Babies with Flat Feet

Many babies appear to have flat feet when they are born. There is an extra layer of padding, making the arches less visible. As a baby grows, the arches may not appear distinctive, giving the impression of flat feet. Some parents will seek out corrective shoes, when in fact the child’s feet will probably fix themselves.

In a recent study, 800 children were followed, and at 3 years old, 54 percent had flat feet. By age six, only 24 percent still had flat feet. Dr. John Purvis, an orthopedic surgeon in Jackson, Mississippi states, “Most children have some degree of ‘flat-foot’ until the age of 4 or 5, but almost all outgrow that by the age 10 to 12.”