Best First Shoes?

When learning to walk, I was told by my pediatrician that it is best for the child to go barefoot. To only put on shoes when the feet need to be protectedfrom outside germs. Ankles and feet need to develop strength and wearing shoes all the time can actually prohibit that.

Hi, I'm D. from Columbia, I have a three year son. The best shoes that bought when he first started to walk were Stride Rite. Stride Rite shoes are weighted in the heal so it helps them learn to walk on there heals first. I don't go to the regular mall to get them. I go to Opry Mills because they have an outlet store. The shoes are just as good, just last years models. Instead of $40 or $50 they were around $25. I hope this helps!

I love Pediped shoes. You can buy them on-line at pediped.com or some specialty stores have them. They are soft and flexable. My daughter loves them and is still wearing them at 18 months. They are the only shoes she will leave on and doesn't try to take them off.

It is not good for babys to wear shoes because the bones in their feet are soft. I would suggest that you get the socks with the rubber grips on the bottom. Since she is not walking around she does even need shoes yet.
-A., mother of 3: ages 4, 2, and soon to be born.

Stride Rite, I think they are called First Steps but not sure since my youngest is 7 1/2. They are a bit expensive but they are the absolute best shoes.

I would go identically with what Holly E said down towards the beginning.
Robeez are fine but easily removed and for my son's fat feet hard for me to put on. Pedipeds are so much easier to get on those fat little feet plus they come in months and have a size chart on their website www.pediped.com. And i think eventually stride rite brand makes the best ones for outside, etc walking.
my son is at the exact same stage in walking and he does best with no shoes at all - i think that is the easiest ( and most recommended) way for them to learn.

Bare feet is the best, but if you want to put something on their feet use the Robeez

http://www.robeez.com/Department.aspx?DeptID=223&Pric...

They are soft leather on the bottom so the kids can still use their feet/toes normally when learning to walk.

Then after Robeez (about 2 years old) I go to Stride Rite. They are expensive but worth it!

Best first shoes will always be those that have the least about them. Flexible is a must. You don't want them to have hard soles. They should mostly just be the material in a shoe shape, lined with some kind of soft cloth, and that's it. If they have hard soles it doesn't really allow your wee one's arch to develop properly. More freedom is best!

Robeez. They're thin-soled, washable and stay on pretty well. Amazon was having a sale on them last week - I don't know if they still are. A pair runs around $27. But the thin sole is important so that you baby can still feel her feet and the floor, and learn to balance. My little boy is starting to stand independently and I'm looking to getting him a couple pairs of these soon.

i know they are old fashioned but the stride rite white leather boot shoes are the best they are weighted in the bottom and they protect your childs ankle so when they begin walking they are walking correctly.. most shoe stores have them... try your local mall or baby store

When my daughter started pulling up on things to stand up, the daycare requested that she start wearing shoes. Trying to stand up in just her socks made her slip and fall. She needed shoes with non-skid bottom to keep her from slipping. We got her some little tennis shoes. I don't think you necessarily have to get expensive brand shoes (they are going to get worn & they will grow out of them!), just make sure they are non-skid to help her get a grip on the floor.

Robees!!!! For sure!
They are the most adorable "slippers" made of leather. You can probably find them in specialty toy stores, in the mall card and gift shops, and online. Check my spelling on them, sorry! Try not to go buy more structured shoes with hard soles, your daughter will probably fall more in them and get injured. Also try Stride Rite shoes. Go to the shoe store that specalizes in them for the right fit. I found that I was buying my daughter the WRONG SIZES in shoes. I noticed it when her toenails were getting bent funny. Whoops! No mom is perfect.
If you have hard wood floors, get tons of grippy socks to keep her from slipping. My daughter wore those most of the time at home. Young babies DON'T NEED soled shoes when learning how to balance at first. She will probably even learn to walk sooner if her feet aren't bound in hard shoes.

Good Luck!

My pediatrician told me the best thing for babies to learn to walk in was bare feet.

I love and swear by Robeez and Robeez type shoes. Barefoot is absolutely best but not always possible. Talk with your pediatrician so you can make the decision with confidence.

Mine went barefoot most of the time but when we were going out and had to have shoes we used Stride Rite brand.

I loved the Pedipeds for Daegan....they are really soft soled moccasin type shoes that allow their feet to move almost as if they aren't wearing shoes.

Hey there, I have a 10 1/2 month old that is doing the same thing, and I would suggest Robeez. They are really soft leather even on the bottom, the baby cant get pull them off, and they are so soft on the bottom that they let the baby still feel their feet, and they get to use their big toes correctly which is imperative for walking. You may check out their website. I would say they are definitely worth the money. Good luck.
C.

The best first shoes for a baby's tender little feet are the little white shoes from Stride rite. These shoes offer the support that the child's feet and ankles need.

I was advised that Stride Rite (www.striderite.com) has very good shoes for beginning walkers. They're a bit pricey, though, so I get my daughter's shoes from Wal-Mart or find Stride Rite shoes at a 2nd-hand store, or even eBay.

I have always gotten my son Robeez. They are amazing! They are flexible, but still cover and protect his feet and have a durable sole. I think they are kind of expensive, around $25-30, but definitely worth every penny. They are also machine washable, so when they get dirty you can just toss them in.

Shoes... Something I never put on my children until after they could walk. The first shoes both my girls got were from stride right. They are pricey if you don't have an outlet mall. Shoes can run between 30-50 a pair but they are awesome. The toes are soft rubber and kind of curl up so they don't trip on the end of the shoes. And the soles of them are made for babies they are soft rubber so they still kind of feel the ground I guess. I am not sure what makes them so nice but they were wonderful for my girls!

Hello! My daughter started walking a little before 10 months, and at first her toes seemed to point towards each other a little when she walked. People told me that she needed supportive shoes from Stride Rite to help her walk correctly. So, I bought them. But when I took my daughter to her 1 year checkup with the pediatrician, the doctor told me that it's best not to wear shoes at all because the bones form more correctly without them. For that, I also learned that it doesn't really matter what brand they wear as long as the shoes fit properly and are somewhat flexible.So for what it's worth, my daughter only wears shoes when we are out of the house. And although she started out a little pigeon-toed, it has corrected itself completely without special shoes. Hope this helps...

Bare feet are the best til she is walking good by herself. Just wait on taking her outside til she has mastered by herself a little better. I too could not afford the stride rite. I buy the boy's shoes from walmart and we have a big second hand sale where everyone in surrounding areas come and sell their stuff. I go there too! Great deals on some good brands!

STRIDE RITE SHOES, the Better Stores have these Shoes.

Belks, Baby Gap, & any Department Stores have the best Sheos for Babies.

Hey B., I always liked stride rite shoes. They sales associates are always helpful and they have good advice when you go in for your first pair.
Good Luck

None, the best shoes for beginners. They learn balance easier that way.

stride rite walking shoes. then during her toddler years purchase the high tops for ankle support. I'm old school. Remember, your child is in the developing stages and a good pair of shoes make a difference.

I really LOVE Pedipeds. They are soft-soled and very cute. Also they are not so expensive as most of the brands. My son started wearing them when he was cruising and still wears them (and he is running now). Of course if we go outside and there are a lot of sticks or if it is wet, we wear the hard soled Stride Rites, but they were so expensive!!!! Also the Pedipeds fit a wide foot. My son's first pair of shoes were a 5.5 XW so he was really hard to fit. The Pedipeds are sized by month and we really love them!

B.,

Well being a mother of two and both of them walked by 10 months old I can tell you that the best shoes I have ever found for them was a walking shoe that I bought at Stride Rite. It may be called Buster Brown here. I am originally from Florida. They are light weight and flexible but supportive in the places they need to be. Both of my kids wore Stride Rite shoes until they were 3 years old. I hope this helps and good luck with it. The fun is about to begin!

Hi, B.!
What fun this time is for you and your baby!
We had great luck with just soft-soled shoes when our son started walking. As I understand it, their feet are designed with all the support and extra padding they need, so this type of shoe provides protection while still allowing their feet to feel the different walking surfaces.

We got a great pair of shoes from a company called Platypaws. They're not cheap, but they really do last a long time and even allow for some growth. Now we just use them as slippers, but they're a great product and really worked well as a first shoe.

Good luck and enjoy this great milestone.

I've used Robeez since my son was born. They stay on his feet and he can't pull them off. They are a soft shoe and they mold to his feet, instead of his feet molding to a shoe that's too hard. He walks great in them. They come in all kinds of colors and they fit for a longer period of time than regular baby shoes. Their sizes are 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and so on. so he can wear them before their the perfect fit. They are also good if your little girl has chubby feet like my little boy. I love them. You can find them in most shoe stores and also in Baby Place in Cleveland. You can also buy them online. They are a little pricey but well worth it because they last for at least 4-6 months. Good luck finding the right shoe.

I think Stride Rite makes quality shoes for kids. Many come in Wide and Extra Wide, which is often hard to find in other brands. They will measure your child's foot so you know if that's required. Their toddler shoes have really good support, which is good when learning to walk.

While not cheap, I really liked the first Stride Rite shoes we bought. However, I wouldn't rush to put her in shoes. While out in public or outside, of course you want her in shoes. However, I work with a multidisciplinary team and the Occupational therapist told me it was better for kids to be barefooted for awhile. This helps them grip the floor when they walk, and helps develop the muscles in the foot needed for good, steady walking. I battled my mom who thought it was awful that I had my child barefoot so much (in the house, mind you) but I tried to let her "walk" barefooted as much as possible.

have you tried pedoodles?? i love them. very cute too.

I am also a 32-yr old first time mother w/ a 13-mo. old daughter. I have heard different things re: walking shoes. I have heard that they need the lace up shoes w/ ankle supports...I have also heard the Roobeez crib shoes are the best. I think the fit is probably more important than anything. I also had a friend tell me during the summer that her daughter learned to walk barefoot just fine.

They actually recommend no shoes for young walkers. To have some when you go somewhere, I used those old-timey looking white ones that went slightly up the ankle. they were cute with anything they wore and they actually lasted me through 3 kids....& one more upcoming. But for everyday around the house, you really should leave her barefooted. I think it has something to do with the growth of the foot & shoes too much at the young age would hinder that growth.

Bare feet are the best, soft soled shoes are the best if you have to put a shoe on. I was buying Robeez, BUT they are so expensive. Target sells knock off Robeez in their baby department that are SO Cute. Try them. They are $12 a pair.

When my son was little, over 30 years ago, my pediatrician said the best was to let them go barefoot. Then as they get more stable to go with tennis shoes. But like I said this was over 30 years ago, so maybe some one else will be more up to date. Enjoy each moment as it comes and remember they will grow too fast. Grandma Curtis

None.
It's best to be barefoot and shoes should be reserved for when your little one begins walking outside.
good luck

When my little one started walking, I really liked Robeez. They have soft leather soles and are almost like wearing socks. You can find then at most baby specialty shops, but if you visit them online, you can probably get a better deal and also have a wider variety to choose from. Good luck!

Go to Stride Rite. They have a line of shoes for walkers. The shoes have good support and are more flexible.

none, my children's peds told me the best thing i could do for my son( the oldest) when it came to shoes and walking is not to put any on him..... shoes tend to form the feet in strange angles so that when they do finally they will have problems with thier ankles later on.... both of my children learned to walk without shoes and they dont have any problems at all.... they love to where thier shoes everywhere itss hard for me to gt them to take them off lol

barefoot is better for learning to walk

I agree that bare feet are best. I didn't make my son wear shoes until he was walking for a while, or if he was going to be outside.

My daughter, on the other hand, is wearing shoes already ... but only soft soled. She, too, isn't walking completely unassisted yet, but cruises like crazy and walks with a walker, etc.

She wears Pediped shoes. I like them much better than Robeez (and they're comparable in price) because they look like real shoes, and have a velcro closure (unlike Robeez that seem more like slippers to me, and can more easily be taken off by my little girl).

My son wore a lot of See Kai Run shoes, too. You can find them on Zappos.com (free shipping both ways, too). See Kai Run and Pediped shoes are a little sturdier than Robeez-type shoes, but are still soft soled (so best for babies learning to walk).

Once your little one is a toddler, I recommend Stride Rite, as well. You can find them on some Web sites and such cheaper than stores sometimes, too. They are pricey, but completely worth the money and hold up well!

Hi - I would recommend something really soft, like Robeez. Doctors no longer recommend the hard walking shoes we had when we were babies and I believe those can cause ankle problems. They say that barefoot is better, as long as they are indoors. Go to a Stride Rite store, and they have shoes for all levels (i.e. crawlers, cruisers, walkers, etc) and they can help you decide.

I think Robeez work great. They are flexible, like not having any shoes but provide leather soles so the child does not sleep. I think big heavy shoes actually make it harder and my daughter would trip on them.
Of course bare feet is always best, when you can.

you want to get the little white shoes w/ the ones that come up to the ankles to support them. I got my little girls at either Payless or K-Mart not sure which one.