When Should Babies Wear Shoes? Key Tips for Parents
I was 21 when I had Avery! Honestly, it was a roller coaster ride for the first three months! I was so excited to try all baby-related things with Avery. From choosing her moisturizer to deciding on newborn clothes, I was cautious each time.
The same applied to the time when she became ready to wear her shoes for the first time! She turned 10 months old when she started taking small steps with the support of a wall or a sidebar. By month 12, she was totally ready to walk by herself and rock the floor! We researched a lot and chose the perfect shoes for her!
Many new mothers of our ‘Mother’s tribe’ ask, ‘‘When should babies wear shoes?’. Well, this time varies for each baby. Mostly, babies become ready to wear shoes when they are between 9 and 18 months old.
This happens because each baby takes a different time to complete developmental milestones. Today, we will delve into the ideal time for babies to wear shoes, important tips, and much more, so that your parenting journey becomes easier! Let us move ahead to learn more about it.
Table of Contents
When Should Babies Wear Shoes – The Ideal Age?
My last baby-my son, Theo, started to walk at 11 months old. He never crawled that much. Mostly, he would sit and shuffle along on his bottom to move around the house. I guess he was the fastest out of my 6 children to walk on his own. Our experience over these many years helped us choose shoes for him quickly, as per his needs!
From crawling to taking wobbly steps, every milestone is an adventure for your little buddy! The first year enhances their confidence and gives them new opportunities to explore their senses.
Ideally, a baby starts walking at the age of 9–18 months. You can put walking shoes on your baby’s feet as soon as they start walking independently.
It is our duty as parents to ensure that our baby stays safe during these phases. We have to ensure that our baby stays safe from injuries to its tiny feet while walking.
Recommended Reading: How to Encourage Walking in Your Baby
Essential Tips While Selecting Shoes For Babies
Did you know? : A newborn baby has only 22 bones. And, a 3-year-old has 45 bones. Above is a pictorial representation of that.
Baby’s feet structure is very delicate. That’s why we must be so cautious while choosing shoes for a baby.
Over the last 15 years, I have been regularly researching shoes and the best time to put them on my babies. I have seen many trends and improvements in baby shoes. Here is what I found very useful that might help you too:
The National Library of Medicine (NIH) has given some guidelines for choosing shoes for your baby:
1. The main purpose of your toddler’s shoes is to offer proper grip and protection.
2. The fitting must be proper in the heel area to avoid slipping. The overall shoe must not be too loose or too tight.
3. The space between the thumb and the tip of the shoe must be adequate (commonly 1.25 cm) to avoid discomfort.
Kelleigh’s Quick Tip: You can make your baby stand steadily and measure this length with a tape while selecting a shoe. This space of 1.25 cm provides room for reasonable toe growth for the next few months.
4. The soles should be soft to provide safety and warmth to the baby’s feet while walking. Hard soles may feel itchy and cause pain in the baby’s feet.
5. Do not use the same shoes if they have lost their original shape. Such shoes cause a disturbance in the development of a normal longitudinal arch in the foot.
6. If your baby is an EARLY WALKER (below 1-year-old), opt for good-quality walking shoes instead of sneakers. You would feel that sneakers are in trend. BUT WAIT FOR THE RIGHT TIME. Sneakers do not provide as much stability as walking shoes. Let your baby turn 2 or 3 years of age and then introduce sneakers in his/her outfits!
7. Opt for non-skid shoes. Babies tend to move here and there quickly. Non-slip/non-skid shoes help them to walk and run steadily without slipping or skidding on the ground. The chances of injury are reduced in these shoes.
8. The baby’s shoe must be lightweight and flexible. Heavy shoes often lead to ankle pain in babies. Using such heavy shoes for a long time may cause disturbance in their natural foot growth.
Tiny Feet, Big Decisions
The Dos & Don'ts of Baby's First Shoes
DO
- Go Barefoot Indoors
Let them feel the ground to build muscle, balance, and sensory awareness. - Choose Flat & Flexible Soles
The shoe should bend easily with their foot, allowing for natural movement. - Ensure a Wide Toe Box
Toes need room to splay and grip. Avoid pointy or narrow styles. - Opt for Lightweight Materials
Heavy shoes can cause an awkward gait and make walking harder than it needs to be. - Measure Feet Every 2 Months
Their feet grow fast. A proper fit is crucial for comfort and healthy development.
DON'T
- Rush into Shoes
Wait until your baby is walking confidently on their own, especially outdoors. - Use Stiff, Rigid Soles
Hard soles can hinder foot development and feel awkward. - Squeeze into a Narrow Fit
Cramped toes are uncomfortable and can affect foot growth. - Buy Heavy, Clunky Styles
Don’t weigh your baby down. Shoes should feel natural on their foot. - Use Worn-Out Hand-Me-Downs
Shoes mold to one child’s foot, leading to improper fit for the next.
⭐ Kelleigh's Pro-Tip: Look for Velcro! ⭐
Opt for shoes with velcro straps or easy fasteners. They provide an adjustable fit and are simpler to get on and off wiggling feet.
What Should Your Baby’s First Shoes Be?
If you are a new mom or first-time parent, you can relate to the confusion about various types of baby shoes! Of course, all these shoes look super cute! We have to remember that they have different uses according to the baby’s age and developmental milestones.
If you have also faced such confusion about the right selection of baby shoes, do not worry anymore! I am here to rescue you! Let us see each type of baby shoe one by one as per age and needs:
Booties:
Booties are warm, cushioned, and flexible. They keep the baby’s feet dry, warm, and safe. Your little one can easily wiggle their toes in booties. Most booties are suitable for babies from 0 to 12 months old. They are made from cotton, silk, or leather (for outside usage).
Some booties come with non-slip soft soles. So, if a baby is learning to walk, such booties can be a suitable option to try on instead of directly going for walking shoes.
Pram/Stroller Shoes:
Pram shoes/ stroller trainers (also known as pre-walker baby shoes) are mostly used outside when you go on a stroll with your baby. These are a kind of comfy leather or cloth booties that are put on a baby’s feet when it is in a stroller. These shoes provide warmth and protection from outside factors.
When Are Pram Shoes Useful?
They are good for covering your baby’s feet. You can use them for babies under 1 year age. But they are not ideal for walking.
Also Read: For How Long Do Kids Use Strollers?
Crawling Shoes:
The most fun phase is when your baby starts to crawl. At one moment, they are sitting at their play area, and within a minute, they disappear from there, crawl, and go to another room.
Some even try to stand with the support of a wall and walk one or two steps. Aren’t they cute little explorers? ♥️
Your baby’s feet can get a physical injury, a bump, or get cold due to a cool environment. Crawling shoes protect their feet from such troubles. Their soft soles provide a comfy and supportive feel to the feet. Their non-slip sole prevents the baby from slipping or falling on the ground. Their leather uppers are breathable and soft.
When Are Crawling Shoes Useful?
These shoes can be a practical solution if your baby is in the crawling phase and trying to stand and walk. These shoes are useful for babies above 6 months old.
Walking Shoes:
Toddlers who have learned to walk properly must wear good-quality walking shoes. Such shoes are specifically made to provide stability and grip while walking.
Mostly, children try to walk faster or run as they get the confidence to walk. Such shoes offer good arch support and a snug fit.
When Are Walking Shoes Useful?
Begin with these shoes when your baby stands and walks comfortably without any support. The ideal age to start is 1 to 2 years (toddler phase), mostly.
Why Is Keeping Babies Barefoot Recommended?
Some parents try to put walking shoes on their babies at an early stage (like at 6 months of age or less). But, it is not recommended scientifically.
It would be like a big REG FLAG for your child’s foot development.
Babies can experience foot pain, discomfort, sweating, developmental delays, etc.
Quick Fact: NIH says 97% of children younger than 18 months of age have flat feet due to a fat layer under their feet. Out of these children, only 4% will have flat feet at the age of 10.
To stay away from such misunderstandings or fears, pediatricians always suggest the ‘BAREFOOT METHOD’ to parents!
I, personally, followed this way, and I saw wonderful results with my kids, especially with Sawyer.
Sawyer was a sensitive baby and late to reach the walking stage. She turned 20 months old, but still, she was not walking on her own. We consulted doctors for this issue. With their suggestion, we started keeping Sawyer barefoot for longer.
No booties, no socks, no shoes!
We let her explore the ground and flat platforms so that she can get an idea of how to stand and walk stably on her own. We also took her for walks in gardens full of grass and soil.
Of course, she fell many times while walking barefoot alone. Eventually, she gained confidence. After 2–3 months of this practice, her body and mind adapted to the normal walking environment and created a sense of grip while walking.
Some parents feel that their baby may catch germs or dirt on their feet. So they avoid keeping their babies barefoot. Keeping younger babies and infants in shoes restricts natural foot movement. If you want to see development in your child’s natural immune system and muscular strength, barefoot play is the best way!
Kelleigh’s Quick Tip: If you are living in cold regions/areas, you can put socks or booties with non-skid soles on your baby’s feet. It may give the same feel as barefoot (not exactly 100%), keep your baby’s feet warm, and promote walking. In addition to this, barefoot walking is also helpful in children that show toe-walking symptoms.
3 Key Points to Consider When Choosing the Right Shoe For Your Baby:
1. Thin and flexible sole:
Thin soles offer better ground contact and promote sensory feedback to the child’s feet. Their flexibility allows for more natural foot movement.
2. Flat heel:
High heels may lead to foot deformities. The flat heel area in shoes balances the natural foot position and develops foot strength.
Do not follow extravagant baby shoe trends. Go with the basic rules of shoe selection.
3. Wide toe box:
Make sure your baby’s toes do not get crunched in the toe box. Prefer shoes with a wide toe box. Here is what happens:
Kelleigh’s Quick Tip: Opt for shoes with Velcro straps to adjust to the feet’ shape, along with a snug fit! It avoids extra tightness in feet (which is faced in laced shoes.)
FAQs:
What Kind Of Shoes Are Good If My Child Is In The Cruising Phase?
Cruising is a phase between crawling and walking. In this, the child takes hand support of the sofa, chair, wall, etc., and explores things. For this little adventure, a child’s shoes should be rigid, flexible, soft, non-slip, and offer a snug fit.
How Often Should You Measure Your Baby’s Foot Size For Proper Shoe Selection?
Children grow fast! That’s why you must measure your baby’s foot size every 2 months to get shoes with a proper snug fit.
Key Takeaways:
I feel the best way to make babies adapt to the natural walking developmental milestone is to keep them barefoot. Someday, they will start walking on their own, and you will need the right pair of shoes for them. Ensure those shoes have a wide toe box, a lightweight nature, a soft feel, a secure fit, Velcro straps, and non-slip soles.
Baby shoes are more than a fashion statement! Selecting the right shoe leads to correct foot development! So choose wisely and enjoy your parenting journey!
