4 ways to make sure your child's shoes fit

Published by: The Asheville Citizen-Times

Fall represents one of the peak times for children's shoe shopping.

Parents need to keep in mind these tips from podiatrist Dr. Richard Stanley and the American Podiatric Medical Association as they peruse the shoe aisle for the young feet in the family:

1. Buy for fit, not size: Don't assume that because your child has grown out of one size that he or she needs the next size in the new pair of shoes, Stanley says.

“The biggest mistake I see people make is buying a size instead of fit,” he said, adding that sizing may vary from brand to brand or even within a brand.

So, make sure your child tries on both shoes, and that the shoes fit both feet. If one foot is larger than the other, as is frequently the case, make sure that the shoes fit both feet.

If you have to use a shoehorn, it's probably too tight, Stanley said.

2. Make sure the shoes are flexible: Shoes should bend with a child's toes. Also, grab the shoes from both ends and try to bend them. If a shoe bends in the middle or if you can twist it around, there's not enough support.

Also try the heel, Stanley said. If you can press it down easily, it does not offer enough support.

3. Don't buy shoes that are too stiff or too big.

“Kids' feet are really flexible,” Stanley said, “and you don't want to have a shoe that's going to mold the foot.”

Nor do you want a shoe that's too big. Loose shoes may slide up and down, causing blisters. If you can put your finger down the back of the heel, the shoe is too big, he said.

4. Avoid shoes that pinch the toes: “If you can kill a cockroach in a corner with a toe, you don't want to be in it,” Stanley cautions. This holds for pointy-toed shoes for women as well as cowboy boots.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!