Any changes in a child’s walk or movement might be frightening. You can’t help but speculate on what they will outgrow and what will need a trip to the doctor.
This is particularly true of children’s feetsince they develop and change so fast as infants go from crawling to walking and running and as toddlers transition from soft-soled shoes to the sporting gear and cleats of later childhood.
As a mom of two, I know how pricey shoes can be. Every time you turn around, it seems that one of the children’s shoes has either become too tiny or worn-out. It implies that you must spend money on yet another pair. So, I know how tempting it can be to try to squeeze feet into shoes that still sort of fit. Or to buy shoes that provide kids’ feet “room to grow,” i.e. shoes that are one or two sizes bigger than your child’s current size.
You might think that a podiatrist doesn’t usually work with kids, but they do. Some children present with plantar warts and ingrown toenails, which are quite frequent. Others seek treatment for gait issues such as toe walking or in-toeing. It’s a common misconception that children grow out of gait difficulties, but this is not the case.