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Looking after little toes

Your baby’s feet are very fragile and delicate in the early years of his life. They contain more flesh and cartilage than actual bone and only 22 out of the 26 bones in his feet have developed. The remaining bones develop gradually during childhood and the process finishes at around 16 or 18 years of age.

My baby’s feet look flat. Is there something wrong?

It’s totally normal for your baby’s feet to look flat. They don’t actually develop arches until they’re about two and a half years old. Until then babies have a pad of fat inside the arch, and when they first begin to stand their foot and leg muscles aren’t developed enough to support their arches.

Taking care of your baby’s feet

Your baby can’t tell you if he’s experiencing any pain or problems on his feet, so make sure you inspect them regularly for blisters or any other damage. Keep toenails trimmed gently down to avoid any pain or cuts.

It’s a good idea to let your baby have some time every day with bare feet. This allows them to exercise their foot muscles and get them stronger. You can trigger the foot curling reflex that helps your baby exercise by tickling his soles.

Your baby’s foot will perspire at twice the rate of an adult’s. So you should only use socks and shoes made of breathable, absorbent materials to prevent him getting uncomfortable. It’s another good reason to give some time each day without shoes on.