Your Baby’s Foot Development

If you’ve ever stopped to look at your baby’s feet, you’ve likely noticed that they are different from a typical adult’s feet. Rather than being born with fully-formed, mini adult feet, children’s feet go through several stages of development. At birth, a baby’s feet are soft and flat. Their bones start out as pieces of cartilage and their toes are almost all equal in length and surrounded by a layer of fat. From 9 to 24 months, a baby’s feet will still be flat, but their bones are slowly developing with gaps between them. At age 2 and beyond, the soft fat in the foot will slowly start to disappear, and the arches of the feet will become visible. The small foot bones develop further, eventually merging so that each foot contains 26 bones. To learn more about healthy foot development and how to best care for your baby’s feet, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact one of our podiatrists of Canonsburg Podiatry Associates. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Canonsburg and McMurray, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.