Health Tip: Buying Back-to-School Shoes

Help ensure a great fit

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(HealthDay News) -- Back-to-school time means lots of preparation for parents, including the prospect of buying shoes for their children.

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The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these shoe-buying tips:

• Always have your child's feet measured before you buy shoes. Children's feet grow quickly, so you shouldn't rely on a previous measurement.
• Opt for new shoes instead of accepting hand-me-downs. That will help ensure a better fit and avoid spreading germs, such as the fungus that causes athlete's foot.
• Inspect the heels of your child's shoes to check for uneven wear, which may indicate a foot problem.
• If feet aren't the same size, buy larger so as not to squeeze the bigger foot.
• Don't buy shoes that aren't comfortable. There should be no reason to "break in" a new pair of shoes.

-- Diana Kohnle