When can my daughter wear high heels?

What heels do to a growing foot

Feet keep developing into the mid-to-late teens, with growth plates in the foot and ankle closing at different times. Regular heel wear before that shortens the calf muscles and Achilles tendon, shifts weight onto the forefoot, and increases the risk of ankle sprains — which are the commonest injury from heels at any age.

Longer-term, habitual heel wear is associated with bunions, forefoot pain, knee and lower-back strain, and toe deformities. None of that is caused by one evening at a wedding; it is caused by regular wear.

The other risk is immediate and simple: a teenager unpractised in heels, on marble floors or a mandap staircase, falls. Ankle fractures in wedding season are not rare.

A workable rule

Under about twelve: no heels beyond a small block heel of a centimetre or two for a function, and flat shoes for everything else.

Twelve to fifteen: an occasional heel for a wedding or a party is reasonable — keep it under about five centimetres, with a block heel or wedge rather than a stiletto, a strap across the foot, and a pair of flats in the bag.

Sixteen and above: her choice, with the same advice any adult should follow — not for a full day, not for walking distances, and not on stairs she has not practised on.

At every age: school shoes are flat, and sport shoes are proper sport shoes. Growing feet spend most of their hours in those two pairs, and that is where the damage or the protection actually happens.

Buying and wearing them well

Fit first: measured in the evening when feet are largest, a thumb's width at the toe, and no slipping at the heel. Ill-fitting shoes cause more problems than heel height.

Choose block heels, wedges or platforms over thin stilettos — the wider base is significantly more stable. A strap across the instep keeps the foot in place and reduces the claw-toe grip that causes pain.

Practise at home before the event, on the actual floor type where possible. And carry flats — the standard Indian wedding involves several hours and a great deal of standing.

Watch for the signals to stop: pain during or after wear, numbness, blisters that keep recurring, or ankle rolling. Pain in a growing foot is not something to push through.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor for: persistent foot, ankle, knee or back pain; an ankle injury with swelling, inability to bear weight or a popping sensation at the time; numbness or tingling in the toes; a bunion or a toe that is deviating; or heel pain that is worse in the morning.

Also worth an assessment: a teenager who is regularly in heels and now cannot stand comfortably flat-footed, which suggests the calf has shortened and needs stretching work.

This article is general information, not medical advice, and is no substitute for personal medical advice. For any decision about your or your child's health, please consult your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Q: The whole family expects her to wear heels for the wedding. — Offer a middle option rather than a refusal: a low block heel or an embellished flat, which are widely available and photograph the same. Most of the pressure disappears when there is an alternative that looks dressed-up.

Q: Do heels stunt growth? — No, they do not affect height. What they affect is the muscles, tendons and joints of the foot and leg, and only with regular wear.

Q: My daughter wants to practise for a school function. — Reasonable, and the practice is the safety measure. Keep the height low, practise on the actual surface, and keep flats to change into.

Q: What about boys and cuban heels or platform shoes? — The same physics applies. The advice is identical: occasional is fine, daily is not, and stability beats height.