Guide to Baby Shoes

If you’re expecting and a shoe lover you’re going to drool over all the adorable baby shoes that you’ll spot in every baby store you walk into. But before you fork over your credit card to invest in half pint shoes, hold on and read on. Baby feet are very sensitive little things and you should hesitate before cramming them into tight, stiff shoes.
Until your baby is a confident walker shoes are actually going to be more of a fashion accessory than a necessity. In fact, putting shoes on your baby might hinder the foot’s natural development. Your baby’s foot bones and blood vessels need lots of natural space to grow properly.

So keep this in mind – barefoot is best for baby!

Now of course that’s not the most practical thing in the winter; baby feet get cold and babies love to pull their socks off. So if you feel the need to get your baby a pair of shoes (or ten!) make sure you get something known as crib shoes – slippers with a soft supple sole and plenty of give so that your baby’s feet can keep growing in a healthy way.

Great shoes for infant and baby feet

Robeez are the perennial favorite because they come in a huge range of fun patterns and designs, are easily machine washable, and are very hard for babies to kick off. Don’t want to spring for Robeez?  Many other companies have created similar shoes for a few dollars less than the original.

Pedipeds are a great solution for slightly more fashion conscious parents who don’t want to sacrifice on baby foot safety. They come in a huge variety of adorable styles that you’ll be proud to show off.

Do you have a baby who keeps her socks on? Don’t want to invest in crib shoes? You can still dress up your baby’s feet in adorable socks. Some even look like shoes!

Shoes for early walkers

As soon as babies take their first steps many parents rush to the store to buy hard soled shoes. The fact is that babies learn to walk much better on bare feet or soft soles. They need to feel the ground so that they can adjust their balance. Gripping with their toes also helps them learn to walk faster and enables their feet and leg muscles to develop properly.

Once your baby has become an adept walker and is starting to move with more confidence you can start looking for more sturdy shoes. But once again, don’t be lured by the first cute pair of shoes you see. Your child’s arches won’t develop until he’s at least 2, so he needs sturdy, well built shoes that have been properly fitted by a specialist.

Stride Rite sells well built shoes that have been designed with developing feet in mind. They can be pricey, so consider going to the store to have your child’s foot sized and then hunt around online for discounts.

Pediped makes lovely toddler shoes for more advanced walkers.

Hunt around for well built shoes that will give your child the support he needs as he explores the world on foot!

Photo of sleeping baby copyright Amazon.

Jessica Rosenberg is an aspiring novelist and freelance writer who blogs daily at It’s My Life… and posts frequent reviews and giveaways at The Lemonade Stand.

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