Size Should Trump Fashion In Children's Shoes

EXETER, N.H. -- As parents head back to stores to prepare their children to go back to school, doctors warn to not neglect the most important article of clothing: shoes.

Kids may want the most fashionable shoes, but more important is getting shoes that are the right size. Shoes that don't fit right can send children to the hospital, television station WMUR reported.

Linda MacDonald said her daughter, Dylan, 10, is already a regular at Dr. James Dolan's office.

"She had a lot of pain with her feet. We've been very fortunate to have it corrected," MacDonald said. "She's doing great."

Dolan said many children suffer from foot pain. Whether the pain is in the arch, heel or toe, ill-fitting shoes are often to blame.

"Shoes are the only piece of clothing that can cause pain and deformity," Dolan said. "We don't think about our feet until they start to bother us."

Dolan said parents should make sure their children have the right shoes based on their age. Babies are easy because they just need to have their feet covered to prevent injuries. But toddlers need more attention.

"They need a nice, broad shoe that doesn't bend very much and makes them more stable," Dolan said.

Four- and 5-year-olds are starting to walk more like adults and need their shoes to respond.

"They start to walk with their toes bending," Dolan said. "They need a flexible shoe, and the right size is so important."

When older children begin to care more about what's in style than what's comfortable, Dolan said, parents should be honest about the repercussions.

"They need to wear the appropriate shoe for the right activity, and how you look is not nearly as important as how your feet feel," he said.

Dolan said parents with several children might want to bring each one to the shoe store alone, so it's easier to make sure everyone is fitted correctly.