoes and socks to accommodate for this growth.
Clip Your Child’s Toenails
Regular clipping of your child’s toenails can help prevent ingrown toenails. Signs of ingrown toenails include tenderness, pain, and swelling in the corners of the toenail. If your child develops an ingrown toenail, see a pediatric podiatrist for treatment.
Keep Feet Clean and Dry
Cleaning your child’s feet can help decrease the risk of bacteria and fungi invasion. However, there are some fungi that grow in the presence of moisture, thus drying the feet and in between the toes after cleaning is just as important.
Pediatric Podiatrist in Cincinnati, Ohio
If you are concerned about your child’s feet and would like an expert opinion, visit Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care. Our staff of board-certified DPMs (doctors of podiatric medicine) is ready to provide you and your child with the care you deserve.
We have 18 offices all over Cincinnati, Ohio, that are ready to serve you. Or request an appointment online using our easy-to-use form.
