Greetings!
A very BIG welcome to our first edition of Tykes n Tots Newsletter!
We trust that it will be interesting and informative to you. Of course, suggestions and feedback are most welcome.
It is said “Behind every successful man is a woman”, likewise, “Behind every happy family is a daddy” - the man who has been quietly (for some) or actively (for most) supporting his wife emotionally, physically, mentally, financially etc. So HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, all daddies! Keep up your good work!
cheers.
Felicia
in this issue
- Gaia Natural Baby Products
- Smileys
- Kidz Say…
- Cinderella Shoes - Getting the Right Fit
- Father’s Day Contest - Daddy & Me Look-A-Like
Presenting Gaia Natural Baby Products
Introducing Gaia Natural Baby Products - the most pure, gentle and effective natural skin care range that is suitable for the most sensitive skins including those affected by eczema and other skin irritations.
Presenting Smileys
Check out Shoo Shoos toddler line - Smileys! They’re made with the same super-soft leather, and have a lightweight rubber sole stamped with a smiley-face so our little tots leave a trail of smiles wherever they go!
Sales & Promotions
Come see our latest promotion range for good bargains!
Check out our range of Shoo Shoo infant shoes
Kidz Say…
“The pen is mightier than the pencil…” submitted by Mikayla, 4 years old.
If your little tykes n tots have said something hilarous, do send them to us at felicia@tykesntots.com.
Cinderella Shoes - Getting the Right Fit
Your child is ready for shoes when he starts to walk. It is vital for them to be able to walk barefoot steadily before they start wearing shoes. This age varies from child to child but should be between 11 – 18 months old.
When they first start walking indoors, you could start them off on socks with a non-slip base or soft leather shoes. This is because toddlers depend on the sensation and feedback from their feet in order to position their feet on the ground. You will also notice that toddlers will claw their toes more in order to get a better grip of the ground. This phenomenon decreases as the toddler grows and his gross motor ability improves.
When your child starts to be more steady and is ready to walk outdoors, they can start to wear shoes. Although it is best to wear shoes if your child is walking on hard surfaces, he should be encouraged to walk barefoot on soft ground such as sand or grass to encourage the development of the foot muscles.
Depending on how active your child is, you may want to have 1-2 pairs of shoes for sports and running around ( to be rotated on alternate days ) and 1 pair of sport sandals.
A good shoe should have the following features: -
- Heel counter should be firm
- Toe box should be high (the child should be able to wriggle their toes when wearing them)
- Foot should be well strapped into the shoe either by a Velcro strap or buckles
- Internally, there shouldn’t be any rough seams or edges which could cause calluses and blisters
- Soles should be flat and anti-slip (no high heels!!!!!)
- The upper of the shoe should be made of a breathable material such as leather
To ensure that you have the right size, always buy shoes in the evening or late afternoon. At home, get your child to step on a piece of paper and draw round the foot. This is the shape of the weight bearing foot. Cut this out and use it as a template. At the shoe shop, place this template into the shoe. If the edges crumple up, then the shoes are too small.
It is always best to go shoe shopping with the child to ensure that the fit is right. After your child has put on the shoe, ensure that there is about 0.5 cm between end of shoe and longest toe. The width must be as wide as the broadest part of the forefoot.As your child is walking, the heel should not be slipping out of the heel counter.
Wearing shoes too big may cause your child to walk clumsily and trip often. Conversely, shoes that are too tight will cause blisters, calluses, in-grown toe nails and inhibit growth if worn for long hours.
At about 18 months, you may need to buy bigger shoes every 3 months. The rate of growth slows down as the child gets older and you may find that you will only need to buy bigger shoes every 5-6 months when the child reaches the age of 3 years. Rate of development differs between boys and girls (boys tend to develop physically at a slower rate.)
It is not good to wear hand-me-down shoes as the shoe will mould itself into the shape of the first wearer’s feet. This would be different from the 2nd wearer and may cause blisters/ calluses in the 2nd wearer.
You may want to bring your child to a Podiatrist for a foot assessment if he is excessively clumsy, trips often, has feet that are pointing inwards, or if he is unwilling to walk and wants to be carried all the time (a child may not be able to verbalise foot pain and may show this by simply refusing to walk!)
Written by:
Malia Ho, Podiatrist, The Foot Practice @ Singapore Sports Medicine Centre, Tel: 6737 1000
Father’s Day Contest: Daddy & Me Look-A-Like
Calling all “chip of the old block” and “mould imprints” of daddy, come submit your photographs to felicia@tykesntots.com by 30th June 2009. Winner of this contest will be published in the next issue of the Newsletter and win a gorgeous pair of Shoo Shoo infant shoes.
Contact Details
Tel: (65) 9009 7743
Fax: (65) 6343 6628
Email: felicia@tykesntots.com
Website: http://www.tykesntots.com