How children’s feet develop
Ten tiny toes but not a single fully formed bone. It’s true. The shape of your baby’s foot is mapped out in soft, pliable bone surrounded by a layer of subcutaneous tissue, otherwise known as ‘puppy fat’. It’s what gives every baby’s foot that unmistakable soft, squidgy feel. Unfortunately it also makes the foot prone to being bent out of shape, without you noticing and without your child feeling any of the pain that might otherwise alert you to a problem.
As your child grows, so too does the bone structure in their feet and by the age of three, your little one’s foot will have started to develop the full 26 bones. The final structure, however, won’t be in place until your child is in their late teens.
Until then, they’ll need shoes designed specifically for each stage of their development. Why? Because shoes that don’t fit properly can prevent natural growth, cause discomfort and lead to health problems. They can even adversely affect your child’s walking development.
Growing feet in safe hands
When it comes to finding the right shoes for your child, you can trust Clarks. Over the last 180 years we’ve learnt a lot about little feet. It’s helped us create an exceptional range of shoes which, in the safe hands of our specially-trained fitters, guarantee the best possible fit for every step of your child’s development.
So whether your child is taking their first wobbly steps, starting school, or growing up into a dedicated follower of fashion, Clarks has shoes to suit. And each range is designed to provide the comfort, features and looks your child needs as well as wants.
Use the links below to discover how we can care for your family's growing feet:
Crawling
Cruising
Walking
Pre-school
School age and beyond
Finding the right shoes
Getting the best fit
Foothealth for kids
Clarks fitting proposition
Ordering online