By Agnes Kyotalengerire
“THE shoes are so tight and heavy for the baby,” said the paediatrician as she examined Joyce’s three-week-old daughter. Esther Kamya, a paediatrician at Case Clinic, Kampala, says there is no need for shoes unless a child can walk.

She says babies’ bones are so soft that the pressure of tightly fitting socks can deform their toes if worn regularly.
Kamya says if a child must wear shoes, they should be soft and pre-walkers.

When it is very cold or when a baby starts to crawl, dress them in socks or woollen booties instead of shoes.
Pre-walker shoes should not have a hard sole. The soles are usually made out of the same soft material such as cotton, silk or soft leather.

Kamya says if a child can stand or is learning how to walk, get him a pair of walker shoes. They offer support, protection and warmth. Shoes that produce melodies are also good because they excite babies, encouraging them to walk.

Toddlers learning to walk are not steady, so they need light, comfortable shoes with a rubber sole. A sole is vital because it safeguards against sliding and falling. The sole should be rough with ridges to enhance gripping and ensure steadiness.

But Fredrick Mutyabaa, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Rubaga Hospital, says if a baby is inside the house, he should be allowed to walk barefoot because it strengthens the feet and ankles as well as development of healthy arches.

Kamya says inappropriate shoes hinder growth of a child’s feet and impact negatively on a child’s walking. One is encouraged to shop at an outlet that specialises in children’s shoes or first seek advice.

Booties are recommended for children nine month old and below. Those stuffed with sponge or cotton are recommended to prevent a baby from hurting itself since babies are fond of rubbing their feet.

Once a baby can walk, he can wear flexible rubber shoe with a non-slip sole. The shoe should bends where the foot arches naturally, not just the toe area.

Flat or open shoes allow aeration of the feet. However, one should choose shoes with flap stickers to help keep the feet inside and to ease wearing and removing.

If a child must wear closed shoes, make sure they have a flap or laces and a flat heel to prevent straining of the feet.