When to Buy Shoes

There's no need to put him in shoes at home, but you can put him in soft-soled shoes elsewhere. Pediped is a very good brand, but Target also has soft soled shoes for much cheaper. Do not put him in hard-soled shoes until he is very good at walking.

Hi D.,

I am echoing all the responders who recommended to keep him barefoot. Keep him barefoot as long as possible, let their feet develop naturally without any external pressure from shoes.

Good luck!

D.

I was told by my doctor to buy him shoes as soon as he starts taking steps. This will help form his feet, he was 1 this pasted June and in a few days a took a few steps and now he is running this is nuts. Payless has what they call first walking shoes. I bought this for my daugher 5 years ago and now for my son. They are soft and confortable. :) Good Luck!

Congratulations! Those first steps are amazing. My Doctor told me no shoes are best, and his first shoes should have very flexible soles (like Pedipeds). Baby feet need to be able to move and all of those tiny bones and cartilage shift and grow very quickly, being confined in a shoe is not good for that. If he needs something to be outside in, like to cruise around at the park you might want to try a pair of water shoes or "crocs", I bought a pair on summer clearance and my new walker loves them.

Good luck!

Our youngest started cruising at 6 months so that's when we got him shoes. I only buy PRESCHOOLIANS that have different stages and it seamed they gave him a bit more stability, it worked out great.Our both boys love their shoes:)
PS Mother is telling you to get him shoes????That's crazy, you provide love and 24/7 care, at least she can do to get shoes.

I never put my son in pre walkers. I bought shoes once he was ready for walking outside. He was also cruising for several months. He started cruisin at 9 months, but was ready to walk outside at 1 year.

How wonderful that you're fostering a child!

My understanding (from reading and from my son's ped.) is that it is best to let children walk barefoot as much, and as long, as possible. We never wear shoes in the house, and our little guy walks barefoot outside if we're somewhere safe (like our yard). It allows all of the nerve endings in the feet to make contact with the floor and give the child the best sense of balance and stability.

Good luck!

I generally left my 3 kids barefooted inside at home but put a soft walking shoe on them when we were out and about when they were cruising and taking initial steps. Their initial shoes were very flexible "baby" walkers, white and above the ankle. I did think that it gave them a bit more stability and aided in the walking.

I do not advise a croc or sandal because they are dangerous enough for a little one who can walk. Scares me to think of a toddler in a croc. I have seen parents put stiff sneakers on the kids and they seem hobbled by them. I love the robeez style foot covering but they are slippery so if you are in a place with wood or tile floors they are not ideal.

there are shoes that are almost like slippers. super-soft leather soles, with elastic around the top. the sole is not molded, so it allows children to still feel the ground. It's kind of like being barefoot, but may satisfy mom because they are technically shoes. some brands include pediped, llbean, and robeez. you can't find them everywhere, but they are around - you may have luck trying the manuf website and seeing "where can I buy". i just saw some in whole foods the other day (?!). my son wore those (even outside) until I felt he was walking very comfortably (at least two months). we recently switched him into a traditional "shoe" from stride rite, and the transition went well.
good luck!