My 13 month old has four pairs of those soft soled shoes (to make walking easier) but I find now that he often slips while wearing them. I have heard that some places sell stuff you can put on the bottom of shoes to make them 'rough'. Any ideas on what I could do at home? Just scuff them up with a nail file or outside on the concrete? What else could I put on the bottom to give him better traction?
Thanks!
Use puff-paint! I would take the puffy fabric paint and make squiggles on the bottoms of my son's socks to keep him from sliding all over the house. It works pretty well.
They do sell something called "Grippies" and we used those too- little more traction, but not so easy to apply!
I know in the past people have used the white adhesive first aid tape on the bottoms...just put a strip or two on the bottom. I've known people to use it on slippery dress shoes, also.
I'm not sure, but just make sure whatever it is isn't toxic, in case it peels off or he chews on it. (My son liked to chew on his shoes for awhile:) )
Also, on a side note, we just got these awesome stride rite shoes. We moved up from the soft sole into these in case your interested for the future--the soles are VERY flexible but made of grippy rubber and are rounded on the sides so they still feel their feet.
http://www.striderite.com/jump.jsp?itemID=581&itemTyp...
I like the puff paint idea, but I know that I used to have some adhesive things to put on my own dress shoes that were slick. Either one should help. Or, if you are inside, let him go barefoot.
This sounds funny but hot glue (obviously not while the child is wearing them) is what I've used to add traction to hand-knitted slippers. Just draw a pattern on the bottom of the shoes with the hot glue and voila!
