What type of shoes are best for my baby?

If you clicked on this blog post, this is such an exciting time to see your baby getting ready for their first steps! Shoes for a baby are mainly used to protect your baby’s skin and feet, especially during walking outdoors. Browsing for the right pair of shoes can be very challenging, since there are so many options, which one is the right pair for your baby??

Shoes for Pre-Walkers

First, let’s talk about baby shoes for pre-walkers. It is exciting to watch your baby get ready for their first steps, but hold off on that beautiful new pair until there are walking. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies don’t need to wear shoes until they start to walk. While your baby is cruising and crawling, barefoot is best 😊 but if your baby can’t be barefoot, you can also try the slipper socks with non-skid grippers on the bottom. Both of these helps them develop those tiny muscles of the foot!

What should I look for in baby shoes??

Having said that, barefoot is still the best way to develop your baby’s muscles, but if they are starting to walk, choose shoes that are flexible (you can bend them almost in half and twist them a bit), lightweight, fit well (are not too loose or too tight), and have a grippy sole. Shoes are mainly used to protect your baby’s feet, especially when your baby is walking outdoors. This will ensure that your baby’s sensitive skin will be protected.

What shoes should I avoid?

When choosing a shoe, parents should avoid hard or inflexible soles. Also, remember, your baby’s shoe should stay on their feet, so try to avoid shoes that may slip off of their feet including flip flops. If your child is “walking out of their shoes” it is probably time to look for a new pair. As always, talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s feet or walking!

Enjoy this time! Hope your baby’s first steps are magical ones 😊