6 Reasons to Buy Good Quality Baby Walking Shoes

With so many cute styles, low prices and self-service retailers, it's easy to forget all the reasons to buy good quality toddler's shoes.

Here are 6 reasons and facts from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) to buy good quality baby's shoes.

1. The younger the foot, the faster it grows.

• The greatest changes in foot growth occur in the first three years of life.  Podiatrists consider this stage, and in particular the first year, to be a critical factor affecting adult foot health

• Only a small number of babies are born with foot problems.  Ill-fitting shoes, especially during the first years, can lead to future foot, posture and walking problems. 

2. Bones in a baby's feet are soft and can be easily deformed by ill-fitting shoes.

• Bones don't finish hardening until the late teen years.
• Tight, poor fitting, or stiff shoes can force the bones to grow unnaturally, adversely affecting growth of the bones.
• A lack of complaint from a child about his or her shoes doesn't mean that all is well.  The bones are so flexible that they can be distorted without the child feeling it. 

3. The foot is the foundation for the entire body

• The foot's intricate anatomy is charged with providing support for our whole body and skeletal system for our entire life.

• The human foot is one of the most complicated parts of the body.  It has 26 bones, 33 joints and includes an intricate system of ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and nerves.
• A quality shoe provides the proper support and protection for feet. 

4. Kid's feet must handle high-impact activity.

• Due to jumping, running, falling and an overall high level of activity, children's shoes must be durable and flexible. Higher quality shoes will have proper flexibility, cushioning, outsoles and other components that can handle the work out.

5. Kids should wear breathable footwear that allows moisture and heat to escape.

• There are over 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and kid's feet sweat 2-3 times more than adults.
• Sweaty feet are more susceptible to fungus and infections.
• Sweat trapped inside a shoe day after day wears down the lining of the shoe, and literally breaks down the shoe from the inside out. 

6. Outdoor barefoot walking exposes babies to a variety of dangers.

• While indoor infancy walking is fine, doctors recommend wearing shoes outside.
• Barefoot walking exposes children to dirt, bacteria, cuts, splinters, sprains, fractures, infections, and warts.  

Children depend on adults to make healthy footwear choices for them.  These purchases can be a stretch for some.  But we urge you to find a way. Somewhere between prioritizing, economizing, shopping smart and saving, we believe most of us can find a way to purchase quality shoes, fitted properly for the shoes that are worn most.  

There will be a time and place to buy that cheap pair of adorable, must-haves for your little one.  But now is not the time. 

Source: http://www.kidshoeology.com/6-reasons-to-buy-quality-childrens-shoes.html