Here at Applefit you can find the best shoes for mini feet!!

We would like to welcome everyone to the topic of healthy feet. For us mums education is the key to helping you make the right choices for your child’s footwear. We care about the health and well-being of your little ones growing feet. Below are some foot health facts that will help guide you during footwear selection. Did you know?  The critical development years for feet are from infancy and into the toddler years.  The bones in a baby’s foot are made of cartilage, the same flexible substance you find in your ears and nose.  A shoe that is too rigid or too tight can change the shape of your child’s foot.  A lot of foot problems come from wearing the wrong footwear or ill-fitting shoes.  Children’s feet develop until he or she is about 18 years old.  Children’s feet grow in spurts and often require new shoes every 3 to 4 months. Choosing the right shoes for toddlers and children  Select shoes with a rounded toe box that provides plenty of room for toes to move.  Children’s feet sweat quite a bit, so avoid buying synthetic shoes.  The ideal shoe is made of breathable leather or canvas uppers. Avoid man made materials, such as plastic, because they can cause odour or even bacterial growth. Synthetic materials also tend not to stretch, and the resulting pressure could damage a child’s growing foot.  Soles should be soft and flexible, made out of flexible rubber. These are recommended because they allow a child’s gait and stride to develop naturally. Shoes should have a smooth bottom, causing less friction so that the shoe will not grab the floor and possibly cause your child to fall.  Avoid too heavy or too sticky shoes. They tend to change a child’s stride or gait, as they have to lift their feet to move about.  New shoes should never need to be “broken in.” Breaking in means either the shoes were not properly designed or not properly fitted for your child’s feet.  Recommended shoes will have a fully adjustable fastening for a snug fit. Laces are ideal, but double or triple Velcro fastening is suitable as well. Additional healthy feet tips:  Never put your child in shoes that are too big or too small, and make sure that all footwear including trainers is properly fitted.  Children's feet can grow incredibly quickly so you should plan to check shoe fit every six to eight weeks  Don't hand shoes down from one child to another  Get socks that fit - if they're too tight they will cramp the foot and can even cause deformation.  Choose socks with a high natural fibre content to allow feet to breathe.  Always check your child’s feet for skin condition, nails, deformities and posture Skin: look for areas of redness and rashes particularly between the toes, look for red marks and/or blisters at the back of the heel and on the tops of the small joints of the toes indicating ill-fitting shoes. Nails: any inflammation around the nails should be taken seriously as it may indicate infection. Cut toenails straight across and not too short - don't curve them‚ because this can encourage in-growing toenails. Deformities: Toes should always be straight in line with the foot and not drawn back or curled. Posture: If the feet appear to be excessively turned in or out or the arch looks very flat, particularly if the child complains of pain, the advice of a registered podiatrist should be sought. When is my child ready for his or her first pair of shoes? Learning to walk comes in stages. First comes crawling, followed by cruising — when your child will use the nearest support to help themselves move around. Walking is the final stage — with all the excitement of a child's first independent steps, but please remember there are different stages in the development and shaping of children's feet. Development begins when a child starts walking (at of 10-15 months) and lasts until the age of 15-18 years, when foot growth reaches its final stage. Children's feet are very sensitive and delicate and may be deformed by unsuitable shoes. It is very important to take good care of children's feet from the very beginning of their lives. Good foot care is achieved by providing your children with shoes that assure normal development and functioning of their feet.  There is no need to rush your child into shoes. In fact, we recommend delaying the first fitting for as long as possible. Being barefoot or using a well-fitting pair of socks is great exercise for tiny feet and helps their development. For this early stage we are offering you a beautiful range of specially designed Attipas toddler shoes. These functional non-slip shoes are as lightweight as a sock but still give grip and support for your child’s first steps and beyond. To find out more on Attipas and about all its healthy features, please visit “About The Brands We Sell” section on our home page or click here.  When you feel your child's feet need protection, it's probably a good time for a first pair of shoes. Listed below are the brands of shoes we recommend. We have tested them as mums when we were looking for the best footwear and perfect fit for our little tots. Seeing your child in their first pair of walking shoes is an emotional moment, but make sure you combine style, quality and fit. Never compromise on fit, because a toddler's nerve endings are not fully developed so they may not notice or feel pain or discomfort caused by ill-fitting shoes, and may not be able to complain even if they do. For this stage we offer wonderful shoes by brand called Emel. These shoes highlight quality, style and perfect fit. Style and fashion remain important but the Emel company’s primary aim is to ensure comfort, enabling children’s feet to grow and develop in a healthy way. We fell in love with Emel First Shoes because they are very lightweight, their sole are not too thick so it doesn’t stiffen the shoe. What make them so unique is that the toe box is wide enough to leave plenty of space for toes, uppers are extended to the ankles and they are finished with the very soft foam so it doesn’t give any abrasions. To find out more on Emel shoes and about all healthy features they offer, please visit “About The Brands We Sell” section on our home page or click here. Daniel and Mrugala are two brands specialising in healthy shoes that are the best for preventing damage to little feet. One of their advantages is they come equipped with a “Thomas Heel.” This is a shoe correction consisting of a heel about 0.5 inch (1 cm) longer and slightly higher on the inside. The purpose of the Thomas Heel is to give added support under the arch of the foot. The Thomas heel is recommended for children diagnosed with flat feet and it can prevent this condition in children with healthy feet. These shoes were designed after researching treatment and methods of prevention of flat feet. To find out more about Mrugala and Daniel shoes including all healthy features they offer, please visit “About The Brands We Sell” section on our home page or click here. All our brands such as Emel, Attipas, Daniel and Mrugala are perfect for active toddlers who are transitioning from early walking to a more confident stride. We hope your child enjoys these shoes as much as our children do!