Choosing the right time to start putting shoes on your baby is essential to ensure their healthy development 💪 and it is one of the things that generates the most doubts 🤔 among parents... does my baby really need shoes? When should I start putting shoes on them? We answer all your questions in this post 🚀.
Should I put shoes on my newborn?
Newborn babies 👶 do not need shoes, since they cannot walk yet. In addition, it is very beneficial for them to receive all kinds of stimuli through touch and little feet are no exception: the free movement of the little fingers and the development of the foot in freedom, without the tightness that shoes can cause, is the most beneficial for them. 😍
What if my baby is born in the fall or winter and it's too cold to let his feet out in the open? No problem! You can protect his little feet with some soft socks or booties. 🧦
When should you start putting shoes on a baby?
But then… when do I put on his first shoes? Easy! When he starts walking, usually around 12 months . 🚶 That is the moment when babies start needing shoes, although it is also important to let them experiment barefoot 🦶, as we tell you in this other post.
We know that there are baby shoes on the market in all sizes (even for newborns!), aesthetically very nice options and the temptation can be strong, especially if it is a gift from a friend or family member that we do not want to disregard.
However, it is important to remember that the disadvantages of putting shoes on such small children can be considerable and far outweigh the fact that the accessory is pretty:
- Rigid footwear can affect the development of the bones and muscles of the foot.
- In addition, the shoe can prevent the foot from receiving key information for developing kinesthetic sensations (relating to balance and the position of the body in relation to a surface) and certain postural reflexes.
- If the shoe is not suitable, it could cause deformities in the small foot, such as claw toes or nail changes.
All of these problems can also contribute to slowing down walking, that is, delaying the moment when your baby stands up and takes his first steps.
What to put on the baby's foot at each stage?
Children change and develop very quickly, so during their first months of life you will change shoes a lot 🥰 . In general terms, these are the fierce suggestions for each stage of development:
Newborn
How do I protect my baby's feet during the first weeks of life?
We see them so tiny that we want to cover them and protect them at all costs, but in such small children, footwear is not necessary: bare feet if the weather is good or a sock suitable for the outside temperature in colder months ⛄ . Do you have an event and want to complement your baby's look? Booties are the perfect option.
Pre-crawling
Between two and seven or eight months, the foot must remain free to develop and receive all the stimuli from the outside 👣 . Occasionally, you can put a completely flexible, suede-type shoe on your baby without a sole if you want to complete his look, but remember that continuing barefoot is the best option. 😀
Crawl
It depends on each baby, but this stage can happen from 8 or 9 months and extend beyond one year of age. At this time, your baby will need a flexible shoe option that allows foot movement without hindering it and, at the same time, improves the grip that the little one needs to crawl. Opt for barefoot models , with flexible and thin soles, that look as much like being barefoot as possible. 🦶
First steps
This is when your baby will really start to need shoes, although it is still highly recommended for their balance and development that they can walk barefoot, for example, at home (help them with a non-slip sock).
As for footwear, you already know what our recommendations are: flexible and breathable material; hard, thin and flexible sole; spacious forefoot area, allowing free movement.
toe movement; completely flat last; removable straight insole (which will also help you choose the correct shoe size for your baby ) and no buttress to prevent possible chafing.
March established
You'll be amazed at how quickly your baby goes from taking wobbly steps to running 🏃♀️ as if they've been doing it all their life, but do you need to change the type of shoes once walking is established? Not at all!
The recommendations of pediatricians , and our own, is that shoes continue to be flexible and spacious, to allow the foot to move and develop correctly inside 🥰 . At this stage, we continue to bet on spacious toe boxes, and we add non-slip soles, to avoid small accidents, and closures that favor their autonomy, such as velcro.
What to look for when choosing baby shoes
Are you going to buy your first baby shoes 😍 and you are not sure what you should take into account when choosing them? All the shoes you will find at Zapato Feroz meet the highest quality standards for your baby's little feet, but we will tell you what you should take into account to check that this is the case:
- Material : Always look for flexible and breathable options that allow the foot to move freely and your baby's skin to breathe. The best materials for baby shoes are leather (or microfiber ) and textile.
- Sole : it should be thin and hard, but flexible in all directions, especially in the forefoot area. Check that the shoe bends easily (better if you are able to bend it with one hand), this is the guarantee that it will fit your baby's feet perfectly.👞
- Space: You don't want little toes to be so cramped inside the shoe that they can't move (or even develop deformities). Make sure the shoe you choose is wide enough in the forefoot to allow the toes to move freely.
- Last : It should be completely flat, with no drop (i.e. it should not be higher in the heel area than in the toe of the shoe). If you have any doubts, do the marble test: place a marble inside the shoe and see if it slides easily or if it stops in the heel area.
- Removable straight insole: By removing the insole from the shoe, you can easily check three important things: that the shoe fits the size your baby needs, that it is wide enough to not be tight, and that the last is completely flat.
- Heel counter: Choose shoes that do not have a heel counter at the back and, in addition, make sure they are soft in that area; this way you will help prevent possible chafing.
- Flexibility: We have already mentioned this in terms of both the sole and the material, but this is a characteristic that should be common to all footwear. Quality shoes can be bent in all directions easily and without becoming deformed.
Where can I buy my baby's first shoes?
At Zapato Feroz we work to offer you the best options for your baby's shoes 💪 : here you will find everything from their first non-slip socks to beautiful models designed to accompany them in their first steps while respecting the anatomy and free movement of their feet.
Are you looking for children's shoes or barefoot shoes for adults ? We have them too!
