Shoes for an Infant

Hi, P.. Well, the best advice I got from my old pediatrician more than 28 years ago was to get my son flexible shoes that were not confining to his feet. Babies don't need shoes until they need protection for their feet, mostly from the outside world. They don't need support for their feet, as people once believed. Especially when children are learning to stand and walk, they need to be able to develop all the muscles in their feet; if they wear shoes that are confining, their muscles will actually have a harder time developing, and they will actually learn to balance and walk LATER than children who go barefoot.

Peace,
Syl

Shoes are not necessary! The best way for babies to learn to walk and stand is without shoes! The two PP are correct though, StrideRite is the place to go for shoes, but my daughter is 18 months and NEVER weres shoes in the house...only when we go out. And she loves putting them on, because she knows it means we are going outside. So don't make your baby were shoes in the house, that is not good for developing feet.

I just bought my 11 month old son his first pair of shoes. Up until this point he had just been wearing socks and those Robeez shoes which don't offer much support. I went to Stride Rite and they were very helpful in helping me find the right pair of shoes. They have shoes that are made for the different stages of walking. They will watch how your daughter walks and then make suggestions for which stage shoe she needs. It sounds like she needs the early walker shoes which have more flexibility, but they can tell you which ones would be best. I was worried that my son would have a hard time with them, but he really seems to like them. The only downside is that they're a bit expensive ($48), and they told me a growing child needs new shoes every 2 months or so, but everyone I've talked to said that Stride Rite has the best and the it's worth it to spend the money because their little feet need to develop properly. Good Luck!

P.,
I can relate! My daughter "walked" at 9 1/2 months and "RAN" at 10 months and did so WITHOUT shoes. However, I was also being told all of the reasons I should get her shoes and was advised by many that "Stride Rite" was the best. You can look Stride Rite up at www.striderite.com. They even have an "E Fit Calculator" to assist you in determining your child's shoe size in the convenience of your home. (This is a much harder task while actually in the store with a squirming child).

The first pair I got the old fashioned, black and white, "saddle shoe" (usually retails for over $30.), and I actually found it for $8. at a kids consignment shop. You will see on the website that they have SO many styles, colors AND prices. You can use the "store locator" to find one near you. Enjoy the "crawling" stage. 1) It doesn't last long. 2) Some, like mine, NEVER crawl, they just up and walk, and of course, 3) Once she really gets going walking, your work is def. MULTIPLIED! Good luck and God Bless. Wish ours were closer in age for playdates!
S.

P., my advice is to let her go barefoot until she actually has the hang of walking. My daughter is now 15 months old and I had similiar problems. My mom insisted on buying her tons of shoes but in reality the only ones I put on her feet early were the Robeez or Target brand. My daughter started walking 2 weeks prior to her one year birthday. I did a lot of research and read that Stride Rite were the very best first walking shoes. There is an outlet at the Sawgrass that has great discounts. I bought my daughter the white ankle shoes that resemble the old fashioned boot type and she walks awesome. There is a great children's store on Las Olas that carries Weesqueaks and they are the best, teaches them to walk properly and they squeak when they walk, she loves them. I have recommended them to at least a dozen moms.

Best of luck!

L.

Stride Rite , they have the best for all steps.
Good luck!
P.

Hi P.
Stride Rite is great. They have soft shoes for prewalkers and will fit your baby in the store. They are a bit more expensive than maybe Target, but the quality of shoes are really good. As she starts walking, they have shoes for walkers there also- the soles are very flexible, but the shoes are sturdy at the same time. I almost bought my 18 month old some bargain shoes at another store, and when I tried to bend the soles, they were like plywood.

I have a son, so I usually just buy him 2-3 pairs of good shoes at a time. I imagine it may be tougher with girls, as there are so many cute styles for them in the stores. Even so, I think it's worth it to invest in at least one good pair, especially when she begins walking. Good luck!

When my daughter was about that age I found Pediped shoes to be the best. She had pudgy little feed and the Stride Rite shoes were too narrow for her. They are about $30.00 a pair but they are cute and very flexible. She wore them like crazy. You can go to www.pediped.com to check it out.

P.,

Shoes are not necessary for learning to walk. However, if you are wanting to find a shoe store that is good for fitting your little one properly and finding good shoes. Try StrideRite! That is the only place that I can buy my youngest sons shoes. They size him everytime we go in. The shoes can run $35 and up, but it is worth the cost of knowing that the shoes fit properly and they last a while too.

Good luck!

S.
35 y/o SAHM of 3 boys
13, 6 and 3

Pedi Peds...they sell at Nordstrom or online pedipdes.com

It is better not to get shoes that form fit your baby. Their feet are developing, so if you will buy shoes these are soft leather and allow the room to develop. They have more explanation on the website.

Good Luck