Bracing with BnB can be difficult at first but with the proper fit and brace set up it doesn't have to be. For proper fit and to learn how to achieve that, follow the techniques shown on the How to Put BnB on a Wiggly Baby page. For help with sores and blisters you're in the right place.
Sores & Blisters - What is the difference?.
Blisters are caused by friction, and friction is the result of movement.
Movement occurs when the shoes are not properly tightened.
The shoes must be very, very tight to prevent any movement whatsoever. This is critical to preventing the movement that causes the heel to move and rub against the surface of the shoe.
It's going to have to be tighter than you feel is tight, and this will feel very wrong to parents to tighten the shoes enough to stop the movement, but it must be done. Being able to get past our motherly instincts to protect our tiny infants and make the shoes tight enough to prevent these dastardly blisters is hard, but it must be done.
Blisters occur on the heel and are the result of movement and loose shoes. This is a constant and is not variable. It doesn't take much movement at all to cause a blister. Blisters have a telltale sign which is a white center, usually not pinpointed and targeted. It will be a larger white center surrounded by a red outer ring and they almost always result in the skin coming off and then it becomes an open wound.
Prevention is the best remedy because these sores are just monsters once they begin. Please do everything possible to prevent them. However if they happen, the following will help you manage the sore.
Read this for blisters on the heel.
Remember that blisters are caused by friction. Friction means that the foot is moving inside the boot. This tells you that the boot is not tight enough. When you solve the movement, you solve the blister problem. Even the smallest amount of movement can be enough friction to cause a blister.
Keep in mind that those baby legs are quite strong, and they can put considerable leverage against each other so make sure to give the shoe a really good push and pull after tightening and watch for movement.
Try this: bend the knee 90 degrees and push down hard with one hand while dorsiflexing the foot (point toes up) with the other hand/boot. Push the heel back and deep into the heel pocket and hold it there with your thumb, then cinch very tightly. It’s going to seem to be much tighter than you would normally think is tight. That’s important, it must be very tight. But not too tight. Only tighten enough to stop the movement.
Snug down the other two straps and then give the boot a little tug and watch for any movement. If the foot moves, repeat the above till you get no movement at all. It may take a few times at first but you’ll soon be used to it and it’ll go a lot better.
Insofar as what to use on an actual blister, duoderm is the best but the blister band-aid product is about the same, yet sometimes too small or the wrong shape to last very long. It is meant to be put on and stay till it falls off (5-7 days) and the blister bandaids never last that long. Get duoderm and cut it yourself large enough so that at least 1-2cm sticks to healthy skin (including red skin). It will heal the sore/blister as well as provide a barrier between the shoe and the skin. Cut a large round disc, larger than the blister/sore (about 2cm larger) so that in case the edges lift, it will still cover the sore. Baths are ok while using duoderm.
Please refer back to the "Putting BnB on Baby" page for visuals on these techniques.
Also please refer to this original PDF for all sorts of other tips.
Tips & Tricks for Parents of Clubfoot Babies - Markell (lace up with a single strap) specific
