An 8-year-old boy named Landon from Minnesota was born with a condition called clubfoot. Clubfoot is a birth defect that causes the foot to be twisted out of shape. In Landon’s specific case, his foot is turned up and in. Throughout his life, he has worn several foot braces and casts to try to correct the alignment of his foot. Unfortunately, the casts stunted the growth of Landon’s foot, which made shoe shopping difficult for him. One of his feet is a size three, while the other is a size six. Consequently, Landon’s mother would be forced to buy two pairs of shoes and take one shoe from each pair for Landon’s feet. When the young boy and his mother discovered this problem at a shoe store in Minnesota, the store manager offered to buy one pair of shoes for the boy. The news of this act of kindness went viral on social media, gaining 2,000 shares in less than 24 hours.
The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact one of our podiatrists of Livingston Foot Care Specialists. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy
- Make sure their shoes fit properly
- Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
- Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
- Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
- Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
- Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
- Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
- Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in North Bellmore, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.