Toddler Toes

Oh, how fast our babies grow, including their little feet. Their tiny feet are complex structures that begin as soft, flexible cartilage and gradually harden (ossify) into the 26 bones that make up the foot. They are so soft, in fact, that their feet can be misshapen by poorly fitting socks and shoes. That’s why it’s important to allow their little feet to develop naturally by:

• keeping bedclothes loose fitting and light,
• making sure socks or baby grows are not too small, and
• encouraging feet exercising through kicking and moving their feet and legs which helps develop their muscles.

During that first year, your child’s foot rapidly grows – growing in spurts – and reaching almost half of their adult foot size. Appropriately caring for your baby’s feet is crucial so they develop to be strong enough before they start to walk. The key is to keep them clean and free from infection, while letting them grow, develop and strengthen as naturally as possible. Here are some tips on caring for your baby’s feet:

• Wash and dry their feet thoroughly every day.
• Check and trim their toenails regularly and never cut down the toenail sides or cut them too short. Cutting their toenails straight is best – not in a curve shape.
• Always make certain that your baby has enough space to move their feet around in the crib or bed. Don’t place heavy blankets on them during sleep time that would restrict leg and feet movement.
• Pick socks over shoes. Socks, as long as they’re not too small, keep your baby’s feet warm while not restricting their movement and growth.
• Have fun and exercise your baby’s little feet.
  • It can be as simple as tickling their feet, which makes their feet flex and stretch.
  • Place your hand and forearm against the bottoms of your baby’s feet and see if they push their legs against you.
  • Encourage them to kick their legs and feet in the air with lots of fun floor time play.

Throughout their early development, you should look out for any issues that can cause your baby any foot pain or soreness. Watch for ingrown toenails, blisters, hand, mouth, and foot disease (a viral disease that appears as small spots that turn into blisters), verrucas (small warts with a black center that usually show up on the sole of the baby’s feet and is most often contracted around pool areas), talipes or club foot (where the baby’s feet are bent downward and inward) and in- or out-toeing (their feet turn inward or outward).

If you have any concerns about your baby’s feet make sure your pediatrician is aware. They can assess their foot development and determine if a pediatric podiatrist should be consulted for further assessment and care.

Your baby’s feet is the foundation of a lifetime of mobility, comfort, and adventure.