Should Little Girls Wear High Heels?

(CBS)  There is a growing trend of little girls wearing high heels. However, there are many health-related concerns that have parents trying to steer their kids away from these fashions.

Dana Points, editor in chief of Parents magazine, appeared on "The Early Show" to discuss these concerns, and how to talk to your child about high heels.

"Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez remarked that little girls often like to play princess in high heels, and if it were up to them they would stay in their costumes all day long.

"We really have to watch them and say, 'no,'" she said.

"They idolize Cinderella," Points said. "Their mommies wear heels. … So it's no surprise little girls want to wear heels. The key is it's like for dress-up at this age -- and really for many years."

Points added wearing heels at an early age is also a health concern.

"At the age of 5 and on up until 10, 12, the bones are still forming. The print is forming," she said. "You can get some shortening of the tendons in the heels. So you really don't want to let them spend more than a little time every week in some kind of heel."

For health reasons, Points said girls should avoid heels until age 12 or 13.
"I know that seems like a long time if you have a 6-year-old who is desperate for wear heels but this too shall pass," she said.

Rodriguez pointed out that to combat this problem is involve your daughter in picking out her own shoes. However, Rodriguez said when she goes to the store, she can't find shoes these days without heels for little girls.

"I think you kind of have to pre-shop a little and then give them a choice," Points suggested. "And look for other ways that things can be kind of snazzy, whether it's colors or clip-ons or things like that. So just don't give them the choice of heels from the get-go. Say, 'We're going to the store, we're not buying heels."

Rodriguez added, "And don't let them see pictures of Suri Cruise."
Suri has been seen in several photos wearing child-size high heel shoes.
Another way to dissuade your child from wearing high heels, Points said is to point out dangers and restrictions.

But can really do that with a small child?

Points said, "You can say to a really young child, 'You're not going to be able to run and chase and play with your friends,' because at that age if somebody wanting to play tag, they're off like a shot. So just say to them, 'You won't be able to keep up. Why don't you wear the sneakers today?'"

[griz326]

Parents need to be more responsible. Girls shouldn't be allowed to wear high heels until they are in junior or senior year...and then only for special occasions. And I say that even though I love what spike heels do for a woman's presentation...key word there is WOMAN.

[bundye]

Girls ought not be allowed to wear heels until well into the teen years. At 12 or 13 they are not intelligible teens knowing what is good for them and what is not. The decision is up to the parent and hopefully the parent will have good judgment. Don't let your teen age girls grow up too fast. They will have time to be an adult.

[lpgideon]

Funny thing. I am now 82 and male. That's not really funny. what I wanted to say is that as far as I remember back in the good ole' days, girls used to wear high heals on special occasions in High school, and it seemed mostly to make them taller when close to their boyfriend.

[lpgideon]

Funny thing. I am now 82 and male. That's not really funny. what I wanted to say is that as far as I remember back in the good ole' days, girls used to wear high heals on special occasions in High school, and it seemed mostly to make them taller when close to their boyfriend.

[barbaram99]

In my day there were certain clothes ete that were for adults..I was raised by seniors in foster homes. They bought the things I wore at home and school. As blind person I could never see what others were wearing..The issue was dealt with..Foster Mum made the rules clear..I never broke them..I am 55..
I was the only legally blind student at the schools I went to. Sighted children want to fit in yet their care givers should know certain things are off limits.. No, if and or but..I have wide feet..I can't wear shoes that hurt my feet..There are ladies that have wide feet..I still stick to my dress code..Common sense tells us little girls should not wear heels..The problem is they want to grow up too fast..I don't see how they can safely walk in them. I perfer flats..I am appalled they make heels for minor girls.. The girl will use the line that is old *My friend wears*. Yer not wearing that I was told. Issue closed. I was young girl years ago. Parents give in just to stop the whinning..Its not wonder there are bossy kids. They know how to pust the right bottons as the saying goes..My late Dad was a good man..He told a child to sit that child did so.I knew Dad'S parental voice..He had 2 girls and 2 boys..He used the same voice for both genders..He meant business as a Dad..Dad did not raise me..They broke up when I was under 5. Parents buy the children's clothes and foot wear and they should know certain things are off limits.

[cidaia]

High heels aren't good for little girls. (Or big girls either, but grown women, unlike children, are able to weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision).

You could set a good example for your daughter by only wearing heels for special occasions, and clearly marking them as "grown up" occasions - so that your daughter understands heels to be part of a special garb that she isn't ready for yet.

Or, of course, you could simply say "no high heels til you're (pick an age)", and MEAN IT. You're not really obligated to give any reason at all why that is. When I was a kid, most girls were told that they could not wear certain types of clothes (coded adult), wear makeup, get piercings, etc. until they were 13 or 14 or 16 or whatever, and that was just the way it was.

[rwsmith29456]

The health concerns are just as applicable to adult women. High heels that cram your foot into the toe of the shoe can't be good for you. It's funny, I know one woman who wears spike heels everywhere and it's as natural for her as walking in Nikes.

[staycalm]

Tom Cruise and his stupid, low-class wife should be arrested for child abuse. What kind of a mother would put her little girl in high heels? One who wants her to become the victim of a pedophile? One who wants her growing feet to be deformed for life? Some people have no sense (in Cruise's case, no talent either) and shouldn't reproduce.

[3:10 to Yuma]

If a person instantly equates high heels with 'strippers' and 'hookers' or having 'low self-esteem' then that person is in dire need of professional help. High heels are a common fixture in the modern woman's wardrobe much like skirts and sweaters and jackets. Leave the vulgar sexual-fixations to the shoe fetishists and psychopaths and let the little girls have fun playing dress-up. Obviously the well-being of their feet needs attention - I'm not suggesting that the girls should wear these shoes for extended periods but I assure you, little girls' minds are not filled with the sex-obsessed BS that permeates our culture. Calm down and see if you can peer at the world without sex-tinted glasses.

[displeased]

And why are heels a common fixture in a women's wardrobe? Heels certainly aren't practical and they can't be comfortable, standing on your toes all day. The only purpose I can think of wearing heels is to look sexy. And of course little girls minds aren't filled with sex-obsessed BS. They're simply imitating their parents or what they see on tv.

[3:10 to Yuma]

If a person instantly equates high heels with 'strippers' and 'hookers' or having 'low self-esteem' then that person is in dire need of professional help. High heels are a common fixture in the modern woman's wardrobe much like skirts and sweaters and jackets. Leave the vulgar sexual-fixations to the shoe fetishists and psychopaths and let the little girls have fun playing dress-up. Obviously the well-being of their feet needs attention - I'm not suggesting that the girls should wear these shoes for extended periods but I assure you, little girls' minds are not filled with the sex-obsessed BS that permeates our culture. Calm down and see if you can peer at the world without sex-tinted glasses.

[cidaia]

People associate little girls wearing heels with strippers and hookers because, right up there with makeup or sexy cocktail dresses, it is not age-appropriate and it sends inappropriate "sexy" messages.

Lots of things that are part of a woman's life are not appropriate for little girls. There's nothing wrong with a child playing dress-up, but if you take your child outside of your home wearing heels, then you're dressing up your child in clothing coded as "sexy", and that's inappropriate.