At Home Foot Care for Children during Quarantine

As we are all social distancing and mostly staying at home during these unprecedented times, many children are not wearing their school shoes with insoles. They are wearing shoes less and are more aware of their feet and toes.

It is encouraged that children do not need to wear shoes whilst at home for many reasons. For example, if they have ingrown toenails this allows respite because there are no tight socks or shoes pressing on the big toenails, therefore, easing any toe pain and discomfort. It is also a very good time to have toenail procedures when the children are not going to school so that they can comfortably recover at home.

Furthermore, due to children being mostly barefoot, they are discovering any blemishes on their feet such as plantar warts (otherwise known as verrucas). Care should be taken not to pick and play with these blemishes as they can spread to their fingers and other parts of the body. It is a good idea to cover them with a band-aid or wear socks in the house so as not to spread to other family members. This time at home can be well spent by treating plantar warts, especially with treatments such as dermojet as children can rest at home afterwards. Our clinic nurses can offer more information on dermojet treatment, please see our contact details at the end of the page.

Additionally, as children are not wearing their school shoes there is very little foot support but this is not necessarily a bad thing. If the alignment of the foot and ankle is normal without shoes this can be advantageous because it makes the foot muscles work more due to lack of assistance from footwear.

Although, if the child does have bio-mechanical or alignment issues with the leg, feet or ankles, then not wearing shoes can be problematic and cause some pain or discomfort in the ankles, especially the arches. If the child already has insoles, we would recommend putting the insoles in a lightweight and clean pair of shoes for inside the house, so the child can wear the shoes for a few hours each day to ease any discomfort or pain they have due to bio-mechanical or alignment issues in the leg, feet or ankles.

Alternatively, please make an appointment with our Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin for orthotic therapy. This will help the child’s alignment issues progressively better.