see also Foot Problems
Causes include Fractures (child unable to walk), Sprains or bruising (child can walk, but finds it painful), athlete's foot (itching between toes, skin broken or peeling), Splinters (foot very painful, inflamed, and swollen), Warts or hard skin on the soles of the feet (pain only on standing or walking), congenital malformations (bent toes, for example), and shoes and socks that are too tight.
See also Fractures, Sprains, and Splinters. If a fracture is suspected, contact Emergency Medical Services and give Arnica 30c every 5 minutes for up to 6 doses.
Foot care is important because problems which affect a child’s gait or posture for any length of time tend to affect the rest of the body, especially the back, and because deformities caused by footwear can cause a lot of suffering in later life.
Self-help: Allow toddlers to go barefoot until they really need outdoor shoes; or if they need something warm to wear indoors, let them wear loose-fitting socks with grip soles. Buy lightweight shoes to begin with and make sure socks are not too tight - tight socks can deform growing bones as surely as tight shoes. Have your child’s feet measured regularly, every 3 months or so, if possible by a trained shop assistant. Don’t pass shoes down to younger children as they may not be the right fitting. Avoid shoes that are too tight - there should be an empty finger’s width or so at the tips to give the feet room to grow. Shoes that are too loose are no good either, because the toes have to be screwed up to keep them on. |