Your toddler's feet are made for walking (and running and jumping), so make sure their shoes are too!
Footwear is one of the most important external factors influencing young children’s gait pattern and one of the important considerations in the developmental phase is getting the balance right between protecting the child’s foot and not interfering with neural feedback.
“If the footwear sole is too thick, as is the case in most children’s footwear, it can interfere with the sensory neurological feedback that the child needs for balance and proprioception (spatial awareness),” explains podiatrist Daniel Fitzpatrick of Alternative Foot Solutions in Manly (Sydney).
“It can also interfere with normal musculoskeletal strengthening and development of sensorimotor maturation.”
Daniel likes Attipas shoes – functional toddler shoes that have been brought to Australia by former banker, now mumpreneur, Caroline Africh.
“What I like particularly about Attipas shoes for young children is that they have a good balance between a protective sole to protect supple young feet whist still allowing feedback through the sole of the foot,” says Daniel.
“Attipas shoes are the closest thing to bare feet whilst the foot is still protected for young children.
“Another obvious advantage of Attipas shoes is that they are lighter than other styles on the market, so they don't impede the natural gait cycle of a young child nor cause imbalance due to bulk.”
Caroline brought Attipas functional toddler shoes to Australia three years ago, after learning about them on an overseas trip. They were developed after seven years of research and development at Seoul University.
“There are five benefits to Attipas shoes,” says Caroline. They’re convenient, breathable, have a big toe box, they're safe and flexible.
“When I first saw the shoes, my eldest child was showing signs of walking but within days of wearing his Attipas shoes he was off.”
Attipas Australia are giving Motherpedia readers the chance to win one of five Attipas gift packs valued at $89.85 each. Each gift pack includes two pairs of toddlers’ shoes and a limited edition romper!
The total prize pool is $450, and the competition closes at midnight on Sunday 19th October. Enter by the link below – and don’t forget our other competitions also!
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