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Children’s feet

Noticing a change in how your child walks, or wondering about their foot shape? It’s understandable to have questions as they grow. We’ll listen to your concerns and assess whether advice, monitoring or further care is appropriate.

Foot shape and walking change as children grow. Assessment considers what is expected for your child’s age, what needs monitoring and what needs attention. Bring their usual shoes and, if the concern comes and goes, a short video of how they walk or run. Read what a foot, walking and movement assessment can involve.

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.

What’s normal — and what’s worth a look?

In-toeing, flexible flat feet and night-time growing pains are often developmental. A check helps distinguish these from concerns needing care:

• Flexible flat feet — an arch that appears when your child is on tip‑toes but flattens when standing; usually symptom-free and normal.
• In-toeing — toes turning in from the hip, thigh bone or foot; common in toddlers and most often self‑correcting.
• Sever’s disease — heel pain during growth spurts, typically between ages 8 and 14 in active kids; sore to squeeze the back of the heel, and usually settles with load management.
• Growing pains — aching in both legs in the evening or overnight, with normal walking by day.
• Worth a closer look — pain in one leg that wakes them, a limp, a regression in walking, or something not improving with age.