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Basic of foot
pathology
Essential information
on the subject.
The most important stages (from 0 to 2)
Your child’s first year is crucial in determining his or her health. This is true also for the health of their little feet, which are growing rapidly. By following some basic rules, your baby will make his first steps in the best conditions of autonomy, balance and healthy habits. Here is a overview of the principal stages of the child’s foot development and some related advice.

From birth to first steps (from 0 to around 1 )

The newborn (0 - 6 months)
For the newborn, it is advisable to verify foot and leg alignment, as well as the leg rotation, as shown in figure 1. The legs must have the same degree of internal and external rotation. You can check this yourself or ask your doctor or orthotist to perform an exam.

NOTE: Make sure that the baby’s pajamas are the proper length. The pressure on the foot and toes caused by pajamas that are too short could increase or create deviations. In the same way, pay special attention to the baby’s positions during sleep. Good and bad postures are illustrated in figure 2.

The first steps (from 7 to 12 months)
Pay special attention to the selection of the first bootees (pre-walking) your baby will wear at 7 or 8 months, when he starts to stand up with help. The pre-walking bootees must have supple uppers and flexible soles. We can recommend some proven models.

From the first steps to autonomy (from age 1 to 2)

Baby is walking!
At 10 to 12 months, your baby will enjoy wearing his walking bootees while starting to make his first steps. You too will appreciate this memorable moment as does every parent. But at that stage, your baby should wear a bootee with a heel contour and a semi-rigid sole leaving 1 centimeter of space at the bottom toe of the bootee.

When baby is growing
Life is just getting going for your child so it is important to start on the right foot. First, it is essential to get a more rigid and better made booty to help in walking. Next, it is important to have it checked by an expert every 3 months, until your baby reaches size 4, and then every 6 months afterwards.

Symptoms and frequent problems
Some problems can cause considerable harm to your child’s development, so it is important to be vigilant. Here are few common problems to watch out for:
  • Misalignment of the knee (photo) (internal or external)
  • Walking on tiptoes
  • Abnormality of the arches: e.g. high, flat or deviated arch (this should be checked after 3 years)
  • Deviated ankle (internal or in external)
  • Deformed shoes
  • Excessive gait (internal or external)
  • Forefoot misalignment (internal or in external)

Professional advice
Our devoted team of orthotists can suggest a number of solutions to correct a situation. It is important to intervene quickly to avoid problems in later life. As the bones are not yet solid at that age, realigning them with the appropriate prostheses can permanently correct the deformations. But make sure you don’t hesitate to seek help.