Hi. My 13 month old has been walking for a couple of months now and has been barefoot all summer. I tried to put her in shoes the other day and it seems she can't walk while she is wearing them. She can walk a few steps and then it looks like one of her ankles rolls and she falls. My other child is 7 and I don't remember this with her. Is this normal and what can I do to help?
It's TOTALLY normal, babies just have to get used to walking with things on their feet. It's WAY different than going barefoot!
Make sure her shoes are thin, lightweight, and VERY flexible. THe Robeez (or knockoffs) are great. My favorites and what my second son loved (he did not want them taken off ever!) even though he went the first year with no shoes at all are the Stride Rites...they have different stages and I believe it's the second stage that he first wore. But if you go to their website you can see which stage is for what.
Edit: Here's the website... And I don't remember paying that much for ours but I didn't get them directly from stride rite.
http://www.striderite.com/jump.jsp?itemID=30&itemType...
Good luck.
try soft-soled shoes at first (ie Robeez or the like) until she gets used to walking with things on her feet, then "up-grade"!
Worked for my baby girl!
T.
All 3 of my girls did the same thing. The shoes are a little heavier than their feet, you can try to get a lighter shoe to start with and then work up, but it is completely normal.
I agree with the other Mom... Robeez are the way to go. My daughter hated all shoes until I tried the Robeez. I got them from Amazon.
Robeez or Robeez knock offs are your best bet when your child starts walking. Barefoot is best starting off, but Robeez are the next best thing. They give them some protection but not all the bulk that might hinder them. Once their walking is established, my ped recommended shoes with a bit more ankle support. I found the most helpful shoe people at Stride Right and Nordstroms. Had I just gotten the shoes myself, I would have gotten the wrong size and type. I'd recommend at least getting her first pair through one of these stores.
It took both of mine a while to get used to shoes. They were a bit clumsy at first. The shoes should have a wide sole for best stability. Also, those Robeez are like a moccasin and will still allow her foot muscles to move freely and naturally. There are several off-shoots from Robeez available at places like Target and Walmart.
Is VERY normal!!! Both my kids did it because I never had them wear shoes which my pediatrician encouraged. I have an inhome daycare now and a lot of the parents of the kids I watch have been getting these shoes called Robeez. They are so great, you may want to try these. They are comfortable, slip on easily, and don't come off easy. They protect their feet but at the same time, its more like they aren't wearing anything. Whatever you decide, they'll be just fine. Eventually they do get used to it. My daughter used to walk so funny for awhile, like she had bricks attached to her feet:)
I had the exact same situation w/ my little boy. I felt like he was tripping up too much with regular soled shoes. You can buy an off-brand of Robeez at Target called Ministar. They are the same thing, just half the price. My son loved his and walked great in them, and didn't need socks. Not all Targets have them and I haven't had luck finding them online at Target.com either. Keep looking if they're not at the Target closest to you. They are in the Infant section, not the regular shoe section for toddlers on up. Good luck!
