Children’s Foot Care – When to See a Podiatrist
Foot care for your child can be very different from your own foot care and health. As a parent, you have to pay attention to your child’s feet because there may be discomforts or pains they’re not telling you about for fear of having to go to a doctor. Though this is not always the case, it is still very important for you to pay attention to how your child’s feet affect their behavior, as this could signal potential issues that should be addressed.
Conditions:
There are many conditions that your child could develop while they are growing, which include but are not limited to the following:
Flatfoot:
This is a common experience that kids go through since babies and toddlers have flat feet initially because their arches have not yet developed. However, this can still lead to some pain, discomfort, or overall awkwardness in their movements, which can raise concerns from parents. If any of these occur, parents may choose to take their children to a podiatrist to get their feet evaluated.
Ingrown toenails:
Similar to your own foot care, shoes that are too tight and are suffocating your child’s feet can easily lead to the development of ingrown toenails. These ingrown toenails can then lead to cuts on the toes and even infection.
In-toes or out-toes:
If your child walks with their toes pointed inwards, they might be in-toed, which can generally be treated naturally over time as your child’s feet grow and develop. Similarly, if your child seems to walk with their toes pointed more outward, your child could outgrow the issue. However, if either of these persists for long periods of time, you might still want to get them checked by a podiatrist to make sure they aren’t causing any other issues.
General sports injuries:
Kids who participate in sports or intense outdoor activities are more likely to run into issues relating to their feet than kids who don’t participate in sports. Injuries can come about from the growth plates in the bones of the foot, which are still developing in many kids until their teens. Overuse of the same muscles or areas of the foot can also lead to sports injuries or issues with the feet in general.
Changes in behavior that could signal foot injuries or other issues:
There are a few ways that you can notice if your child is experiencing pain or discomfort that they are not articulating to you, which could signal underlying foot conditions or injuries. If your kid suddenly has trouble keeping up with their peers or chooses not to participate in sports or activities they usually would; this could indicate discomfort or pain in their feet. If your child is particularly clumsy or trips often, this could indicate balance problems caused by other foot-related issues or injuries. Most obviously, if your child complains to you about experiencing pain or discomfort in their feet for more than a few days, this is a pretty good indicator that there is something more going on, and you should take your child to a podiatrist to get their feet checked out.
When to see a podiatrist and how you can help at home:
Any of the above reasons should be valid enough to get you to take your child to a podiatrist to get any potential conditions examined and treated. Along with taking your child to a doctor, there are things you can do to avoid further foot injuries or discomfort. If you have a baby or a toddler, don’t force them to walk, and don’t keep their feet in shoes all of the time. Allow their feet to develop and let them learn to walk at their own pace.
If your child participates in a sport, make sure you buy them the correct footwear to help prevent injuries during physical activity, such as cleats for soccer. Try to make sure that their feet are being washed consistently and kept dry. Just like your own feet, it’s important to take care of them and keep them clean and dry to avoid infections. If your child does experience a foot injury, we welcome all calls to answer your questions and recommend coming into the office for an evaluation if you have any concerns.
Works Cited
“Do’s and Don’ts of Children’s Foot Care.” Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, 10 Feb. 2020, Do’s and Don’ts of Children’s Foot Care – Solon Podiatrist (solonfootandankle.com).
“Five Signs Your Child May Have a Foot Problem.” Foot Health Facts, Five Signs Your Child May Have a Foot Problem – Foot Health Facts.
“Foot Health Facts for Children.” Foot Health Facts, Foot Health Facts for Children – Foot Health Facts.
“When Should Your Child See a Podiatrist?” Alliance Foot and Ankle Specialists, When Should Your Child See a Podiatrist? | Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists (footdoc.org).
“When Should You Take Your Child to a Podiatrist?” Curalta Foot + Ankle, When Should You Take Your Child to a Podiatrist?: Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic: Podiatry (passaicfootandankle.com).
