Children are Damaging Their Feet with Unsuitable Footwear

It’s an argument I have with my six year old every time she suddenly darts into Shoe Zone and like some crazed Cinderella holds aloft a glittery pair of eye watering unsuitable high heels for youngsters.

I know this, she knows this, yet 29 per cent of British children are wearing shoes which could cause serious damage to their feet. Clearly they’re not all in Shoe Zone fighting over glittery monstrosities. Some are probably in Clarks trying to wedge their feet into pink fairy adorned Mary Janes.

But according to findings from the College of Podiatry – based on 2,000 parents – 55 per cent of UK children have injured their feet wearing footwear that is too small or unsuitable.

Reasons for this were the 40 per cent of parents putting off buying new shoes even after children complained their feet hurt and a slightly more forgivable 85 per cent who buy shoes without having children’s feet measured or properly fitted. And, let’s be honest, if you have been in Clarks recently and looked at the £50 boys school shoes which wouldn’t last three weeks in the junior school playground you are likely to take your custom elsewhere.

Podiatrist from the College of Podiatry and The University of Brighton, Dr Stewart Morrison said: “It’s worrying that so many children are wearing shoes which either don’t fit them properly or are not suitable for everyday wear.

“Wearing the wrong size or type of shoe in the short-term causes blisters, rubbing, bruising and callouses, but in the long term it could affect foot development and result in musculoskeletal issues in the future.

“Children’s feet are still growing and are more susceptible to damage than adult feet, so it’s really vital to ensure they are wearing shoes which fit them well – in width as well as length – and that are suitable for age, as well as the task they are wearing them for.”

News for my six year old is that 8 per cent of girls are regularly wearing shoes with a heel of 2CM of higher which, dear daughter, is bad.

However, the news is a blow for struggling low-income families, who are probably trying to meet ends meet and don’t want to be chastised for doing their best.

The 38 per cent handing down shoes to younger children know it’s not best for them. As do the 53 per cent of parents who do not or cannot afford to buy their children’s school shoes in an actual shoe shop, instead having to opt for cheaper supermarket and high street options.

And not forgetting the 5 per cent who cannot get their child to stay still long enough for a shoe fitting – ADHD or ASD is not fun to take shopping.

A 34 per cent of parents said they really struggled to find the cash for new shoes and 18 per cent were stuck working all hours to get to the shop.

So what do you need to look for when buying children’s shoes? Guidance from The College of Podiatry advises:

Advice from  on general guidance for what to look for in a children’s shoe:

Adequate length and width: All children’s footwear should be measured for length and width, and fitted by an appropriately trained shoe fitter. If fitting is not available, or is refused, go elsewhere.

Broad base of heel: This should be as wide as the heel to give stability, and be made of a shock-absorbing material.

Height of heel: you’re looking for a slight heel to provide sufficient shock absorption, ideally around a quarter of an inch. Completely flat shoes such as ballet pumps provide little shock absorption but heels of 2cm of higher can shorten calf muscles and place pressure on the ball of the foot.

Toe area shape: This should be foot shaped and not pointed, or excessively tapered.
Holding the foot in the shoe: it is important that the shoe is kept on the foot by laces, Velcro or ‘T’ bar, which acts like a seatbelt in a car, holding the shoe onto the foot. This helps to prevent toe deformities, as lack of support to keep the shoe on the foot can allow the foot to slide up and down in the shoe and damage the toes or cause the toes to claw to help keep the shoe on. This is a problem with the current fashion of not tying shoelaces or with ballet pump and slip on style shoes.

Material: leather is the best material for kids’ shoes as it is flexible and soft, but hard wearing. It also lets air in but keeps moisture out, meaning feet stay cool and dry in most conditions. Nubuck, suede and other soft fabrics are different types of leather and share most of the benefits. Avoid shoes which are largely made of other materials (synthetics and plastics) as these are often hard, inflexible and won’t allow your children’s feet to breathe.
Adequate depth of toe area: This is particularly important in individuals with a big toe that curls up at the end and helps to avoid toenail problems.

Support: The shoe should offer sufficient support for the foot. The shoe should not bend or crumple excessively. Plimsolls and ballet-pump shoes are examples that bend too easily.

If you are concerned about your child’s walking or feet, see a HCPC-registered podiatrist, GP or health visitor for advice. Things to look out for include if your child hasn’t started walking after 18 months, and if their feet are turned out during walking. If your child complains of frequent foot pain or experiences blisters and rubbing, this could be a sign their footwear doesn’t fit correctly or the shoe isn’t right for the activity they are wearing it for.

Visit www.feetforlife.org for more information and to find a registered HCPC podiatrist near you.