What to Expect the Toddler Years Read Online Free PDF Page A

four or five times—or even more—in the next year. So although they should be well made for the sake of comfort and safety, they needn’t be built to last forever.
    If you can manage it, purchase two pairs of shoes at a time. Children’s feet perspire a lot, and switching off will allow shoes to dry completely between wearings.
    Be sure you don’t see red. When you remove the shoes your toddler has tried on, slip off her socks and check for the kind of red marks that indicate that pressure has been placed on the foot. These marks indicate a poor fit.
    Don’t buy ahead. Considering the rate at which toddlers outgrow shoes, there’s always the temptation to buy shoes “with room to grow.” Resist. Extra-large shoes can lead to irritation and blisters, cause unnecessary tumbles, and interfere with walking.
    Even shoes that fit perfectly can rub and irritate when the wrong kind of socks are worn with them. According to experts, Orlon, which wicks moisture away from the foot, is the material of choice for socks. Stretch socks are most likely to give a good fit—and for a longer time. Socks should fit smoothly without constricting the foot. Socks that are too large will bunch up or wrinkle and may cause irritation and blisters. Those that are too small can cramp the foot and hinder growth. When socks start leaving marks on the feet, it’s time to move up to the next sock size.
R EPLACING SHOES
    “How often do I need to replace my son’s shoes?”
    On average, toddlers need a new pair of shoes every three or four months. But normal growth spurts and plateaus could cause one pair to be outgrown in two months and the next in five or six.
    Since there’s no way to predict the rate at which your toddler’s feet will grow, you’ll have to rely on monthly (or even more frequent) checks of his shoes at home. Use the fitting methods described on page 7, and consider a new pair when there is less than half a thumb’s space at the toes. For confirmation, stop by your child’s shoe store. A reputable salesperson will be able to tell you whether it’s time to spring for another pair.
    And, as much as you may be tempted by the potential savings, don’t pass down outgrown shoes from one child to the next. Even if the shoes do not seem badly worn, they have molded to the shape of the first wearer’s feet and are not likely to be suitable for the next child. The one exception: party or dress shoes that have been worn, and will be worn, for just a few hours a week.
T OEING-IN (PIGEON-TOES)
    “Now that my daughter has started walking, I’ve noticed that her toes turn inward. Is this something that needs attention?”
    At this stage of the walking game, probably not. Toeing-in (or pigeon-toes) early in the second year is usually related to internal tibial torsion, a turning in of the tibia (or shin bone), which generally straightens out on its own.
    You should consult your toddler’s pediatrician, however, if her toeing-in doesn’t take a turn for the better during the next six months, if the problem seems to be interfering with her walking or running, if her toes don’t point straight ahead when she’s at rest, or if her feet exhibit a half-moon curve when observed from the bottom.
    In a small percentage (8% to 9%) of children, toeing-in continues intoadulthood. As long as the condition does-n’t interfere with movement and the feet aren’t rigid or painful, it rarely poses a problem.

    Toeing-in is not uncommon early in the second year
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    Children who at this age toe-out rather than in often become pigeon-toed temporarily at about age three or four. That’s not a problem either.
T HE INTO-EVERYTHING SYNDROME
    “Our toddler can’t pass by anything without touching it. When we’re in the house, that means nothing is safe; when we’re outside, that means he isn’t safe. It’s driving us crazy.”
    A toddler’s constant, sometimes maddening, manipulation of his environment isn’t the result of maliciousness, it’s