Foot Development

Why it’s Important to Check Your Child’s Feet Regularly

Little ones are often too busy playing to notice—or tell you—if they have a blister or a sore spot on their feet. Conditions like athlete’s foot or blisters can easily go unnoticed until they get worse, and if they become infected, it can lead to serious problems.

If your child has diabetes, it’s especially important to keep an eye on their feet. Any signs of infection need immediate medical attention.

How children learn to walk

Learning to walk doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow process that takes place between 1 and 2.5 years of age and happens in three main stages:

1. First Independent Steps (10–16 months)

Your child’s first steps are often wobbly, with their legs wide apart to help with balance. The thousands of nerve endings in their feet are starting to send stronger messages to their brain to help with balance and coordination.
Their gait may look a bit bow-legged partly for balance and partly influenced by nappies, and they might fall frequently—it’s all part of the learning process!

2. Confident Toddling (14–24 months)

Around 14 months, your child will start toddling more steadily and may abandon crawling altogether.
At first, their movements are uncoordinated—they’ll struggle to stop or change direction quickly and will need help pulling themselves up to stand.
Over time, they’ll grow more stable, start picking things up without falling, and even look around while walking. By two years old, many toddlers can walk backwards and begin running!

3. Running and Jumping (2–3 years)

By age two, your child will be confident in their walking, running, and even jumping.
By age three, they’ll have developed almost all the walking skills they’ll use as an adult!

Why Properly Fitted Shoes Matter

From birth to adulthood, children’s feet grow and change rapidly. It takes 18 years for feet to fully develop, making the right shoe fit essential throughout childhood.

How Feet Develop Over Time

At Birth

A baby’s feet are mostly soft cartilage with 22 partially developed bones, which can be easily squished by tight socks or clothing.

At Two Years

Bones are developing but still have large gaps between them, so feet are delicate.

At 8 Years

The second part of the bones in the toes and midfoot are forming but won’t fully fuse for another 10 years. At this age you can have as many as 45 bones in each foot that will fuse together to make the 26 bones of a mature foot.

At 18 Years

Feet are finally fully formed, with hardened bones and only small gaps.

Why This Matters

Ill-fitting shoes can damage the development of children’s feet at any stage. Problems caused by poor footwear can lead to long-term issues, especially during their school years. That’s why getting properly fitted shoes is not only important but essential to keep feet healthy, not just for toddlers but for older kids too.

How We Help

As shoe fitters, we’re passionate about finding the perfect fit for your child at every stage of their development. Whether they’re taking their first wobbly steps or running confidently, we’re here to make sure their feet stay healthy and happy!