HEALTHY FOOT

Going barefoot is best for developing feet, but kids need protection outside the home. So what kind of shoes are the best for growing feet? Doctors and children's footwear makers have the answer - the natural development of the feet, as well as overall posture and gait, depends on maximum freedom of movement. But how does one recognize high quality shoes among so many choices?

Here are some useful tips:

• A good first shoes must be made out of soft leather and be "high in the back" to offer a good ankle support.
• They have to be very flexible to conform to any movement of the feet while stretching, bending and turning.
• Leather or natural fabric lining is important in children's shoes. Leather is soft, breathable, pliable material that creates the most comfortable environment for growing feet.
• Children's feet perspire more than adult feet, therefore only European shoes offer breathable innersoles that filtrate and air children's feet while wearing the shoes.
• The shoes kids wear should be flexible and soft. Leather insoles (orthopedic arches), which conform to your child's feet for a natural, supportive yet non-restrictive "landing pad" are ideal for those first steps.
• Footwear should be slightly longer than the foot (about 7-8 mm) for two reasons:
  - while you walk, your feet move to the front, so if the footwear is too short your big toe will strike in the footwear toe cap.
  - child's feet grow about 5 mm in a half year (at puberty it may be even more), which means that too well-fitting footwear may turn out too short quite quickly. Footwear must not be too narrow, children (it refers particularly to boys) must not wear narrow-toed footwear. If you let them put on such footwear, you can be sure their feet will get deformed (pigeon toes - feet pointing inward), and blood circulation will have poor flow to the feet.
• Do not let children wear any higher heels; this results in the deformation of the front foot part as well as in pelvis and backbone defects.
• Are inexpensive shoes really that different? Cheaper shoes are made from cheaper materials - stiff, unbreathable, synthetic or plastic materials that inhibit proper growth, and often aren't expensive. Without a flexible sole a proper fit, you run the risk of permanent foot problems, not to mention sore, unhappy feet. 
• By buying inexpensive, low quality shoes you exposing your child to further potential health problems such as: paediatrics (feet), orthopedic (lower extremities), chiropractic (spine defects). Remember, it is best to buy one pair of QUALITY shoes then few cheap and poorly made ones!
• Buy shoes that carry HEALTHY FOOT mark (European Quality Seal of Approval). Buy European children's shoes since they are made out of best quality leathers, are flexible with breathable leather innersoles. European Children's Shoes are designed to properly form and mold little feet assuring healthy growth and development. You can rest assure that your child will have correctly shaped feet and straight posture once wearing European shoes.