Your child starting to walk is a massive landmark in their growing-up journey, and is eagerly anticipated by all parents. However, it is common for children to develop certain health complaints when they begin walking, so it is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with some of the most common foot complaints just so you know what you are looking out for.

~ Pigeon Toes ~

A process called “pronation” causes the common foot ailment of pigeon toes, and occurs when a child's foot starts to roll inwards during the walking motion. This shouldn't be a great cause for concern as long as you monitor it as it is often corrected as the muscles begin to strengthen during the development of their feet. One way to support the correct development and correct this foot complaint is to make sure your child has well-fitted shoes, and ones that have additional support and strength on the inside of the arch of the foot and around the heel.

~ Bow-legged and Knock-kneed ~

Bow-legged is something that often occurs in toddlers, and they will remain bow-legged until around the age of two; becoming knock-kneed then follows until the ages of 7-10 where it should begin to straighten out. However, if towards these ages one of their legs is looking more pronounced, just one leg is affected or you are particularly concerned about your infants legs, then you should seek medical advice.

~ Curly Toes ~

This type of foot ailment is known when your child's toes appear to be curling sideways or rotating; where they appear to be doing this you should consult a specialist. They will be able to assess the extent of the problem and offer you simple measures such as taping the toes and wearing shoes with plenty of space for their feet. They will also arrange further consultations to monitor the progress of your child's feet and provide further advice should the problem not be rectified.

~ In-toeing and Out-toeing ~

Children will often begin their walking life by curling their toes inwards or stretching them outwards, which is very common, but it always a good idea to get an experts opinion to ensure that the foot is developing properly.

“Out-toes”: If your child's feet appear to be stretched outwards, you must always take into account that they will need wider shoes to allow for this splaying of toes. If you do find that there is a pronation of the arch of the foot or excessive flattening you should get the advice of a footcare specialist to ensure proper development.

“In-toes”: When your child walks with their toes pointing inwards you should also consult a footcare specialist to try and correct this and obtain their advice for supportive footwear. You should try and avoid any shoes that have a tip or edge on the outside of the shoe as this may increase the chances of tripping.

~ Toewalking ~

If your child starts walking on their toes naturally, this is easily corrected with gentle reminders of the correct way of walking. However, if it does persist you will need to contact a health specialist to check for symptoms such as a tight heel cord. If this is the case this can often be eased and lengthened through the use of physiotherapy to stretch the leg muscles.

With regards to their shoes, a pair that are securely fastened to your child's feet and have a stiffened heel give better support, which will cup the heel and encourage a more natural walking movement.

~ Sweaty Feet ~

Breathable shoes are a must to ensure your child's feet remain in a healthy environment all day long as sweaty feet can lead to other foot problems. A child's foot has as many sweat glands as an adult's which is why it is just as important to have a breathable shoe, as well as changing their socks everyday and walking barefoot around the house as much as possible.

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Whatever foot complaint your child may be suffering from, or even if they're not, the correct footwear is absolutely vital when they begin to walk and all the way through to adulthood. That is why it is so important not to cut corners when buying your children's shoes as this can lead to far severer problems later on in life.

Equally, if you are concerned about any of the above foot health problems, you should consult your local doctor who can refer you to a specialist footcare professional.