Parents Q&A: What should I do if my child always likes to take off his shoes and likes to go barefoot?

Many mothers of little babies ask me, what should I do if their children don’t like to wear shoes and always like to go barefoot?

When asked why I don’t like children to have bare feet, the reasons are all: first, they feel too dirty, second, they are afraid of pricking their feet, and third, they are afraid of children catching cold.

If it feels too dirty, you can mop the floor clean at home, or wash the children's feet before going to bed; if you are afraid of pricking your feet, check the floor carefully to see if there are any scratches. Items for feet; in addition, there is no need to worry about children catching cold, because the feet are farthest from the heart, and the colder feet will basically not cause children to catch cold.

To relieve parents’ worries, let me talk about the benefits of going barefoot.

Such bare feet can help babies have good foot awareness

First, bare feet. 0-2 years old is the most important period for the development of foot awareness. Walking barefoot can allow children to better perceive the ground, so that children can accurately adjust their center of gravity.

Being barefoot is also conducive to the formation of arches. Allowing your baby to climb small wooden ladders barefoot before the age of 2 can very well promote the formation of arches. Bare feet also allow the baby to form a standard and beautiful standing and walking posture, because bare feet are conducive to the good development of foot cartilage, muscles, and ligaments, and avoid splayed feet, splayed feet, X-shaped legs, etc.

Second, foot touching. It's touching, not massaging. Foot contour touching can help babies better understand the shape of their feet, so that they can determine where their center of gravity should be based on the situation in future sports. If the baby cannot accurately determine the center of gravity of the foot, it is more likely to tilt inward or outward (now you know why the wear on both sides of your shoes is different), etc.

Third, foot games. Use your feet to step on soft cotton, soft sand, hard stones, round rubber balls, suspended wooden ladders, etc. These experiences will help us grow in the future and quickly judge the strength and distance of our feet through perception, so as not to use too much force or step in vain.

I know that going barefoot has so many benefits. But what if the baby doesn’t want to go barefoot?

1. Maybe our baby’s little feet are just a little sensitive. Don’t rush to let your baby walk barefoot on the ground right away. Encourage your baby to step on the bed or sofa first.

2. Give your baby some touches, starting with gentle stimulation and gradually increasing the stimulation. For example, start with a soft towel, gradually move to a massage ball, and finally use a rough emery cloth.

3. Never underestimate the role of demonstration. Babies aged 1-2 years old have great imitation abilities. You should be a barefoot mother first!