A baby has a flat foot, and this is the physiological norm for children under three years old. The formation of the arch of the foot begins with the first steps of the baby and ends by the age of seven to nine. 

When a child begins to walk independently, the load on the spine, leg joints, and the muscular and vestibular apparatus is redistributed. During this period, the child needs prophylactic shoes to maintain the correct position of the ankle joint to avoid the appearance of various deformities, for example, the common hallux valgus (collapse of the joint inward). Best podiatrists rather opt for preventive shoes than orthopedic ones.

So, what should preventive shoes look like? Basic requirements - elastic sole, firm, heel-holding heel counter, free toe, heel, secure closure, and environmentally friendly, breathable materials.

The sole should be light, flexible (it should bend easily at the forefoot), but firm enough not to slip. It should also be wide enough to not squeeze the fingers. If the sole is not flexible and very hard, the child will often stumble.

A solid heel counter (reinforced heel) covers, fixes the heel, and prevents the ankle joint from falling in or out. The hardness of the heel counter is easily checked with your fingers.

The arch support should not be high; for preventive shoes, a small arch support is sufficient, which allows the foot to withstand long walks. In no case is any insole superimposed on the existing arch support, especially with another arch support.

A small heel, about a centimeter, helps to maintain balance. The frequently seen Thomas heel, which is extended along the inner side of the sole, prevents the foot from rolling inward. This heel is designed for a healthy foot and, as a rule, is present in preventive shoes.

Prophylactic shoes are not to grow up into. The margin in length in a standing position should not exceed 0.5 cm. It is useless for children to wear shoes without a heel, especially on a rigid platform.

Today orthopedists often diagnose the initial symptoms of improper foot formation –– valgus deformity of the feet. In this case, the child needs to be at home most of the time in shoes that fix the physiologically correct position of the feet and ankle joints. After the purchase, you need to look at home in a calm environment, and how the child walks and runs in it. It is good to look at the front of the child walking towards you, but it is even better to look closely at the legs, the position of the feet, and the ankle joints from behind when the child is walking away from you. 

Assess whether the new shoe locks the heel in a vertically flat position or whether the joint at the level of the ankle tilts, falls inward or outward. If the new shoes do not prevent deformation or remove the ankle joint's tilt in one direction or another, then this is not a proper shoe; it does not fulfill its function, even if it outwardly meets all the requirements. Proper shoes are those that provide a physiological position of the ankle joint, excluding the tilt of the heel in any direction. 

If the pathological attitudes of the feet are nevertheless formed, or there are pronounced congenital deformities of the feet, then the child will need specialized orthopedic shoes. These may be shoes made specifically for your child in a factory or purchased in specialized stores; sometimes, only the insoles are individually selected, and sometimes, both the insoles and the shoes themselves. But in this case, it is already necessary to consult a specialist –– an orthopedic doctor.