Many parents may have experienced this: when shopping for children’s shoes, they are often asked to have their child’s feet examined to choose the right shoes and insoles. However, have you ever noticed that babies under 4 years old don’t require a foot examination? Why is that?
This is because the development of a child’s foot arch is a dynamic process that progresses with age.
For children aged 0-3, 70% of the foot’s bones are cartilage, and the midfoot and heel are filled with fat pads, making it impossible to observe the arch. Therefore, infants at this stage typically have flat feet, and most cases are physiological flat feet with no obvious pathological symptoms. This is a normal part of growth and development.
From 3 to 6 years old, the foot bones begin to ossify, and the fat pads on the sole start to recede. Physiological flat feet gradually decrease. During this stage, the developing arch starts to appear, but due to insufficient muscle strength, the arch development remains unstable. The ankle joint is weak and unstable, which makes it prone to injury. Therefore, parents should pay extra attention to their child’s foot health, avoiding excessive physical activity and ill-fitting shoes.
Between 6 and 12 years old, the bones in the feet continue to shape, and the arch development matures. The arch becomes stable. Under normal development, the arch becomes well-defined, supporting body weight and protecting the blood vessels and nerves in the feet.
When a child reaches the age of 13, the arch is fully developed, and their physical fitness and athletic ability approach adult levels. The arch becomes strong and stable, forming a solid foundation for the body.
This is the natural development pattern of the foot arch: Before the age of 4, due to incomplete arch development and the presence of fat pads, most children have a flat-foot appearance, which is physiological flat feet and a necessary stage in growth and development, typically requiring no intervention. After the age of 4, the foot bones begin to ossify and shape, and the fat pads recede, gradually developing the arch. However, since each child’s development varies, foot examinations are needed to assess the growth and development, ensuring the selection of the most suitable shoes and insoles to protect their foot health.