Health Tips for August 22

Health Tip: Buying Back-to-School Shoes

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

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.

Health Tip: Back to School, Back to Sleep

The end of summer signals back to school. And preparing for the school-year routine means getting into a back-to-school sleep schedule.

Children aged 6 to 9 require about 10 hours of sleep each night, and older children need at least nine hours, the Federal Citizen Information Center says. It offers these suggestions for making sure children get enough sleep:

• Create a regular bedtime schedule, and make sure your child sticks to it.
• Make sure your child avoids large amounts of food just before it's time to sleep.
• Don't let your child have anything with caffeine at least six hours before bedtime.
• After dinner, allow for play and relaxation time to begin winding down.
• Create a bedtime routine that's relaxing and calming for your child.