Never go the shoe store again! Baby Talk Magazine ranked Foot Fairy as #37 of 100 top Innovations Making Modern Motherhood Easier, Cooler and Way More Fun!

Using an iPad, Foot Fairy is the fun and fast way to measure your child’s foot to determine his/her shoe size. Simply put your child’s foot up against the iPad to get an immediate and fun reading of your child’s shoe size. Your kids will love it and you will be comfortable knowing your child’s proper shoe size.

Learn more at FootFairy.com or on the App Store.

P.S.  The Foot Fairy iPad app has been featured in Baby Talk Magazine, the Baby Center, Cool Mom Tech, Mom Invented, A-List Mom and others.

Hmmmm which ones are more comfortable???

or

For sure, Planet Flops (and Planet Flops are 1/6^th the  price). Go get them and you will be such a fashionista on the beach this spring!

Ok, now for some kid picks.

Amazingly Affordable:

I just bought these a half size up for my younger daughter. I am putting it on the side and saving for summer time or spring vacation. This
is a great deal and a great shoe.

Middle of the Road:

Splurge:

Amazingly Affordable:

Glitter Ballet Flat

These flats are so amazing. You daughter can wear them out fancy but at this price it is okay to wear them to the park too. I pretty much like
most smart fit shoes from Payless.  I am pleased that there are healthy shoes that are also healthy for our wallets.

Cherokee Finnegan

This shoe is just great for boys since it is so versatile. It is slightly dressier than a sneaker but still an athletic shoe that a boy can run with  and climb trees. This is the shoe to take your son into 2012 (if he doesn’t own it yet).

Middle of the Road:

Pediped Harlow

Pediped Leo

Love Pedipeds.  All styles are great for toddlers.   Of their shoes that are on sale, these are my favorite two pairs, which is why I mentioned them as a top shoe for this year. I always recommend parents buy this brand for their kids, so hurry and get them while they are marked down.

Splurge:

Tsukihoshi Sneaker

Anyone who knows my younger daughter knows these are the shoes she is always wearing.  She is the pickiest shoe wearer EVER!  So, if she
likes them they must be a winner. In all seriousness, I really do love this brand. I have to say it’s one of the best kids’ shoe brands as far as I am concerned.  I picked this style since this is my younger daughter’s favorite one.

Groungy

Every boy needs a shoe like this in his closet (and dad does too!). This one by Primigi is so classy, sophisticated and masculine. Love it (now if only I had a son!).

Mom’s Fabulously Comfortable Pick:

Planet Flops Blackberry

I am a mom-podiatrist who is obsessed with shoes and I have to pick one shoe as my favorite for 2011. Impossible!!

But the shoe I wear most is, of course, PLANET FLOPS flip-flops.  The most comfortable, eco-friendly rubber flip-flop. You must get a pair for your upcoming beach vacation. Oh, and did I mention it was created by a podiatrist (that would be me).

My personal  favorite  color this season is Blackberry.  Check it out at Planet Flops.

Happy Holidays!

Dr.  ShoeMom Must Have Holiday Shoe Picks

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!  Who doesn’t love them or need them!  Here are a few great picks just in time for the holidays! Give them as presents or buy them so you and your kids look great for the holidays!

For Girls:

Girls – Amazingly Affordable:

Circo Golda Ballet           Berry Delana                          Myra Boot

Girls – Middle of the Road:

Stride Rite Buffy            Morgan & Milo Avril MJ

Girls – Splurge:

UGG Rylan                         Nike Air Max Tailwind

Boys- Amazingly Affordable:

Swiss Gear Brady Boot      Payless Smartfit Boys Strap

Boys- Middle of the Road:

New Balance KV993      Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Outsider Hi

Beeko Santiago                     Native Fitzsimmons

Boys- Splurge:

Keen Kootenay                          ECCO Alps             Jungle Moc

Women

Loeffler Randall Sasha       Payless Isabel Toledo Gold Rush Rain

Silvia Tcherassi Allegra Bow       Lucky Fedora

DrShoeMom is back with several exciting changes since our last post! Hmmmm…. Where to begin?

1.  DrShoeMom.com now has a store with all my picks for both moms and kids.  You can see our new site at www.drshoemom.com.  So go shoe shopping and know that all shoes featured on my site have been personally recommended by me for being both stylish and
comfy.

2.  We are in process of posting articles about kids and moms FEET.  Topics already posted range from in-grown toenails to sweaty feet to bunions.  You can see our articles section here: http://drshoemom.com/articles/.  Additional articles will be posted soon. I am so excited to share this information with my DrShoeMom readers.  Besides wearing comfortable shoes, there are other important things we can do to take care of our kids feet as they are growing.

3.  My friend, Nicole, and I just launched a great iPad app called Foot Fairy. She is a therapist (and mother of 4) and wanted to find a stress free method to measure her children’s feet.  I, of course, want to ensure that they are wearing the proper shoe size.  Two glasses of wine later and Foot Fairy was born.  Simply put your child’s foot against the screen and it automatically scans your kid’s foot and tells you
his/her shoe size (up to size 13 ½).  It’s fun and easy and our kids love it!  Directly from the app, you can then go shopping on Zappos or send an email with all the relevant information.  You can learn more about it at www.footfairy.com or on the app store by searching for Foot Fairy.

4.  I welcome any feedback as we continue to improve and expand the site.

My daughters and I are wearing Ankle Hi Tramper Minnetonka fringe booties in the above photo. We all instantly fell in love and had to have them. Of course, they are uber-comfortable.  Available here for girls and here for moms.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the opportunity to try and create a place on the web for healthy, comfy, cute and stylish shoes.

Thanks for joining me on this mission.

Sylvie (Dr. ShoeMom)

The way kids play, you don’t expect their feet to smell like roses.  However, excessive sweating and an extremely strong odor on the soles of the feet is a medical issue that should be treated.

Overview

The medical term palmoplantar hyperhidrosis refers to feet and hands that produce inordinate amounts of sweat.  We have sweat glands or eccrine glands all over the body, with the majority concentrated on our foot soles and the palms of our hands.  Excessive sweat affects children and adults, and seems to have a genetic component.  If you have it, chances are your children will have it as well.  Although it is not considered a very dangerous health condition, it may make your child feel a little self-conscious and uncomfortable. There are many treatments ranging from conservative topical applications to surgery.

Causes

As mentioned, there seems to be a genetic predisposition to excessively sweaty and smelly feet.  Sometimes it is a symptom of another medical problem such as a dysfunctional thyroid or diabetes.  In some children, anxiety or the hormonal changes from puberty may be the culprit.  It is important to have a doctor take a look at your child in order to rule out any serious medical conditions.

Symptoms and Signs

With palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, the symptoms are fairly obvious, and therein lies the potential for embarrassment for your child.  If your child’s hands and feet are sticky and sweaty when the temperature is not particularly warm or while they are not physically active, you may want to consider the possibility of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.

Treatment and Prevention

If your child occasionally has sweaty and/or smelly feet, but has not been diagnosed with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, there are some simple remedies that you can try.  Most importantly, make sure he has shoes that are not overly tight and allow air to circulate.  Wearing 100 percent cotton socks and using absorbent foot inserts can also help with your child’s comfort level.  Keep the feet clean and dry
regularly.

You can also try the following three simple remedies:

• Mix a basin with warm water and one cup of vinegar. Soak your child’s feet for 10 minutes.  Empy the basin and refill it with warm water and a cup of oatmeal. Crush the oats until the water becomes milky and have your child soak his feet for another 10 minutes.
• Brew a strong black tea and pour it into a basin. Cool it to room temperature.  Have your child soak his feet in it for 10-20 minutes.  Black tea contains tannins which kill the bacteria that causes sweaty and smelly feet.
• Rotate the shoes that your child wears so that your child’s shoes can air out.

If your child is diagnosed with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis by a doctor, there are several more extreme treatments. For instance, you might be prescribed one of the following three treatments:

• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate:a topical solution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate can help to decrease sweating by blocking the pores.  A strength of 10-25 percent is the standard
  dosage that will be applied to the soles of the foot for the time prescribed by your doctor.  It is generally well tolerated except for in those with extremely sensitive skin.
• Systemic medication: anticholinergic drugs and some anti-anxiety medications have been used to treat sweaty palms and feet, however this is not the preferred therapy for young children who are more sensitive to drug toxicity.
• Botox:  If other methods fail, Botox can be used reduce the activity of the sweat glands.  It is already FDA approved for excess sweating under the arms, and some doctors are beginning to use it for sweaty palms and feet, albeit off-label.  The issue with using Botox for the treatment of your child’s sweaty feet is that the injections are painful and expensive.  Some parents may not be comfortable with the idea of using a treatment on their child that is not approved by the FDA.

Bunions are not a foot problem that is simply limited to adults or women that wear high heels.  They can develop even in young children.  Certain factors may predispose your child to this uncomfortable foot condition.

Overview

A bunion occurs when the big toe is angled inward toward the rest of the toes.  Bunions are characterized by a large bump that protrudes out of the side of the foot.  This bump is the joint of the big toe that is being pushed awkwardly out of position.  Over time, the bunion can grow and become more painful as the bone enlarges and a fluid-filled sac begins to grow at the toe’s base.  For children and teens, a bunion can be particularly difficult to deal with because it often makes running, walking and playing a less comfortable and even painful experience.

Causes

While the exact cause of bunion formation is not completely understood, it seems to run in families.  Sometimes it can develop later in life due to wearing shoes that are too tight or improperly fitted.  If you have other foot issues such as flat feet or structural deformities you are more likely to have a bunion form at the base of the big toe.  A bunion can also develop due to over-use of the joint of the big toe (e.g. ballet dancers).

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms of bunions include a reddened area and/or a callous at the base of the big toe.  Does your child hate wearing shoes?  Your child may also feel pain on the big toe joint that feels worse when wearing shoes or when putting weight on the foot.  A tell-tale sign of a bunion, as mentioned previously, is the big toe turned inward at a sharp angle.

Treatment and Prevention

• Choice of Shoes: Simply changing the style of shoes that your child wears may be enough to prevent further damage and alleviate the pain.  For instance, if you child has a bunion, you will want to make sure that she is wearing a wide shoe that allows more room for the toes and doesn’t put pressure on the first joint of the big toe.
• Foot Devices: When wearing shoes, your child may need additional cushioning to reduce friction on the calloused part of the bunion.  Orthotics, whether over the counter or custom-molded, can help reduce the pain and prevent the bunion from getting larger.  Toe spacers can also provide relief and help correct the angle of the toe.  These toe spacers are worn while the child is asleep at night.
• Surgery: If all else fails, and your child is suffering from pain because of the bunion, there are over a hundred different types of surgical procedures to treat bunions.  The goal of the bunionectomy is to not only remove the extra bone causing the bump, but to straighten the toe back to its proper alignment.

The best way to reduce your chances of developing a bunion is to wear shoes that allow plenty of space for the toes.  Don’t compress the feet with pointy shoes and regularly check your child’s shoe size to ensure proper fit.

Clubfoot is a congenital defect that affects nearly 1 in 1000 births.  It’s characterized by a foot that turns inward or under at a severe angle. The name comes from the shape of a golf club head with its slightly angled appearance.  Children with untreated clubfeet may suffer from weakened leg muscles due to walking on the sides or top of the feet.  Foot pain from clubfoot can hinder walking in a child’s early years, so it is important to start treating this condition as soon as possible.

Causes

The cause of this deformity of the foot is not completely understood. There seems to be a genetic component, meaning if you or your spouse have had clubfoot, your chances of having a child with the same condition are high.

Of course, taking certain medications during pregnancy, drinking alcohol, smoking or being around second-hand smoke can increase the risk of not only clubfoot but birth defects across the board.

Additionally, it is possible to be caused by the position of the baby inside the womb.  Clubfoot can also be associated with other medical conditions, such as spina bifida, stroke or brain injury.  Therefore, if you child has clubfoot, please make sure to have your child examined for other medical conditions.

Symptoms/Signs

Signs of clubfoot include the foot being turned inward or at a severe angle. The foot or feet (it occurs in both feet in about 50% of cases) might also be smaller than normal.  In
addition, one foot or leg might be larger or longer than the other.

While clubfoot may be painless in a baby, it can lead to disability if left untreated and make it difficult to walk or run normally or wear regular shoes.

Treatment

Clubfoot is best treated early in the child’s life. Newborn babies have extremely pliable limbs at such an early stage in life, so adjusting the foot to the correct position is much easier at this time than later.  There are a few different methods used to treat clubfoot.

The Ponseti Method: In this technique, the child’s foot is stretched gently. Once in the correct position, the foot is put into a cast. The foot is placed into a new cast each week.

The French Method: This is similar to the Ponseti Method in that the foot is stretched and aligned to the right position. However, instead of a cast, adhesive tape is used to keep the foot straight and this is repeated daily.

Surgery: If conservative methods don’t work, surgery can be a last resort. Surgery for clubfoot is used to lengthen the tendons that are holding the foot in the awkward position. It will require your baby to wear a brace for an entire year, but the end result may lead to a significant correction of the clubfoot.

Finding the right shoes for a child with clubfoot is not only important for the child’s foot development but his self-esteem as well.  A properly fitting shoe can help your child to feel more comfortable with this condition.  Shoes for children with clubfeet can be fitted with lifts to even out the child’s gait. Clubfoot shoes can be made to fit feet
of irregular length. There are many more options for comfortable shoes for kids with clubfoot than there were in the past and many of them are stylish to boot. Dealing with clubfoot is certainly a challenge, but with the right resources, medical care and support your child can live an active, normal life.

So your child just made the team! He’s all excited and has made every single team practice when suddenly he starts to experience severe pain in his heel. Chances are your child may be suffering from a condition known as Sever’s Disease.

Overview

Sever’s Disease affects young children typically between the ages of 8 and 13. It doesn’t discriminate on gender lines, affecting both girls and boys who are physically active. In children, the heel bone hasn’t completelydeveloped, leaving the area more susceptible to injury. With Sever’s Disease, heel pain can occur in either one or both of your child’s heels. This foot pain is due to inflammation of the area where the Achilles tendon meets the heel bone. There may even be tiny fractures in the bone.

You might notice that your son or daughter is beginning to limp or complain of pain after physical activity. There’s no need to become overly alarmed. Sever’s Disease is not an extremely serious condition but it can be uncomfortable for a kid that’s used to running, jumping and playing.

Causes

Sever’s Disease is caused by when the heel bone grows more quickly than the leg muscles and tendons, thereby causing the muscles and tendons to become tight. When this occurs, pressure builds up on the growth plate of the heal bone which, in turn, causes swelling, pain and tenderness.

A flat foot or a high arch foot, short-leg syndrome (when one leg is shorter than the other), or a child being overweight or obsese, can also cause Sever’s Disease by putting additional strain on the growth plate of the heal bone.

Symptoms/Signs

Typical symptoms include pain in the heel, especially after playing sports, a period of physical activity or after standing for a long period of time.  Swelling and redness in the heel, limping, walking on the toes and pain when the heel is squeezed on both sides are all potential signs of Sever’s Disease.  While Sever’s Disease can’t be seen on an x-ray, your doctor may take x-rays to rule out other conditions, such as a fracture.

Treatment & Prevention

Your doctor will want to rule out other similar conditions like plantar fasciitis.  In general, plantar fasciitis pain gets better with more activity.  With Sever’s Disease, walking on the heel, running or any other sort of intense physical activity makes the pain worse.

With Sever’s Disease, your child will need to stay off the affected heel in order for the swelling and inflammation to subside.  Rest is really the best medicine.  With kids, this may be hard to do, but with a couple of movies and a good video game, you may be able to keep them off the painful heel long enough for it to start healing.  In addition to getting plenty of rest, your doctor may suggest that the area be iced up to 20 minutes several times during the day.  If needed, you can use medication like ibuprofen, such as Motrin, or acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, to address the discomfort.  Some physicians may even recommend a cast for the foot.  In about 2-8 weeks, most cases
of Sever’s Disease will be completely healed.

There are some precautions you and your child can take to reduce the chances of developing Sever’s Disease.  Stretching is very important for a growing child because the bones often grow at a much faster rate than the muscles and tendons, leaving these ligaments very tight.  Keeping these areas stretched and massaged can loosen the tension on the heel and foot.

Whether or not your child plays organized sports, it goes without saying that most kids are very active. Having proper support for the foot such as foot sole inserts, heel pads and well-made, properly fitted shoes can help to reduce foot pain and the stress put on the sensitive area of the heel.  Arch support for high arches can help to relieve the force on the heel as well.  For children that play sports, well padded, comfortable shoes are an absolute must to absorb shock and reduce the chance of injury.

Ingrown toenails are no fun, especially if you’re a child.  Learn how to get your child back on her feet in no time with these tips.

It’s hard to imagine how something so little could cause so much pain.  But for anyone who’s ever experienced an ingrown toenail, it’s not something to take lightly.  When your child has an ingrown toenail it can be especially distressing for you, the parent.  If your little one is experiencing foot pain due to an ingrown toenail there are steps you can take to help alleviate the pain and heal the area.

Overview

An ingrown toenail occurs when a portion of the nail grows sideways or inwards.  This can begin to put pressure on the surrounding skin and, in advanced cases, the nail may become completely embedded in the skin, inflamed and extremely painful.  While any toe can suffer from an ingrown toenail, this condition most often occurs in the big toe.

With small children, it’s important to check their feet when helping them put on their shoes and when bathing them, since they may or may not tell you there’s a problem until the ingrown toenail pain becomes more intense and they begin to limp on the affected foot.

Causes

There’s much you can do to keep onychocryptosis (the medical term for an ingrown toenail) from occurring in the first place. While this is likely not your child’s favorite activity, please make sure to keep your child’s nails trimmed to the proper length.

It’s important to clip the nails straight across instead of rounding off the edges.  Trimming the nail too low can also lead to infection, so it is vital to clip them not too short, not too long.  Fungal infections could also cause the nail to grow thicker and wider than the nail bed, thereby creating an ingrown toenail.  It is also possible to have a genetic predisposition to ingrown toenails if a child’s parents are predisposed to ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails can also be caused by ill-fitting shoes.  Children grow so fast that you may not even realize the shoes you just recently purchased are already too small.  Small shoes can push the toenail to grow in an irregular fashion so check the fit regularly and look for quality shoes that allow enough space for the toes.

Symptoms/Signs

Early symptoms of an ingrown toenail include a child complaining of pain in the toenail region, not wanting to wear shoes or limping.

An ingrown toenail may initially manifest itself as a red swollen patch of skin near the nail border.  Blisters, leaking pus or streaks of red around the toenail are tell-tale signs of an infected ingrown toenail.

Treatment

You can help your child feel more comfortable by having her soak her entire foot in warm, not hot, water for about 20 minutes at a time at least twice a day.  You can use plain water or mix a small amount of Epsom salts into the water.  Applying anti-bacterial ointment, such as Neosporin, to the affected area with a band-aid is recommended.  Medication like acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, may also help your child to feel more comfortable.  Keeping the foot out of shoes and socks for a while (or in sandals if shoes are needed) will keep pressure off the area and help decrease the foot pain your child is experiencing.

If the ingrown toenail is not thoroughly lodged into the nail, you can gently clip or file the nail away from the affected area.  A small amount of gauze or cotton can be placed under the edge of your child’s ingrown toenail to keep the nail from sticking sharply into the tender skin.

When to see a doctor?  If you see signs of an infection, including blisters, leaking pus or streaks of red around the toenail, visit your doctor.  Prescription oral antibiotics and topical antibiotics will fight the infection. A minor surgical procedure may be needed if the ingrown toenail is severe.  Attempting to treat it on your own may lead to serious complications.  If your child has nerve problems, diabetes or circulation issues, let a physician take care of the ingrown toenail to be on

Faded Glory – Boys’ Alec Sports Sandals (Sizes 12-4)

School is out and camp doesn’t begin til Monday. So, with a week off, we headed east to very hot Palm Springs for a few days. It was so nice to have nothing to do but veg by the pool, eat, relax and watch the food channel. We all love to watch it together.

During the day in Palm Springs it reached 113 degress.  It was too hot to be out in the early afternoon so we looked for indoor activites. Besides seeing Judy Moody, which just made me moody, we drove by a Walmart supercenter. Chacha ching! Dr. ShoeMom needs shoes to write about and my family needs a place with good AC.

Oh my, I was a kid in a candy store. I wanted to buy everything. Organic tank tops for $3.99, awesome sunglasses for $5.00, wines, cheeses, crackers, fabrics, home décor and there is even a beauty salon. I was losing my mind. We spent a couple hours there and I felt that I could have spent a couple of days.  Walmart, please consider building a adjoining hotel.

Okay, back to kids’ shoes and these are the ones. I think these boy sandals are great looking and comfortable for your son this summer. I love the army print because it’s neutral and matches almost everything. It’s a great shoe to wear to the beach and camp.

This shoe is made out of faux leather and closes with velcro. There is a cushioned insole and a non-marking, non-skid outsole.

Available at walmart.com and select Walmart stores. $9.00.

Sanuk Kids I’m Game (Sizes 10-6)

My husband lives in these shoes (not the zebra pattern, thank goodness) and he only cares about comfort (I try to help him in the style department but sometimes it just seems like a lost cause). I just found out they are making these in kid sizes and I am super excited. My daughter’s friend was wearing them in pink and informed me that she loves them and can wear them all day. Sanuks are the perfect summer camp shoe. Cute, stylish, cool, closed toe and comfy. I really want a pair too – they are sitting in my zappos shopping cart as I am writing this…

These loafer shoes are made out of canvas upper with frayed cotton detailing. It has a synthetic outsole that is light weight.  It closes with a hook and loop on the side of the shoe.

Available at zappos.com. $40.00.

Contramao Kids 185-1630 (Sizes 10-7)

I love this sandal and I especially love that they are made in Brazil. I also manufacture our Planet Flops in Brazil.  The quality really does show in this shoe. I showed them to my older daughter and her eyes nearly popped out of her head she loved them so much. I think even Suri (Katie and Tom Cruise’s daughter) and Danielle (my younger daughter’s 4 year old bff) would give up their heels for these. Please, for Dr. ShoeMom, give up the heels til you are 20. Thanks.

This shoe upper is made out of leather with a decorative bow on the side. There is a side zipper to put on and off easily. The sole is made out of rubber and is flexible.

Available at zappos.com. $54.00.

Deborah Sandal Natural Leather (Sizes 6-11)

I know, I know,I have to stop writing about kork-ease but I really just love them. They are too cute and comfy. I love all the styles and really fell head over heels (no pun intended) for these.  Althought they have a heel, they are still comfortable and I know with all the bell bottom jeans that have made a come back (bye, bye skinny jeans, hurray!) you will need a few pairs of wedges/heels. They are sold out in the popular sizes on most shoe websites but I did find them at jildor, so hurry before they are gone.

This shoe is made out of leather with an adjustable buckle closure. It is lined with leather and is cushioned for added comfort. The outsole is made out of rubber.

Available at jildor.com. $150.00.

Toddler Cars Light-Up Runner (Sizes 5-10)

I really do try and stay away but Payless really does it so right and affordable that I find myself there searching for cute comfy shoes. This time I found this cute Cars theme light up sneaker and just in time for the premiere of Cars 2.  My girls loved the first one and we are counting down the days for the sequel. I know kids just love shoes that light up.

This shoe is made out of man made materials. It has a cushiony collar, tongue and insole for added comfort. There is a nonmarking skid resistant outsole and the bottom lights up with every step.

Available at select Payless stores and payless.com.  $16.99 (orig. $22.99).