Today, I did some research and found some information. Regarding how to choose children's shoes, AAP of American Pediatric Medical Association said: Shoes have two functions; The first and most important one is to protect your feet from injury and cold. Second, the decorative function is just like putting on beautiful clothes.
APP also said that children's foot development is greatly influenced by shoes. It can be said that the shape of shoes affects the shape of feet. So shoes can't restrain the development of feet. Choosing the right shoes is very important for the baby's foot development.
Everyone knows the truth, but parents often have some specious views on how to choose shoes that fit. I carefully checked the articles of Pediatric Association and summarized the following items for your reference.
Myth 1: Babies need shoes before they can walk.
AAP says that children don't need to wear shoes before walking, unless you want to dress them or take them outdoors in winter.
Myth 2: If the heels, soles and uppers are hard, it can help children's feet get more support, help them learn to walk and help them stand more stably.
On the contrary, AAP says that hard shoes will hinder the natural development of foot muscles and enhance their strength. The so-called shoes that fit the feet should have flexible heels and soft uppers. In fact, children of all ages should wear elastic shoes, not hard ones. There is no evidence that hard heels can help babies walk earlier and better.
Myth 3: The upper is high, which can better support the ankle.
AAP said that under normal circumstances, the design of the upper has nothing to do with supporting the ankle. Children don't need to support their ankles through uppers unless they have special diseases. Wearing high-top shoes is more due to parents' consideration of "fashion and warmth".
Myth 4: It is very important for experts to measure their feet when buying shoes.
This is basically a marketing trick, and this service is generally meaningless. The APP says it's easy to find a pair of shoes that suit you. It doesn't matter if children wear shoes in the shop, not too loose. Walk around and see if they are comfortable-you don't need "expert" services.
Myth 5: Children aged 2-6 have to change a pair of new shoes every two months.
This is "bullshit". Whether to change shoes depends entirely on the speed of the child's feet. Grow fast, grow small and change; Otherwise, keep wearing it, unless it is old and worn out (usually not worn for two months), or the children don't like it.
Myth 6: Wearing sports shoes is easy to cause flat feet.
AAP said that it is okay for older children to wear sports shoes, and it has nothing to do with flat feet.
Myth 7: It is best for children not to wear old shoes handed down by older children.
As long as the shoes are in good health and the old owner of the shoes has no foot disease, it is no problem to wear second-hand shoes.
In short, remember that shoes can't support feet and ankles by themselves. Please note that an athlete like Liu Xiang uses his feet hard enough, but his shoes are short and elastic.
If a businessman always tells you that my shoes can better support your baby's feet, remember that he is talking about "advertising", not "science".