a shoe-related question

Sunidaze · August 2012

From what I understand...barefoot is supposed to be best, right? What is the reason behind this? I need some backup here...a co-worker looked at me like I had two heads when I mentioned this while lamenting my difficulty in finding decent shoes for Stella (daycare requires shoes).

vigurl · August 2012

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

https://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/09/barefoot-best-for-children

Sunidaze · August 2012

Hmm...given this information, I am going to guess that I have been in shoes since birth. Only shedding them to reconnect with my hillbilly roots long after I began walking. (In other words...walking is a chore for me...I have horrible balance and a notorious clutz).

vigurl · August 2012

I know my son trips much more with shoes on. At least 2 per week he trips and gets a bloody lip at DC. He trips at home to but is more easily able to catch himself like he is able to tell he is going to fall even before he begins to fall (if that makes sence). I know it is not the particular shoes b/c it does not matter what pair I send him in.

smurf605 · August 2012

DS was always barefoot until a few weeks ago. He tore off his big toe nail at daycare, so now he always has shoes on. I'm pretty conflicted with this, because I do think that it's better for him to be barefoot when indoors.

gymnst1013 · August 2012

I will ask MH to dig up some of the information he's found. But essentially our foot evolved without shoes in mind. Shoes, especially ones with lots of support, change the configuration of the foot and cause the bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. to develop improperly which can lead to ankle, knee, hip, back pain and problems.

gymnst1013 · August 2012

Here's a starting point from one of the shoe websites I've ordered from. Links to various research.

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