You might think that creating footwear and orthotics for children is no different than for adults. In one sense, you would be right – everything we make, we make by hand and to measure. However, there are major differences between the bones of children and adults, and that means we have to differentiate carefully in the type of support we offer.
Did you know…
- When you were born you had approximately 300 bones – as an adult, you have nearer to 200.
- A baby’s bones are made partly or wholly of soft and flexible cartilage. The cartilage grows and is slowly replaced by bone during childhood.
The first thing to consider is the age of the child. Not only are children’s bones still growing; they are still forming and, in young children, will be soft and flexible. For this reason, we don’t make orthotics for children under the age of four. We want the shape of each orthotic to be guided by the shape of the foot. We don’t want the orthotic to shape a healthy foot that is still developing.
Growing children
A second consideration is the speed at which children outgrow shoes and clothing. Our handmade made-to-measure shoes take considerable time to make, and may represent a significant investment. While we believe they are a very worthwhile investment (of course!) and create all our footwear to give long-lasting, long-wearing comfort and support, the term ‘made-to-measure’ is a clue as to why we only make shoes for adults.
The several months between taking measurements and delivering our beautiful shoes mean that still-growing children are quite likely to have different measurements before the shoes are ready, and are certain to quickly outgrow the shoes. Additionally, the individual shape of each foot will be reflected in the shoes, meaning that even passing them on to younger siblings may not be an option.
So, how can we at Gilbert & Lisson support the feet of young children?
To begin with, we are happy to arrange a complimentary consultation for any child from the age of 4. Our experts are available to assess feet and gait and offer advice; you can see the shoemakers at work too.
It has been our experience that proper care and treatment of the feet, beginning in childhood and infancy, can prevent many of the mechanical and orthopaedic problems seen in adults. We may be able to advise on remedial measures, or simply offer reassurance – some apparent problems as children develop their walking disappear as they become more confident and the gait settles.
And we do make orthotics for children from the age of 4, often on the advice of a podiatrist. Our smaller orthotics come with a smaller price, and (like children’s shoes) are exempt of VAT.
