Should children be barefoot?

Sid

Barefooters
Jan 1, 2011
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Florida
Some interesting articles.

Why barefoot is best for children
Tracy Byrne, a podiatrist specialising in podopaediatrics, believes that wearing shoes at too young an age can hamper a child's walking and cerebral development. "Toddlers keep their heads up more when they are walking barefoot," she says. "The feedback they get from the ground means there is less need to look down, which is what puts them off balance and causes them to fall down." Walking barefoot, she continues, develops the muscles and ligaments of the foot, increases the strength of the foot's arch, improves proprioception (our awareness of where we are in relation to the space around us) and contributes to good posture.

"Most children's shoes ought to come with a government health warning," believes Byrne. "They are like awful little bricks - too stiff, too rigid, with no flexibility at the sole and too much heel raise. This is of particular concern with toddlers learning to walk, because it causes them to bounce and tip forward," she says.
Thoughts on a Proper Child’s Shoe
Here’s an important point to keep in mind – a child’s foot is not a miniature version of an adult’s foot. In early development, a child’s foot is widest across the toes. ... Most of a child’s developing foot is composed of cartilage, which is gradually replaced by bone. If the cartilage is deformed by badly shaped or rigid shoes, the bones will take on the deformed shape. More than 80% of foot problems, bunions and injuries are a result of misshaped and inflexible shoes. It’s vital that kid’s shoes allow enough room for natural growth, until the foot bones mature. This doesn’t happen until ages 18-19 for girls and 20-21 for boys. Simply put; inflexible, poorly shaped shoes are potentially harmful – they restrict the natural movement and development of the foot.
Is it true that babies need to wear shoes for walking to help their feet develop normally?
By allowing the feet to feel the floor or ground, going shoeless actually helps kids develop their balance, strength, and coordination. So even after your child starts toddling, you can leave the sturdy shoes at the door while your little one works on walking.
 
Unfortunately my son isnt barefoot much at all, except inside the house. My wife isnt keen on being barefoot except on carpet, and well she has mostly bought him heavy boat anchors... I mean not just shod but realy heavy shoes... his last pair of sketchers with the funny big metal springs under the heels seem to weigh heavier than my biggest pair of hiking boots I've ever had and they are only like 1/4 the size. I can see his toes are already getting that cramped in look. :(
 
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Yeah, kids should be barefoot as much as possible to allow the foot muscles and structures to develop fully. I realize now we've developed a sort of foot-binding culture. Perhaps as adults who've been shod most of our lives we can get some of the development if we go barefoot, but the truth is I'll probably never have the feet I would have had if I had been allowed to go barefoot when I was a young kid.
 
Unfortunately my son isnt barefoot much at all, except inside the house. My wife isnt keen on being barefoot except on carpet, and well she has mostly bought him heavy boat anchors... I mean not just shod but realy heavy shoes... his last pair of sketchers with the funny big metal springs under the heels seem to weigh heavier than my biggest pair of hiking boots I've ever had and they are only like 1/4 the size. I can see his toes are already getting that cramped in look. :(
I understand your pain, but my wife compromises with me now and our son only wears wide flexible shoes that are almost completely flat. He does wear cowboy boots on Sundays when we go out to grandma and grandpas place and then out to the barn, but at least they compromised with me on those and got wides that are also not pointy tipped but wider (for cowboy boots) in the forefoot. I am definitly saving that link Sid posted above about childrens feet and development.
 
Having a wife or partner that has also been barefoot during childhood is very helpfull, fortunatelly my wife is accepting this BF thing, in the begginnig she was a little confused, but now she even walks with me BF 1.5km in our way to Yoga, perhaps she'll never run BF but at least she is aware of the bennefits.

We already decided that our kids will be barefoot, the problem will be both grandmas, you know, they are always complaining about BF children...
 
My mom spent a lot of time barefoot as a kid, so she is cool with me never wearing shoes, and whenever my son wants to be barefoot. Unfortunately my wife and her mom are the opposite. They are convinced that he will "step on something" any time and every time my son goes outside of the house.

Fortunately he now has some little red shoes (age 4, size 10) that are much more flexible and look wider than shoes he's had in the past. I didn't buy them so I'm not sure what brand they are. But if he goes outside with me, BF or sandals (if he wants to). Whenever he's inside he always wants to take the shoes and socks off immediately. :)

As for walking, it seems like my son has always been a heel striker ever since he first started walking at about 13 months old. We have hardwood floors and all the time you hear him walking around slapping his feet on the floor. I think he likes to hear the slapping. :p
 
Water shoes are perfect for when children "have to have" something on their feet. Check these out: www.SwimOutlet.com (Ignore the crap shoes that also show up here.)

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I find that water shoes are often just as narrow as "normal" shoes.
 
I find that water shoes are often just as narrow as "normal" shoes.
Those I have purchased for my kids have never been narrow. You have to just keep checking until you find the right ones.
 
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Patrick,

my mom grew up bf and is still scared of me stepping on something. i went bf to school today and it was raining. everyone stared at me and smiled. i do the same to them. :cool:
 
Did a training run on Friday. Both boys and me got out of the car barefoot. I had shoes for them, but if they were willing, so was I. I was planning 2-2.5 miles (5K race Sunday) - DS1 stubbed toe on uneven sidewalk. Hit the nail pretty hard. Ran through it for a couple minutes but then needed a break. Total 1.1 mile. If he hadnt gotten injured, I might have been 1 of 3 barefoot runners on Sunday. As it was, I was the only one.
 
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Was going out the door for a quick 6 barefoot miles. Son asked to run with me. Just like me, he had no shirt or shoes on. I asked him, "barefoot?" And he just says, "yeah". We did 2.16 mules at a 19 min pace. Lots of walk breaks. First barefoot run.new barefoot runner. View attachment 4587

so cute!