Baby Shoes – Which Ones are Right for Baby?

By Kim Prissel

Babies grow so fast, it’s hard to keep them in the correct pair of shoes. Not only do they need to be the right size, but also need to be comfortable. You know what will happen if they’re not. Baby will draw that foot right up to their nose and pull the shoe off. And most likely, will toss the shoe somewhere to be never found again.

Instead of going through the hassle of trying shoe after shoe on your no-so-cooperative infant, here’s some ideas to keep in mind while you shop.

Think, how much time does your baby spend on his/her feet?

Infants who haven’t started to crawl spend no time on their feet. There is no absolute reason why an infant needs shoes other than a decorative accessory to keep their feet warm. In summer, they would rather have their feet free to wiggle and play. No matter what stage of crawling or walking your baby has reached, their feet need room to grow. Shoes or booties should never fit tight.

When infants get ready to crawl, they will be on their knees pulling their feet under their bodies. This is the time to think about protecting the soft skin on their toes and tops of their feet from carpet abrasion. A sock or bootie without a rigid sole will protect their skin from rough surfaces. Soft enclosed elastic or Velcro will help keep the bootie in place. Buttons or snaps are not recommended as they could be loosened and swallowed.

As baby begins to crawl and move more quickly on the floor, a protective shoe will be needed. This shoe does not need to a rigid sole yet, but perhaps a thicker felt or sturdy fabric will be necessary as baby wriggles from one room to the next. A thin rubber sole may help with traction and protection. Buckles and top decoration may scrape on floors and catch on loop pile carpets, so choose a plain shoe. Open toe sandals do not protect toes while baby crawls.

Standing and cruising is the next stage in development. Once baby is able to pull up, stand next to furniture and take a few tentative steps, it is time to change shoes. This time baby needs a bit sturdier sole, to protect their feet from bumps on furniture legs and sole injuries from stepping on toys. Shoe sole should still be very flexible to allow full movement of baby’s feet.

The final stage is walking and running. This is when your child will need a sturdier sole to protect their feet from uneven or rough surfaces and provide better traction for running. Shoes will still need room for feet to grow. Velcro can still be recommended until the children learn to tie their own shoes. It is also important that the shoe be built properly and not rub the foot painfully.

If you think about what stage of growth your child is in, and how they’re using their feet, it will help to choose the right shoe.

Kim Prissel is a parent of three children. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

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