Vital: Your kids' health - Help put their best feet forward.

WINTER is upon us and many parents will be thinking of buying their kids boots or sturdy shoes to get them through the worst of the weather.

But, although warm, dry feet are important, it is equally necessary to make sure the footwear fits properly.

It's tempting to buy cheaper boots or shoes, but if they don't fit properly your child will pay the price in later life.

"You get what you pay for," points out Gordon Watt, lecturer in podiatry at Glasgow Caledonian University. "Children's feet are a different shape from adults and good manufacturers recognise that and make their shoes accordingly.

"If the shoe shape is wrong and it fits badly, it will lead to problems. Feet are the foundation of the body and, if they're not right, the rest of the body will suffer."

Having healthy feet is crucial when you consider the average person will walk the equivalent of at least three times around the world in their lifetime.

And, although babies cannot walk, good footcare begins from the day they are born.

The first step is to make sure all the babygrows fit properly and they are not cramped in the foot area. Also take care with bootees.

"If the bootees are open weave, be careful their toes don't get tangled as this will restrict their circulation," warns Gordon.

Shoes are not required until the child can walk properly outdoors and, until then, socks are all that are needed.

"What they do not need are pram shoes," says Gordon. "They're not going to be going for a walk round their pram and are best avoided."

Save your money until shoes are necessary because the longer feet are left alone, the better.

When your child can walk, take them to a shoe specialist, get them measured by a trained fitter and do that until their feet stop growing.

Beware also the hidden menace of badly fitting socks.

Gordon says: "You may have shoes fitting properly then undo all the good work with badly fitting socks."

Toddlers who dress themselves can also be a bit of a problem.

Just as harmful as tight socks are socks that are too big. They take up all the growing room in the shoe and the toes end up cramped.

So make sure both socks and shoes fit properly and, if buying boots, remember the lining can take up a fair amount of space so check there is room left for your child's toes. Linings can also make feet sweat so keep the boots in a warm place overnight to dry out.

Here is a guide to buying shoes for children drawn up by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists: # Have feet measured for length and

width# Ask if the assistant is a trained shoe fitter. # A newly fitted shoe should be approximately 12-16mm longer than the longest toe.

# Avoid slip-on shoes. Shoes should be held onto the foot with laces, straps or Velcro fastenings.

# Heel height should be no more than four centimetres.

# The heel should have a broad base and be made from a shock-absorbing material. # Natural materials such as leather are best. # The toe area of the shoe should be foot-shaped and deep enough to allow the toes to move freely and not be squashed. # The shoes should fit exactly round the heel

# For more information go to the society's website on feetforlife.org. To find a trained shoe fitter, contact the Children's Foot Health Register on 01295 738726 or on the internet on shoe-shop.org.uk