Published: 29 June 2026
Feet are the foundation of everything. The way a child's feet develop affects how they walk, stand, posture, and even their confidence. In the first five years of life, feet grow faster than at any other stage. Because the bones are still soft and forming, they are much more susceptible to being shaped by whatever is on them.
Young children cannot reliably tell us when something hurts or feels wrong. They will often just adapt, and that adaptation can become a lasting habit. By the time problems become visible, they can already be well established. The good news is that with the right shoes and regular checks, most of this is entirely preventable.
To dive deeper into the science of physical development, we looked at the latest guidance from The Footwear Hub, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing families with vital information about early years foot health. We also spoke to The Footwear Hub’s Co-founder, Tanya Marriott about her Fit Well, Grow Well campaign to answer some of the most common questions about keeping moving feet healthy.
The science of growing feet: developmental milestones
It takes a full 18 years for a child's feet to fully develop. Because this development is a gradual journey, understanding what is happening under the surface helps us choose the right support at the right time.
A baby’s feet are mostly made of soft, pliable cartilage containing 22 partially developed bones. Because they are so soft, they can be easily squished or misshapen by tight socks or restrictive clothing. At this stage, freedom is key.
As children begin to take their first wobbly steps, they tend to keep their legs wide apart to find their balance. Their gait might look a bit bow-legged - which is completely natural and partly influenced by nappies. Under the surface, thousands of nerve endings in their feet are firing up, sending vital messages to the brain to build balance and coordination.
Around this stage, structural changes move quickly. At two years old, the bones are developing but still have large gaps between them, meaning the foot remains delicate. It is completely normal for young children to appear to have flat feet at this stage because their arches are still forming (a process that usually continues up to age six). Toddlers will grow more stable, learn to navigate changing direction, walk backwards, and eventually start running.
By age two, confidence peaks as children master running and jumping. By the time they turn three, they will have developed almost all the adult walking skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
By age eight, the second part of the bones in the toes and midfoot are forming. A child can have as many as 45 separate bones in each foot at this point. These will gradually fuse together over the next decade to form the 26 bones of a fully mature adult foot by age 18.
Now that we know how delicate and fast-changing those bones are, Tanya shares her expert advice on how we can protect our children’s physical development through their footwear choices.
"The golden rule is not until they are walking confidently and independently outdoors. Before that point, bare feet or soft soles are best. The nerves in a child's feet are still developing, and they send vital messages to the brain to help with balance and movement - putting shoes on too early interferes with that process.
Think of it like trying to drive wearing wellies. For a young child just finding their feet, rigid soles can feel like moon boots - all that sensory feedback they need to stay upright and move naturally is suddenly muffled. Feet need to feel the ground to develop properly, and a shoe too early can get in the way of that.
Once your child is taking consistent, steady steps outside and you feel they need foot protection, that is the moment to visit a specialist fitter. At the Footwear Hub, we connect families with their local fitters who can best advise - even if the answer is that the child is not quite ready yet. We would rather send you away with the right guidance.”
"A well-fitted first shoe protects the foot from the ground without restricting natural movement. It should be flexible enough to allow the foot to bend and push off properly, supportive enough around the heel to keep the foot stable and fitted correctly in both length and width so there is no compression anywhere.
A good first shoe does not try to do too much. It is not a corrective device; it is a protective one. The benefit is simply that the foot is free to develop as it should, without being squeezed, slipped around in, or held in an unnatural position."
"We always recommend a specialist fitter. Measuring at home is better than nothing and a guide, but this is because measuring length is only part of the picture. Feet have width, instep height, heel width, toe alignment. Two children can have the same length foot and need a completely different shoe.
A trained fitter uses their hands and their eyes as much as any gauge. They can feel how a shoe is sitting, spot where the foot is being compressed, and check that the heel is properly gripped. That is simply not something a measuring tool at home can replicate."
"The honest answer is, do not wait for signs. By the time a child is showing red marks, complaining of blisters, or tripping more than usual, the shoe has already been too small for a while. Young children do not always tell you - they get used to the feeling.
We recommend booking a re-check with a specialist fitter every six to eight weeks for children under two, and every eight to twelve weeks from age two onwards. Feet can grow half a size in six weeks at the fastest-growing stages. The check-up is quick and most specialist shops offer it free. Think of it the way you think of a dental check, you do not wait for a toothache to book an appointment."
"Absolutely not, and this is one of the most important things we want families to understand. With clothing, a bit of extra room is harmless. It just looks baggy. With shoes, too much room means the foot is sliding forward, the heel is lifting, and the toes are gripping to compensate.
That gripping motion, repeated thousands of times a day, can lead to toe deformities, poor gait habits, and real discomfort. A shoe needs to fit the foot that is in it today. The right amount of growing room is small, around a thumb's width at the longest toe, and a specialist fitter will check that on both feet, because feet are often different sizes."
"If a child is walking with their feet turned significantly in or out, tripping frequently, complaining of tired or achy legs, or avoiding physical activity, those are all worth taking seriously.
The first thing to check is whether the shoes are fitting correctly and are appropriate for the foot shape. You would be surprised how often a gait issue improves simply with better fitting footwear.
That said, shoes are not a treatment. If you have concerns about how your child is walking, please speak to your GP or a podiatrist. What shoes can do is prevent a problem becoming worse, and for children with existing foot conditions, specialist fitting is genuinely important."
"Closed toe, without question. Nursery involves running, jumping, climbing, and a lot of other children's feet in close proximity. Open-toed shoes offer no protection at all in that environment.
Look for a secure fastening. Velcro at this age is fine and much easier for hands learning independence. The sole should be flexible but grippy, and the shoe should hold the heel firmly with some room for the toes. Avoid anything with a completely flat, hard sole or anything with a significant heel. Nurseries often have their own footwear guidance, and it is worth checking with yours if you are unsure."
*At N, our unique approach to early years education focuses on creating active, inspiring environments where children can confidently explore. Ensuring they have flexible, closed-toe footwear helps our team keep them safe during all their climbing and outdoor adventures.
"My Co-founder, Nadia and I have known each other for years through the Society of Shoe Fitters, and we had both been watching the same thing happen in our shops and across the industry. Since Covid, the number of specialist shops offering a proper fitting service has fallen significantly.
At the same time, buying shoes online has become completely normalised, and the messaging to families about why professional fitting matters seems to have faded with it. Families are not getting the guidance they need, and the shops that can provide it are fewer and further between.”
In our own shops we were seeing the consequences - children arriving in shoes that had never been properly fitted, feet that had been compressed or unsupported for months, families who simply had no idea because nobody had told them what to look for. Between us we have 43 years of fitting experience, and we felt that experience needed to go somewhere beyond our own shop floors.”
“The Footwear Hub is a not-for-profit organisation. Our goal is to give families the information they need to make good choices for their children's feet, and to connect them with specialist fitters across the UK who can help them in person. We currently have 51 member shops and that number is growing.
My hope for the future is simple: that families start thinking about children's feet the way they already think about children's teeth and eyes. Nobody questions whether a dental check-up matters. I want the same to be true of shoe fitting."
To find a trusted, specialist fitter near you, explore resources, or read more about the Fit Well, Grow Well campaign, visit www.footwearhub.org.
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