first shoe?

[jembelina]

Just wondering when others got bubs first pair of shoes?? My ds has been walking around furniture for ages and has been taking steps every now and then in the last week or so. I know bare feet is best for their development and my MIL told me you should wait till they have been walking for about a month before putting them in a 'proper' shoe.
I got him a soft little sandal type shoe just to wear occasionally if we are out and the ground is particularly unsavoury or if the concrete is hot. However they are useless and have been used twice.
I guess I'm thinking he kind of needs something to protect his feet more than anything as he will be wanting to be standing/walking more in all kinds of places!! Any ideas/experiences, etc??

[wattle]

We started off with some really cute soft little shoes from Big W, they were only $8.95 as well! They're not super tough, and don't last that long with outside use, but the base is nice and soft but strong and ds loves them. Perfect for inside.

Just a tip - the valcro is heaps easier than laces.

Ds is now 1 and he's ready for some runners.

[Peaceangels]

I was told by the ladies in the kids shoe store that it is best to wait till they have been walking at least 8 weeks before putting them in a "proper" shoe.
Bare feet and the soft soled shoes are fine till then.
DS2 had a slight turn (inwards) with one foot, so we got him a good ($$) pair of shoes for the first one's, but they were worth it (you could see the change as soon as he put them on).

[3cherubs]

When my DD was walking i waited 6 to 8 weeks ( as recommended) until i put hard soled(s.p?) shoes on her. I first had her in the soft leather shoes.
After this i bought the cheap white sneakers and she lived in those, as she was onlt a size 3 and they are hard to get with hard soles.

[TwoBlue]

Just a tip - the valcro is heaps easier than laces.


Until they learn that velcro is easy to pull and start taking their shoes off and losing them grrrr !!

I was told to wait until they have been walking confidently for a couple of weeks and then get a "first walker", after a month or two you can get a proper shoe but they still need a good flexible shoe.
If you go to a shoe shop that sells Clarks shoes usually they will give you lots of free advice, they watch baby walk and will tell you if they think they are ready or not, they have always been very helpful for me, i usually go to a shoebox store.

[Ky]

I waited until both of my kids were walking properly before putting shoes on them, until then, they were barefoot. If they were going somewhere that could hurt their feet ... they were in a pram or carried!

I have found that the best shoes for little ones that don't restrict their feet are the "jellies". You can buy some from baby's r us very inexpensively (both boys and girls). They flex beautifully with their feet and have been made on a straight last so they are not bending their feet into an unnatural shape. I still use these as much as possible for Bella (can't get them any more for Dan:( ) as they are like walking in bare feet!

That said ... I am off today to get some nice brown leather sandals for Bella's school uniform ... wish me luck ... they are so strict on what she can and can't have!

[ThomasMum]

JMHO, if you do plan to get a pair of shoes for your kids, ask & make sure that they are properly fitted by professionals because wearing ill-fitting shoes, is one of the major contributors to kids with foot problems at their later age.

TM

[Chickadee]

Since it was summer when Chloe started walking, I let her go barefoot for 3 to 4 months I think. I remember buying her a pair of sandals after she'd been walking for about 6-8 weeks but she walked better without them. As others have said, if we went somewhere that was too rough/hot for her to walk then she got carried or pushed in the pram.

One of the reasons for delaying putting them in shoes is because their feet haven't fully developed. They are still strengthening the muscles and the arch in their foot isn't formed. When they are able to grip the floor with their toes as they walk they work all those muscles and improve their ability. Being able to "feel" the surface they're walking on is also good for their sense of balance I think.

[madvoice]

Raleigh was given a pair of soft soled shoes about a week ago (she's 9 1/2 months). She's zooming around the furniture doing her cruisy thing. I won't be bothering with hard soled shoes until she's been walking for quite some time.