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Children’s feet

Noticing a change in how your child walks or stands? The first decision is whether to see your GP or book a podiatry assessment.

Noticing a change in how your child walks, or wondering about their foot shape? The first decision is whether to see your GP or book a podiatry assessment.

Families from Burwood and across the Inner West bring their kids to our children’s (paediatric) podiatry appointments, which check what is normal for their age.

When a podiatry assessment makes sense

Consider booking if foot or heel pain is stopping your child keeping up at sport or play, or a foot-shape or walking concern is not improving with age. Active child or young athlete with heel pain? See why a child’s heel may hurt.

What to note or bring

• Your child’s usual school, sport and everyday shoes.
• When it hurts: the time of day, and after which sport or activity.
• Whether it affects one leg or both, and whether any limp comes and goes.
• A short phone video of your child walking or running, if the concern is easier to see at home.
• Any previous reports, X-rays or letters.

We will not assume that a different-looking foot needs treatment, that every flat foot needs orthotics, that all pain is “growing pain”, or that your child should stop an activity without understanding why.

What’s often normal as children grow

Common patterns that are often part of normal development:

• Flexible flat feet — an arch that shows on tip‑toes but flattens when standing.
• In-toeing — toes turning in when walking, often seen in toddlers.
• Growing pains — aching in both legs in the evening or overnight.

It is not always clear which of these applies, or whether anything else is going on. Our podiatrists can advise on what is typical for your child after an assessment.

Why does my child’s heel hurt?

Heel pain is common in active children aged about 8 to 14, especially around growth spurts, and is often Sever’s disease—an irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel. It can have other causes, so get same-day urgent care if your child cannot bear weight, has severe pain, or has a limp with fever or seems unwell, and see your GP promptly for pain at night or at rest, or swelling or redness. A podiatry assessment is worth considering if heel pain is limiting sport or play.

What happens at the appointment

How we assess—and when reassurance is enough

• We listen to what you and your child have noticed, including pain, play, walking, shoes and whether anything is changing.
• We watch how your child stands and walks and consider the findings in the context of their age and development.
• We explain what appears typical, what is worth monitoring and whether medical review or another referral may be appropriate.
• If care is recommended, we discuss its purpose, alternatives and limitations in language your child can understand.

Depending on the findings, the next step may be treatment, monitoring or simply reassurance.

Read what a foot, walking and movement assessment can involve.