Caring for tiny feet: A guide to Foot Care for Infants

Looking forward to hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet? If you’ve just welcomed your own little bundle of joy, or are expecting one any day now, you’ll no doubt have plenty to learn about how to care for your baby. As a new parent, taking care of your child’s adorable feet can seem daunting: for instance, how often should you trim their toenails? What sort of shoes and socks should they be wearing? And how do you know if your baby’s tiny feet are developing properly?

To help you get to grips with these dilemmas, we’ve put together this guide to caring for your little one’s tiny feet. Keep reading to make sure that child is hitting the right developmental milestones at the right age.

Tiny Feet: Keeping them clean

Even though your little one isn’t up and walking yet, their feet can still get surprisingly dirty just from wiggling and playing. And, as it’s natural for your baby to explore their feet by putting them in their mouth, it’s important to keep them as clean and hygienic as possible, so they’re not accidentally ingesting any harmful bacteria.

You should be cleaning your baby’s feet at least once a day. Use warm (but not hot) water and a mild soap that’s designed for infants, and gently wipe them clean using a soft baby sponge. Dry them off with a fluffy towel, and make sure you’re drying between the toes before putting on their socks or shoes, as this will help stop harmful bacteria from forming.

Choose shoes to suit their age

Before your baby learns to walk, the cartilage and tendons in their feet are still undeveloped and soft, meaning they don’t need to wear rigid shoes just yet. Instead, they should be wearing socks, booties, slippers, and soft-soled baby shoes, which will keep your little one’s feet toasty, without restricting their movement too much.

Your baby will take their first steps at around 9–18 months, and once they’re up and toddling about, it’s time to go shopping for their first pair of real shoes. It’s essential that these are a good fit, so it’s best to visit a shoe shop that will measure your baby’s feet for you. Charles Clinkard offer a specialised fitting service, and will be able to advise you on the right sort of shoes for your baby’s developmental stage, so you can be sure their shoes are perfectly comfortable and supportive.

Trim their toenails regularly

While your baby’s nails may only be tiny, they grow surprisingly quickly, and if they become too long they could catch on their socks or cause your little one to accidentally scratch themselves. So, be sure to treat your bundle of joy to a pedicure with a pair of baby nail clippers or scissors at least twice a month — if you’d prefer, you can also gently file them down with an emery board. Chose a set that includes scissors with small, precise blades, and rounded tips for added safety. Remember to cut or file straight across, as this will help to prevent ingrown toenails.

The best time to cut your child’s toenails is after bath time, when their nails will be softer, and they will (hopefully) be feeling relaxed and sleepy. If wriggling and kicking are a problem, it may help to place them in their high chair or rocker and distract them with a toy while you groom their nails.  

Let them go barefoot

While warm socks and booties are important if you’re heading outside together, you should also be making sure that your baby spends plenty of time barefoot. Wiggling and kicking are an important part of your baby’s foot and leg development, and toddling or crawling without socks or shoes is thought to strengthen the ligaments and arches of the feet. So, when it is safe to do so, be sure to let your baby spend at least a few hours each day barefoot.

Caring for your baby’s adorable tiny feet may seem complicated, but as long as you follow these tips, you should have nothing to worry about. Remember, you can always consult the NHS pregnancy and baby advice centre if you need extra help or support with any aspect of caring for your new arrival.  

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