Q.	Is it normal for babies to have fat feet?
A.	Yes. Babies are born with a fatty pad in the inner longitudinal arch that disappears soon after baby starts walking.
Q.	When is it normal for babies to start walking?
A.	Thirteen months is the average age, the normal range being between nine and eighteen months.
Q.	Is it normal for babies to be bowlegged?
A.	Children are bowlegged up to two years of age as it is part of the development of the lower limbs. This developmental stage can be altered if the child was an early walker.
Q.	Why is my child knock-kneed?
A.	After the bowlegged (genu varum) stage, the growing child goes through a knock-kneed (genu valgum) stage between the ages of two to seven, reaching maximum at age four. This stage is usually more noticeable in girls due to differences in the pelvis affecting the angulation of the legs. This stage may also be prolonged in the early walker who also had an extended bowlegged stage.
Q.	What can you do about pigeon toes?
A.	Pigeon toe, or an in toeing gait, is usually associated with knock-knees. Assessment by a Podiatrist is necessary. A softer shoe is advised since it reduces the deformity. We all know that we tend to go pigeon toed in a rigid shoe, eg, a boot. Orthotics may also be required.
Q.	How long does it take for the bones in the foot to harden?
A.	Ossification generally occurs around 18 years of age but can extend into the early twenties. The bones of the foot ossify earlier than the bones of the leg. Females tend to ossify a few years sooner.
Q.	What shoes are best?
A.	The child's foot is not a scaled down adult foot, it is triangular in shape with a broad forefoot and a narrower heel. Be sure when buying shoes to have a proper fitting. Important points. check length and width of shoe; check to ensure adequate room in the toe box; check that the sole is flexible. It must bend at the point where the child's foot bends when walking (ie, at the ball of the foot); natural materials allow the foot to breathe. You must air shoes overnight to allow the absorbed perspiration to evaporate. Alternating shoe wear allows the shoes sufficient time to dry out.