The first year of a baby’s life is filled with exciting milestones that parents document enthusiastically. Waving, smiling, cooing, sitting and crawling bring a parent immense joy as they watch their child grow and develop from a tiny newborn to a blossoming child. Walking is a milestone near the top of the list for most. When baby begins walking (usually between 9 and 15 months), you may wonder whether it’s time to run out and buy the latest best-selling baby shoe. Or should Baby just cruise barefooted for awhile? When is your baby really ready for shoes?
You might be surprised to hear that pediatricians, parent educators and even the American Academy of Pediatrics all agree that walking barefoot is best for babies just learning to walk. As your baby begins to tread upon this milestone, he will have to master the many components of walking, something best achieved barefoot.
“Babies need to learn to balance, as well as increase the muscles in the foot and ankle for support,” says Dr. Aundria Speropoulos, MD, FAAP, of Leawood Pediatrics. “This is best achieved by being barefoot, which allows an infant’s toes to grip, and the heel to aid in balancing.” As an added benefit, walking barefoot provides baby with an added sensory experience of feeling varying surfaces.
Once your little mover graduates from taking a few steps to being on the go, it’s time to purchase the first “real” pair of shoes. Babies also need shoes to protect their feet from rough, hot, cold or uneven surfaces. There is no shortage of shoes on the market these days for even the tiniest consumer, so what should parents look for when navigating all of the options?
“Infant shoes that are flexible and thin soled will continue to allow the child to grip the ground and balance,” says Dr. Speropoulos. This allows your baby to feel the ground as she walks, which will help her as she learns. The shoes should be flexible enough that your baby’s feet can bend naturally. Shoes for babies should be made of breathable materials that are lightweight, such as leather or quality mesh, because babies’ feet sweat twice as much as adults’ feet. Finding shoes that have an elasticized back (at the heel) also helps keep the shoes fastened closely.
Keep in mind that even your baby should have his foot measured to find a shoe that fits properly. Once you know the size, consider trying the following shoe brands: Robeez Soft Soles, Pediped, Bobux, Jemos and Stride Rite. These shoes fit the criteria and will get your baby started off on the right foot!
Marisa Frymire lives in Overland Park with her three young children, one of whom is close to being a new walker!