Soft Soles Are Best For Growing Feet
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following as considerations for children's shoes:
- Shoes should be lightweight and flexible to support natural foot movement with a stable base of support.
- Shoes should have skid-resistant soles for traction to prevent slipping or sliding.
- Stiff and compressive footwear may cause deformity, weakness, and loss of mobility.
DEVELOPMENT FRIENDLY
Soft soles allow the foot muscles to stretch and move when walking, helping their growth and development. The foot bones are are designed to support the standing and moving body, adapt to uneven surfaces and absorb shock with each step. A baby’s foot contains more cartilage than bone as they begin to walk. Although the structure of the foot develops fully by 2 years of age, the bones themselves do not fully develop and harden until around 18 years of age.
ALLOW FOR COMFORTABLE AND EASY WALKING
As your child learns to walk, good fit as well as soft soles help prevent injury. Talaria Littles have an elastic trim to keep them secure on your child's foot. While some stumbles are inevitable, soft sole shoes that fit securely reduce the occurrence of trips and falls. This is because soft sole shoes allow the toes to extend and the foot to grip the floor, helping improve balance.
Soft sole shoes provide comfort and the right level of support. The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), says that the average child doesn't need shoes with “wedges, inserts, high backs, reinforced heels, special arches, and other features designed to shape and support the feet.” This means additional structure and artificial support are not beneficial to most children, and instead, soft soles and comfortable, flexible fabric should be a priority.
PROTECT FROM VARIOUS SURFACES
While walking barefoot allows a child's feet to grip the floor, uneven and outdoor surfaces can be dangerous. In these cases, light but supportive footwear is recommended by the APP to protect your baby's feet from rough or slippery surfaces, objects on the floor or cold temperatures. Shoes on a walking baby also keep feet clean. Barefoot walking is best practiced at home with even and clean floor surfaces.
ROOM TO MOVE AND GROW
Soft sole shoes have more inherent give in them, and so are roomier than hard sole ones. This allows your child’s feet to move and grow unrestricted. Every few months, your toddler will grow in many ways, and their feet are no exception. We are proud to offer Talaria Littles for every stage of your little one's development.
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