The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word FOSTER
F
O
S
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result FOSTER
- Encourage female to replace head of staff list
- Encourage development of nursery doctor?
- Encourage replanting of forest
- Care for doctor taking unexpected dip?
- Look after neglected forest
- Rest ordered, following backing of nurse
- Promote development of forest after replanting
- A present for fantastic teacher, primarily one looking after child
- Promote nurse
- Encourage doctor having trouble in city
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Take care of/doctor who stepped in a puddle" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case take care of/doctor who stepped in a puddle = foster.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FOSTER mean?
FOSTER noun- A foster parent.
- The care given to another; guardianship.
- To nurture or bring up offspring, or to provide similar parental care to an unrelated child.
- To cultivate and grow something.
- To nurse or cherish something.
- To be nurtured or trained up together.
- Providing parental care to children not related to oneself.
- Receiving such care.
- Related by such care.
- A forester.