High Heels For Children?

It would be hard to find a woman, even in and amongst the most practical or sporty types, that doesn't own one pair of high-heeled shoes. High heels, despite maybe being a little less comfortable, make women look taller, make the legs look attractive and can the perfect compliment to a pretty outfit. It's generally accepted that high heels express femininity and many men confess to liking the way their partners look when wearing a pair.

Women wearing high heels is nothing new, however there have been several reports lately about some high street stores selling high heeled shoes for children and that means increasingly younger children. The trend seems to have been started by the so-called 'celebrity culture' with Suri Cruise the four year old daughter of actors Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise photographed wearing tiny pairs of shoes with high heels. And with many people wanting to copy the latest celebrity trends it should come as no surprise to find out that the demand for high heels for tots is out there.

This trend has sparked debates about high heels for children with some people feeling that we are forcing children to grow up too quickly and other people thinking that high heels for kids are just a bit of harmless fun for children to dress up in at special occasions.

But the 'moral' and 'social' aspects of children wearing high heels aren't the only cause for concern for some foot professionals, including chiropodists. It's the long-term damage that could be caused to children if they wear the shoes for long periods of time. The foot problems women experience when wearing high heels will also apply to children, as high heels make the foot turn in more than it should. This suggests that what could be seen as a harmless bit of fun could cause metatarsal pain, general foot pain and even bunions in children and in later life.