Accessorize and Next slammed for selling high-heel shoes for girls as young as THREE
Parenting groups have criticised top retailers for selling high-heeled shoes for girls as young as three, claiming they encourage the sexualisation of children.
Chiropodists have also warned that wearing heels at such a young age could cause long-term health problems.
Accessorize and Next were among the High Street stores stocking the fashionable footwear yesterday, which has been made popular by Suri Cruise.
Suri is often spotted wearing miniature high heels - but parenting groups say they sexualise children, while experts say they could be damaging to their bodies
The four-year-old daughter of Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, is often photographed wearing gold dancing shoes with a two-inch heel.
Accessorize, which is owned by the Monsoon clothing brand, was yesterday selling in one of its stores a pair of 25 cha-cha-cha heels.
The shoes, which form part of the brands partywear range and are available in most of its chain of shops, start at a size seven, which would fit a three-year-old.
Other heels being sold at Monsoon outlets include ivory beaded, sequin trimmed and glitter cutwork shoes, all with a two-inch heel. Clothing chain Next also stock three types of heeled sandals in silver in a size nine, which is usually worn by four-year-olds.
Parents groups urged retailers to stop stocking clothing that encourages children to grow up too fast.
Rita OReilly, of Parentline, said: Parents need to say No. A child should be dressed! as a ch ild.
Heels on the high streets: The 'cha cha cha' shoes are on sale at Accessorize
'Parents are dressing their children as adults if they are putting them in high heels. I wouldnt consider it appropriate. We all wore our mothers heels which is fine.
Putting children in adult clothing can sexualise them and make them grow up before their time.
Also if you put a young child in heels then they are not able to swing on swings and skip, and other things children naturally do.
Dr Joseph Kelly, of the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists of Ireland, warned heels were likely to lead to problems later in life because they change the way weight is distributed over the foot.
In heel wearers, weight is transferred to the ball of the foot and toes instead of being distributed evenly. This can lead to calf and tendon muscles shortening. Dr Kelly said: The likelihood of falling or twisting ankles may be greater.
The room in the toe box of the shoe may squash the toes as the foot is tipped forwards to the front of the shoe increasing the risk of lesser toe deformity, abnormal nail conditions and calluses.
These shoes should carry a parental advisory label that says these are costume dress and not for everyday or all-day wear. But the responsibility must fall to the parent to look after the foot health of their children.
A spokesman for Monsoon and Accessorize said that heeled childrens shoes in their outlets were for fancy dress purposes only and not for everyday wear.
He added that this was made clear in the way the shoes were marketed by the brands childrens range, Accessorize Angels.
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