Looking for Perspective on Allowing Shoes in the House - We Do Have 2 Dogs

Hi B.,

It's a lifestyle call for you. Here's how I do it--I land somewhere in the middle.

I take my shoes off at my house, even when I had a dog (she died recently), and now my 4 year old and my 20 month old take their shoes off on their own. It's not a bad habit to get into if you like clean floors. And I do. I don't, however, ask my guests to take off their shoes, but about half of them get the hint when they see our shoes piled up at the door. If they don't, I don't sweat it. Any amount of shoe-free walking is helpful.

As for crawling in public places--I NEVER did. That totally grosses me out, but if you can figure out a way to contain your mobile one (in your arms,in a carrier, in a stroller) that would better then wondering where other people's shoes have been right before your baby puts her hands there.

This is just my style but you'll see what is practical for yours. :-)

General advice: don't worry about what other people do. People do a lot of paranoid and quirky things these days. It's an unnecessary burden on everyone. Shoes - don't make any rules that don't come naturally to you. Did your parents make everyone in the family and their guests leave the shoes at the door? Probably not. And did you survive? Yes. I would let your little one crawl in public places as much as you can stomach. I'm not in love with the airport, but don't mind a lot of other places. The most important thing in my mind is that your child gets to explore and NOT get the feeling that the world is a scary place filled with invisible deadly germs. I think parents are doing their kids a disservice in scaring them to death. Establish good hand washing routines before food, and after truly gross stuff, and let the rest go as much as you can. Kids build their immune systems by being exposed to GERMS. There is no other way to get a strong immune system. Kids in overly clean environments have less robust immune systems. Stand your ground and don't become paranoid!!! Take pleasure in your kid having fun and not being confused and made to worry by her mother. Good luck! (Also, watch out for the flea collar chemicals - I read recently that they might be harmful. That's what I would be careful about.)

I have 1 dog and 2 kids (plus my husband) and I notice the difference when I have everyone take their shoes off when they come in the house. Less cleaning is always a good thing. A few things to keep in mind...
Dad needs to do this as well
I have 2 door mats (one for just outside the door and one for inside the door) to help keep the doggie stuff out. I also keep an old towel by the door for rainy days
If you teach your oldest now, she will be a good role model for other children
It's easier for your child to walk without shoes in the beginning although I did require shoes outside because of all the "sharp" things on the ground.
Most people don't mind taking off their shoes when they come over. Even if they feel more comfortable in their shoes, I'm more concerned about my family following my rules since they are the main contributors to the dirty floors

Good luck!

H.

B.,
Your house, your rules. I’m a lifelong dog mama, lover, owner (as well as Moma of a healthy grown human kid)…I think my dogs paws are probably cleaner the people’s shoes.

Notice that dogs and cats take the time to clean their feet.
If your dogs feet get muddy, you may take the time to clean them before they come in? If you don’t , they take the time to clean themselves after the fact of tracking your nice floor.

No, I would not let my baby crawl around in an airport, supermarket or department store (EVEN in Neimans).

You sound GREAT!

Blessings…..

When my daughter was at the same age as yours she was crawling around with two dogs as well. I've always been a slipper or bare footed person around home. My husband always wears shoes. This did not affect her or her brother two years later. Niether of them ever got sick until they started pre-school.
They didn't crawl around in public places since they were usually in a stroller.

Hi B.,

Both my boys were born in Ann Arbor, MI and we had to contend with snowy boots and thunderstorm puddles. I don't know if this will help with the doggies, as we had no dogs, but three cats and two free range rabbits :-) I got used to just grabbing a clean sheet, king size, and covering the den floor with it. That way, as the boys began crawling and walking we had at least a large area for them to practice on that was clean. At the end of the day, I would just put the sheet in the laundry and get a new one for the next day. It was less time consuming than washing floors and cleaning every time a pet or person came waltzing through. Although esthetically it was not very exciting, people did notice it and step around the sheet and tried to keep it clean. And when the boys would crawl around and faceplant into it, it was not hard because I also had a softer fleece blanket under it, which I did not wash as frequently, it was mainly to just cushion things a bit.

At the airport I would also bring a small sheet, or large baby blanket in cotton. Light and easy to roll up. That would be for when they were sitting and playing with books or blocks. Otherwise I would just follow them around and when they went for crawling under the chairs as that is where the really old, good germs food crumbs are, I would just pull them back and steer them back to wide open spaces. And, of course, I had an antibacterial wipe within reach at all times. Target sells a generic round tub of them and it is easy to throw in the diaper bag. Hope this helps,

:-)
M.

We also have 2 dogs, one is a german shepherd who is always shedding, and the other turns into a mud-monster when it rains. We have mats and towels in the garage, where they usually enter, and inside of the garage door from the family room. Taking shoes off definitely helps. I wear a pair of inside-only shoes, since I have foot issues and hard kitchen floors. I picked up an idea from my sister-in-law, I keep a crate of slippers for guests who prefer not to be bare-foot. I pick up slides at end of summer sales, as well as old slippers of mine (washed). Sometimes I forget to remind guests - and just live with it. My kids are 4 and 6. I grew up in Canada - snow and winter boots made taking off footwear not only helpful, but more comfortable (boots are very hot to wear indoors!).