(And even if you do get in, most UPK programs are only half-day, so basically useless for working parents.)

My experience is that it makes full-day care cheaper, but of course I've only worked at places that do a lot of subsidized care anyway.

FWIW, I had prescription orthotics as a kid and all they did was make my arches hurt and cost a lot of money. If Abby's gait isn't causing her any pain, I wouldn't worry about it.

Looking at her shoes, it seems as if she rolls in, but heavily from the outsides of her heels.

Because Lewis has the same issue, he's all, "Oh, it'll be fine," but you know, he's never had to learn how to walk in heels, plus, for such a smart guy, it hasn't yet occurred to him that the knee and back problems he's starting to have might be associated with this.

I think I will talk to the doctor about it.

If Abby's gait isn't causing her any pain, I wouldn't worry about it.

It really hasn't to this point, Jess, but she's starting to get interested in shoes with a little more of a heel or a wedge and like I said, yesterday's pair seemed to really emphasize the awkwardness of her gait.

he's never had to learn how to walk in heels,

Well, no one *has* to learn how to walk in heels, do they?

I think orthotic inserts she can put in her shoes would probably help.

Some sneakers (New Balance comes to mind since those are what I wear, but I know there are other brands) are designed to stabilize the feet of people who pronate in either direction. Of course, that only helps if/when she wears sneakers.

Barb, does she have low arches, too?

Overpronates (rolls in) or underpronates (rolls out)? I'm kind of duck-footed, and I underpronate -- if you look at the soles of my shoes, the back outer corner is worn down more than the rest.

I do this as well. I'm not sure if that's contributed to any of the problems I have with my feet, ankles and knees. I suspect that was more a result of having flat feet, and doing a lot of lifetime walking without any kind of arch support. That, and a bad sprain a couple of decades (!) ago, early signs of arthritis, and a stubborn streak when it comes to walking even when it hurts.

This xkcd is, IMHO, an example of a bad calculus joke: [link]

Well, no one *has* to learn how to walk in heels, do they?

No, they don't. But at this point, she wants to learn at some point in the future. If there's something we can do now, especially while she's still growing, that will contribute to her overall health and also make learning to walk in heels a little bit less of a pain, if she chooses to do so, then I'm for it.

And on a different note, last night at her middle school orientation, I saw some scary, scary girl students-- some were cheerleaders, some looked like roadhouse chicks. My brain was spinning from the dichotomy.

Hil's quick test for heel-wearing stability, totally non-medical: have her stand on one foot without holding onto anything for balance. If she can balance fine, probably no problem. If she's wobbling from her upper body, with her foot and ankle staying relatively still, probably no problem. If her foot and ankle are twisting and wobbling around, wearing heels might be difficult.

(My sister and I both walk with our toes pointed out like that, but she can wear heels with no problem, because her feet and ankles have enough stability to stay where she puts them.)