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What do the feet of children who are taking their first steps look like?

Como são os pés das crianças que estão a dar os primeiros passos?

One of the questions we are often asked is what the feet of children who are taking their first steps are like. Therefore, we asked Hugo Cruz, physiotherapist and pediatric osteopath, to help us understand better.

As you can see in the video, the feet of children who are just starting to walk are feet that are still being formed. They are very different from adult feet and therefore need some care.

What are the main features?

On the one hand, the feet of children who are taking their first steps are more round. This happens because they have a fatty pad in the inner part that increases the foot’s contact surface. This way, children begin to walk with more stability.

At the same time, until around 3 years of age, it is natural that the child’s foot does not yet have a defined internal plantar arch, but this does not mean that they have flat or flat feet.

Finally, the feet of children who are taking their first steps are influenced by the shape of their shinbone, which are somewhat curved during the first few years. It is also a natural characteristic and nothing that should cause concern.

What precautions should we take?

All of these characteristics make it essential to choose the right footwear for their first steps, so that your child’s feet develop and grow in the most natural way possible.

This is because in the case of children it is even more important to keep their feet healthy, as any change in the development of the feet can cause pathologies or deformities that will last until adulthood and have consequences throughout the body.

If you need tips for choosing the right footwear, see the article that João Ferreira, a specialist in human motricity, wrote for our website: 

If you want to know more about the importance of healthy feet and respectful footwear for children who are taking their first steps, follow the link.

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