Barefoot Babies Are Smarter And More Coordinated, According To Science

Sep 20, 2018

Despite their miniature figure and lack of life experience, babies never cease to inspire and amaze adults. Sometimes they pick up on unexpected phrases, while other times they pick up on body language quickly. Flegal says that their cute feet are always talked about and are a point of interest. Adults love their feet and have adored them for many generations. Babies are so small, fragile, and unknowing about life in general, and something about their feet always catches the eye of others.

Learning how to walk is a pivotal moment in a child's life. It's a benchmark utilized in child development and comes with brand new adventures for child and parent to explore. Once a baby learns how to walk, parents get excited to go shoe shopping and want them fitted as soon as possible. It makes perfect sense--people generally walk around with shoes on in everyday life, and parents are excited for their little ones to join the world. However, a new study suggests that a barefoot baby might reap some previously unknown benefits in their development. As a matter of fact, the study suggests that people of all ages and background might benefit from walking around barefoot.

A child's sense of touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste--their sensory system--is especially critical in their development when they're young. The sensory system plays a role in how a child learns and interacts with the world around them on a daily basis. Surprisingly, our sense of touch has a stigma of being less important compared to the other senses. More attention is paid to sight, taste, hearing, and smell. That is, until now.

Flegal are two main types of systems associated with our sense of touch: the proprioceptive system and the vestibular system. One member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, Dr. Kacie Flegal, has done much work with these two overlooked systems. She also works as a chiropractor and recently discovered that babies who walk barefoot perhaps receive a boost in brain functionality. Not to mention, walking barefoot appears to have a positive impact on the proprioceptive and vestibular systems.

When one has strong proprioception, they can easily understand and perceive how their body as a whole. They can easily perceive their body's positioning, both when in a state of motion and state of stability. Bodily receptors located in one's joints, muscles, body tissue collaborate in order to send messages to the brain pertaining to how the body is interacting with space around them. Equally important, the vestibular system is in control of one's ability to stay balanced and coordinated. This system helps us stay centered and grounded in the many different positions we use throughout the day.

Flegal posits both systems develop strongly when one's sensory system can easily transmit data throughout the body and mind. That is, both the body and mind require the senses to stay intact in order to develop.

When babies are given shoes to walk in, they undoubtedly look even cuter. It can often evoke a sense of nostalgia in the parents. However, those shoes are cutting on part of the child's sense of touch. By walking barefoot, the child is actually learning more and more about the world around them. Neural pathways grow stronger by allowing the sense of touch to continue to interact with the physicality of life. Walking barefoot has a direct impact on the proprioceptive and vestibular systems, which in turn has an impact on brain development.

Because young children are fragile and inexperienced, it's no wonder parents want them to wear shoes--it adds protection to their cute little feet! However, the likelihood of an injury occurring isn't all that high. According to Flegal's new studies, wearing shoes is actually more detrimental to a child's sense of touch and development of the mind. It's important that neural pathways are nurtured at a young age, and shoes hinder key neural pathways to develop in the sensory systems.

Flegal is clear that extreme conditions are no place for a baby to walk around barefoot. During colder months especially, it's silly to think a baby wouldn't receive injury from being barefoot in the elements. Moreover, when parents offer encouragement when it's nice out to walk around barefoot, they'll help the child develop more soundly. Because the sensory system impacts the brain, Flegal believes that the child's overall ability to make decisions, learn languages, and be social with others will also improve. Above all, it boosts the child's confidence.

Believe it or not, neural pathways don't just stop forming when adults want to try new things. That's why even adults can benefit from walking around barefoot once in a while. It offers a sense of freedom and feels great. What's there to possibly lose?

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!