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Bobux is genuinely passionate about our little ones’ feet. They’re committed to making shoes that nurture natural foot development, and they want to look after these precious parcels of puppy fat as they develop into the platforms from which joyful steps are taken.
Their mission is for your kids to have happy feet that are free from pain and able to develop naturally. The kids’ shoe brand does things a bit differently and I guess that is why I was drawn to them (along with a slight bias: Being born and bred in the land of the long white cloud).
But even before I became a podiatrist and mum of two little pairs of feet, I had heard how dedicated this amazing New Zealand company was to looking after kids’ feet.
So when they asked me to be their podiatry ambassador, I didn’t hesitate. I am extremely proud to be even a small part of such an amazing company.
Bobux is so amazing, in fact, that they want to arm you with all the information you need to understand your children’s foot health. So, they’ve teamed up with me to create The Ultimate Guide To Children’s Foot Health. An ambitious project, I know, but trust me: our little ones’ feet are in good hands with Bobux!
Let me guide you through all you need to know about how kids’ feet develop, why barefoot is best, how to choose the right shoes for your precious little one’s feet, and what to look for in a pair of kicks as your child’s feet rapidly navigate through development.
ANNA BEETHAM
PODIATRIST, BHSC (POD), MSMA
THE 4 STAGES OF CHILDREN'S FOOT DEVELOPMENT
In the first six years of a child’s life, the physical development that takes place in their little feet is astonishing.
A pair of fully-developed feet have 33 joints, over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, and a whopping 26 bones - That’s a quarter of all the bones in the human body! Crazy, isn’t it?
With all the developmental changes kids go through during the first decade of their lives, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to shoes. Through thorough research and consultation with trusted podiatrists, Bobux learnt that kids go through four stages of development: Pre-walking & Crawling, First-walker, Toddler, and Preschoolers & Kids.
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HOW DO I KNOW MY CHILD'S FEET ARE DEVELOPING PROPERLY?
It’s a common question among parents: When exactly will your child’s feet take their adult form completely, and how do you know their development is on the right track?
For starters, the bones in children’s feet won’t reach maturity until about 13-15 years of age for girls, and 15-18 years of age for boys.
18 years is a long time to wait before you know your child will have healthy feet for life, so here are some signs you can look out for to tell if your child’s foot development is on the right track.
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COMMON KIDS' FOOT PROBLEMS
A more testing part of parenting comes when things don’t seem to go as planned. How do you know if your child’s feet are on track for normal and natural foot development?
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT SHOE FOR YOUR CHILD
If you’ve followed the Ultimate Foot Health Guide right from the start, you should now know a bit more about stages of development and the benefits of embracing the barefoot philosophy. You should also know how important it is to choose the right shoes for your child.
Most shoes are built on lasts, or molds that determine the shape of your shoes. Once made from hand-carved wood, lasts are now made using a plastic polymer that creates a 3D foot shape around which your shoes are designed. Put simply, lasts form the fit of your shoe.
Lasts have historically taken the shape of an adult’s foot. So when it came to making kids’ shoes, manufacturers simply scaled the lasts down to a child’s size, with little to no consideration for the unique shape of their feet.
Not Bobux.
Bobux has designed their own lasts based on the anatomical shape of kids feet across the several stages of development. The final products came from intensive research, testing - and more testing. It was the right thing to do; children who wear Bobux are wearing shoes that were expertly made especially for their unique little feet.
Read: These five important reasons to buy the right shoes for your child.
NEWBORNS & PRE-WALKERS | SOFT SOLE
Newborns have soft, chubby and flexible feet. Their delicate
nature makes it important that you choose a pair of shoes
that will protect their growing feet, while allowing them to
strengthen and develop through kicking, bending their toes
and feet and, eventually, crawling.
Soft Soles are made from breathable, flexible and ultra-soft
leather and suede. In a pair of these, your baby’s feet are
kept snug and healthy, and free to flex, move and
grip naturally.
Learn more about Soft Soles here.
FIRST WALKERS | STEP UP
Once your child is toddling around unassisted (albeit, a bit awkwardly!) you’ll need to choose some
shoes that are up to the task of this new activity. First walkers have a unique foot shape: they typically
don’t have much of an arch formed, and their feet are generally quite round.
The Step Up range was made especially for first walkers and their uniquely-shaped feet. They’re as
flexible and lightweight as a shoe can get, enabling unrestricted development, while their shape
reflects that of the round, chubby feet that wear them. The textiles used in this range include soft,
breathable leather and cotton to keep growing feet comfortable and healthy.
Learn more about Step Up
TODDLERS | I-WALK
When choosing a shoe for your toddler, keep in mind that
although they’re now engaging in a wide range of
high-action activities, their feet are still developing - so they
need shoes that are hard wearing but that won’t restrict the
natural movement of their vulnerable feet.
The I-Walk range boasts a more robust sole than a Step Up
shoe because as your child gained confidence on their feet,
they also gained a lot more strength! With that in mind,
I-Walk shoes were designed to provide the durability and
flexibility kids’ feet need at this stage of development,
allowing active feet to move naturally. High-quality textiles
withstand the everyday battering toddlers put their shoes
through, while also providing breathability and comfort.
Learn more about I-Walk
PRE-SCHOOLERS AND KIDS | KID+
Up until they’re 7 years old, children’s feet are still going through a vital process of development. We
know the schoolyard takes its toll on kids’ shoes, but it’s as important now as ever that you don’t
compromise on quality when choosing shoes for your child - even if they’re thrashing their shoes on
concrete throughout the school day!
The Kid+ range allows for optimal flexion and lightweight with enough support to protect kids’ feet
from the impact of hard surfaces. Like all Bobux shoes, foot-health is at the core of every Kid+ style,
so you’ll find quality textiles and ergonomic design in every pair.
Learn more about Kid+
CHOOSING SHOES FOR ACTIVE KIDS
The right shoes will nurture your child’s natural foot development, improve their balance and spatial awareness, and aid growth. Shoes are even more important for active kids since you can expect a lot more wear and tear. When choosing a shoe for your energetic little pocket rocket, you need something you can depend on.
Pay special attention to the sole. Active children need soft, flexible, durable soles that move and bend with their feet as they play. A good sole will allow your child to walk naturally, providing flex and traction where it’s needed most.
Active kids’ shoes should also be resilient: protecting vulnerable feet during high-impact play, and standing the test of time no matter the battering they might take.
They should be made from materials that are not only durable, but that let active feet breathe and move in comfort.
In the Bobux Collection, you’ll find the Dimension trainers. Tried and tested for active kids, these high-performance shoes boast an ergonomic design for optimal foot health and comfort. Featuring a high-flex sole and ultra-durable toe-cap, these trainers were made for play.
The Dimension also utilises a twin-faced textile made from polyester for durability, and Merino for its natural moisture-wicking, odour-eating, temperature-regulating properties. So even when your child is pushing their body to the limit, their feet are comfortable and healthy.
Learn more about the Dimension trainers here.
Another range perfect for energetic kids, learn more about the Aktiv range here.
ANNA BEETHAM’S FINAL THOUGHTS
So there you have it… The ultimate guide to children’s foot health!
Your children’s feet are precious and vital to their everyday function and long-term health. Ensuring they are looked after from the moment they are born will reduce their chances of foot pathology in later life (and trust me when I say that many of my adult patients’ foot problems stem from poor footwear choices in their youth!).
Your children only have one pair of feet. Start by treating them with the care they deserve and set your children up to make healthy shoe choices themselves (which happens very quickly!).
Bobux shoes are designed and engineered with little feet in mind - and I don’t mean scaled-down adult feet. They invest time, energy and resources into developing shoes with a passion for helping your child’s feet on their journey of development. They’re committed to making every little pair of feet happy and healthy in their Bobux shoes.
This is why my kids wear Bobux and why I can wholeheartedly recommend them to each and every parent.
Anna Beetham
Podiatrist, BHSC (POD), MSMA
Podiatry Ambassador Bobux
