There is so much involved when planning for your first child that it can be overwhelming to cover everything before the baby comes! With so much planning to do and so little time, we thought it would be helpful to go over our favorite tip when going over what to look out for as your new addition grows at home. Your baby’s health overall is important, but taking a close look at their whole body is something that can be glossed over – especially when it comes to their feet, ankles, and toes. The best habit you can develop isn’t just to snuggle up as often as you can while they’re still tiny but to keep a close eye on how they change physically over time.

Here some important signs to look for when it comes to baby’s feet, ankles, and toes:

• Discoloration in the toenails or skin on the feet
• No response to the physical touch of the feet
• Baby avoiding anything touching their feet at all
• Swelling or decreased mobility of their feet and ankles
• Scrunched or cramped looking toes
• Slow toenail growth or no growth at all

Peeping in on your baby’s toes daily can help avoid letting one of these 6 warning signs silently developing or worsening. It’s so much fun to play and bond with your baby, you can even incorporate these feet, ankle, and toe check-ups during diaper changes, bathing, or snuggle time. This can mean the difference between your baby later on developing issues like bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, or plantar fasciitis, and having healthy, happy feet and ankles. If and when anything catches your eye, be sure to reach out to Dr. Lily Khavari at Carrollton Foot Center. It’s never too early to start a relationship between your child and a trusted, kid-friendly podiatrist! Call us today at (469) 998-3668 to schedule your consult.