Sandals for a one-year-old child

Making shoes

In summer, you need to take into account the fact that since we often wear sandals, we rarely use socks. The baby's delicate skin then feels intensified everything it comes into direct contact with. So what sandals should a one-year-old child choose so that they can freely and stably cover their first distances outdoors without getting blisters and abrasions?

Let's pay attention to the quality of the material from which the shoes are made. Natural leather will work best. The thinner and softer the better. If the straps are stiff, thick and inflexible, they will quickly start to pinch and irritate the child's leg. Let's also take a look at any metal buckles. If they are not protected in any way, they may get caught in direct contact with the skin (e.g. when fastening shoes). Let's also watch out for decorations, sequins, bows or other additional elements attached to the shoes. It is important that they are located in the right place on the footwear without disturbing the foot.

Foot positioning

Summer shoes for a one-year-old child must be as breathable as possible, but at the same time stable. If, in addition to sandals, we buy sports shoes, pay attention to the presence of holes and meshes that have a ventilation function. It is also important that the heel fits snugly to the heel to prevent gait distortion. An adequate amount of space for the fingers will prevent them from being squeezed and limiting freedom of movement while trying to balance while playing.

Let's also look at the sole to see if it is soft enough and bends by 1/3 of its length. If it is clumsy, thick and not susceptible to foot movement, it will definitely limit the comfort of the child when walking. Let's remember about the weight of footwear - the lighter the sandals for learning to walk, the better.

Summer shoes for an older child

Which sandals should a parent choose for a two-year-old? Although learning to walk is the basis and when choosing the first shoes for a child we pay attention to many details, for slightly larger children we also buy solid and healthy footwear. A toddler's foot is formed during the first seven years of his life and this is strategically the most important time to prevent various defects and problems.

When buying sandals for a two-year-old, take into account the shape of his foot. The height of the instep and the width of the foot are crucial. It may turn out that a narrow and delicate foot in a too wide sandal will have too much room on the sides, and in terms of length the shoes will turn out to be one size too small. That's why the style is key. Different brands have different insert dimensions. Let's remember this.

Orthopedic footwear

Let's avoid excessively built-up, stiffened (especially orthopedic!) shoes, unless a doctor recommends them. All you need is a child's sandal with a sufficiently stiff (but not too hard) back and a profiled insole. Let's also look at the front straps to see if they hold the fingers properly. Properly selected sandals for a two-year-old prevent the foot from moving forward or bending sideways.

Let us remember that gait stabilization is primarily the basis for safe movement and reduced risk of injury (e.g. ankle sprain). Children are just acquiring precision of movements and learning their balance skills, so if footwear in any way impairs these abilities, the toddler may fall to the ground much more often. The same thing happens when the shoe size is incorrectly selected. Too tight - they restrict movement and cause discomfort. However, if they are too big, they distort your gait and increase shuffling and careless steps.

Healthy development of your toddler's feet

Well-chosen sandals for a one-year-old child are an extremely important link in building a healthy figure and posture of our child. The feet are the key here. All gait deformations affect various disorders and dysfunctions, the existence of which we will learn about later when we have to deal with them. Maintaining bad posture affects our spine and knees. It's not just a matter of aesthetic feet. By taking care of your gait, you take care of your entire body and it is a long-term investment.

New or used children's shoes – which one to choose?

This must be emphasized most emphatically. We only buy new shoes with an unused insole that has not been deformed by anyone before. Even slightly crooked shoes will contribute to perpetuating incorrect movement patterns from the very beginning. The child will quickly get used to this position of the feet and will submit to it. Only new sandals for a one-year-old child will be the best solution. At this age, the toddler is just starting his adventure with walking independently. Let's not let these first moments have negative consequences. Let's take care of children's feet. Healthy feet mean a healthy body.