How to prevent your baby from suffering from flat feet?

The arch of the foot can support the weight of the baby's whole body, reduce the shock pressure on the brain caused by exercise, protect the spine, chest and abdominal organs from impact injuries, etc. It has powerful functions. So how to prevent babies from suffering from flat feet, and what are the dangers?

Causes of flat feet

Normal and abnormal arches: Flat feet are flatter than the average person's feet. A normal foot should have the inner and middle parts bulging upwards, forming two arches, vertical and horizontal.

Congenital reasons: If the baby's ligaments are not strong enough and the muscles on the soles of the feet do not grow and develop well, this can be observed when the child starts to walk.

Acquired excessive weight: The incidence of flat feet is proportional to the child's weight. As children are in the growth and development stage, their limbs grow fastest, and fat babies have more fat on their feet. If the shoes are too small, the meat will be squeezed together, which may lead to flat feet over time.

Determination at around three years old: Generally speaking, babies can already see a more obvious arch of the foot when they are around three years old; if the sole of the foot is still flat without curvature at that time, it is very likely to be flat feet.

Foot ligament problems: Some children may also suffer from arch collapse due to the relationship between their physical development and foot ligaments. Parents are advised to observe for a while. If the baby still walks unsteadily, has weak and tired feet after exercise, or does not like to walk after the age of three, it is recommended to go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

What are the dangers of flat feet?

Legs get tired and swollen easily: Children without arches in their feet will have their athletic and labor abilities affected in the future. As children get older, they are more likely to get tired and uncomfortable when standing or walking on their feet, and their calves are prone to soreness and swelling. In severe cases, they may even feel discomfort in their knee joints and waist.

Shoe selection is important: When parents choose shoes for their babies, they should pay attention to the material, shape, height, weight, and of course, the cost may be higher. In addition, for fat babies, it is not bad to put an arch pad in the shoes as early as possible.

Custom-made insoles: Because the human foot has a lot of cartilage and a relatively delicate structure, it is very difficult to completely eliminate flat feet even if you want to treat it through surgery. Doctors usually recommend that parents design and make insoles specifically for flat feet for their children.

How to prevent flat feet

Pay attention to weight control: The probability of flat feet is roughly proportional to the baby's weight, so during the baby's rapid growth and development stage, parents should pay special attention to the child's weight control.

Don't learn to walk too early: After the child learns to stand, parents don't need to rush to let the baby learn to walk. If the arch of the foot is not fully developed, if the child practices walking reluctantly, the weight of the whole body will press on the foot, which can easily make the arch too heavy and gradually cause flattening.

Avoid soaking feet in hot water: Parents do not need to let babies soak their feet in hot water. This is because the ligaments on the soles of the feet will become looser when exposed to heat, which is not conducive to the development and maintenance of the arch of the foot. It is recommended to do foot muscle training for children regularly every day, such as letting the baby stand on tiptoes, etc., which are all good ways.