Fragile Feet
390,000 babies at risk of developing life-long foot problems each yearOver half of the 716,000 babies born in the UK each year could suffer lasting damage to their feet as Brits are unaware how fragile babies ' feet are, a study from children 's shoe company Start-rite reveals. A person will walk 115,000 miles in their lifetime. However, lack of understanding means we are not preparing our babies ' feet properly for this epic journey. Brits are savvy when it comes to baby foot health, with 98% of people aware that the bones in a baby 's foot are not fully formed at birth. Contrary to this informed response, only 46% of people are conscious that babies ' feet are so delicate they can be pushed out of shape by something as apparently harmless as a tight sock, demonstrating the conflict between knowledge and understanding in this area.
According to the survey, babies born in Scotland are on a good footing, as Scots appear to know more when it comes to little feet. Three quarters of Scots know that babies ' feet should be properly measured for any type of shoe, compared to 70% in the Midlands and Wales, 65% in London and the rest of the South and 64% in the North.
|
| |
| Article continues below advertisement |
|
| |
The study also reveals that grandmothers are more knowledgeable than mothers, fathers and grandfathers. 84% of grandmothers believe that babies ' feet should be properly measured and fitted for any type of shoe compared to 79% of mothers, 68% of fathers and only 62% of grandfathers.
A baby 's feet grow rapidly during the first year, reaching almost half their adult size. This is why specialists consider the first year to be the most important in the development of feet. Leading orthotics and biomechanics clinician Dr Charlotte Hawkins explains: "As the survey shows, people are generally aware of the facts relating to the development of babies ' feet, yet they don 't always interpret the facts and consider just how fragile and susceptible to damage they are. At birth, the bones in a baby 's foot are not fully formed. They are made of soft, spongy cartilage that can be pushed out of shape by ill-fitting garments such as socks and babygrows. A baby 's feet can take up to 18 years to fully develop, and damage incurred during the earlier stages of development can lead to life-long foot problems".
Start-rite training manager Charles Boyce has been advising on children 's foot care for 27 years. He says: "There are three key stages in a baby 's development. For new borns/pre-crawling, barefoot is best as the foot can develop naturally without constrictions. For babies that are crawling, Start-rite advises the feet are protected against bumps and scrapes by wearing soft pre-walkers that enable the feet to breathe. From this point onwards, feet should be checked regularly and all shoes should be professionally fitted. It is not until babies are walking confidently that more supportive footwear or first shoes should be considered". |
| |
| |
|
