Shouldn't babies come out and get some fresh air after playing all day? But as soon as grandparents saw their baby barefoot, they began to mutter: socks can't be taken off, cold starts from the feet, barefoot will catch a cold.
Does this situation also occur in your family? Does barefoot really make children sick? Let's first listen to the pediatrician's statement: Actually, it is normal for babies to have slight coldness in their hands and feet. The hands and feet of humans are themselves organs that dissipate heat. Children, due to their faster metabolism, are more likely to experience coldness in their hands and feet compared to adults. However, this "coolness" is not the standard for judging whether a child is warm or cold.
Should I wear those socks? Just like the elderly say, what if I catch a cold? Indeed, the function of wearing socks is the same as wearing gloves, which is to keep warm. Since it is to keep warm, if it is not cold, then you can choose not to wear them.
Many times, when we touch our baby's hands and feet, they feel a slight chill, and we unconsciously want to add clothes to them. Actually, this is unnecessary. The best place to judge whether the baby is cold is after touching the neck.
Because the baby's circulatory system is still developing, blood will first supply the most important internal organs, ensuring that they have sufficient nutrition, and naturally the hands and feet will be taken care of last. This phenomenon will continue for a period of time until the baby moves more and more, and blood circulation will improve.
Baby barefoot actually has many benefits!
1. Barefoot can enhance physical fitness
In foreign kindergartens, it is common to see groups of babies jogging barefoot around the playground or hallway under the guidance of teachers, which is the famous "barefoot education". Not only is it beneficial for foot blood circulation, improving resistance and cold resistance, but it can also prevent diseases such as colds or diarrhea caused by catching a cold.
Practice has proven that after a period of barefoot training, the vast majority of babies' physical fitness improves, their height and weight increase, and even colds rarely occur.
2. Barefoot stimulation for tactile sensory development
Touch is the most fundamental and influential sensory system in humans. The development of touch can enhance babies' ability to distinguish and discern, help them recognize the shape, size, texture, and weight of objects, and is also an important foundation for their future cognitive development. Research has shown that children who frequently engage in barefoot activities can stimulate and excite the nerve endings and receptors in the soles of their feet. Through the feedback effect of the central nervous system, they can regulate the functions of organs including the brain, thereby improving the sensitivity and memory of the brain's thinking. This way, the child will also be smarter. During pleasant weather seasons, babies can also play barefoot outdoors, feeling sand, grass, water... By coming into contact with objects of different textures, temperatures, and hardness, babies can stimulate the rich tactile nerves in their feet, promote sensory and brain development, enhance memory, and improve body coordination. Sensory integration training that can be done at home without spending money.
3. Barefoot is more conducive to learning to walk. Barefoot is beneficial for babies to learn to walk. For babies who are just starting to walk, barefoot can help their toes better grasp the ground, not only avoiding slipping, but also helping them learn to master balance.
4. Barefoot is beneficial for the development of babies' feet. When barefoot, babies' little feet are not bound by shoes and socks, and can grow and develop more naturally. Walking barefoot can also strengthen the arch of the foot, exercise the muscles and ligaments of the baby's feet, and increase the flexibility of the ankle. It can also prevent babies from having flat feet, inversion, and eversion.
At the same time, there are also some things that parents need to pay attention to
1. Bare feet indoors, pay attention to anti slip
When babies bare their feet, they must ensure that the ground is safe, there are no foreign objects, and there are no water stains. Laying crawling mats or something is also acceptable
2. Barefoot is not recommended in air-conditioned rooms
It is even less recommended to turn on the air conditioning in hot weather and have tiled floors at home. Because cold air is heavier than hot air, it can cause cold air to flow to the ground and hot air to float on the roof. Ceramic tile floors will be cooler, so try not to let babies step on the floor barefoot.
3. If the baby has diarrhea, do not barefoot. If the baby steps on the ground for a while, they will experience diarrhea and diarrhea. Parents should also not let the baby step on the ground barefoot. You can lay a crawling mat for the baby to play with.
4. If a child doesn't like to go barefoot, don't force them to do so. Not all babies like to go barefoot. If a baby is resistant to going barefoot, then we can help them put on small socks for comfort.
So, don't worry about whether or not to wear socks, let your baby crawl and walk freely at home!