How to Choose Shoes for a Baby

Choose the Right Shoes for Your Baby

When your baby begins to walk, many experts agree that it is best to allow her to walk around barefoot to strengthen her ankles and arches. But there will be times when your baby will have to wear shoes. If it is cold in the house, you are playing outside or taking your baby out, you will have to provide your baby with proper footwear. Below are some tips for choosing proper shoes for your baby.

Instructions

1. Find shoes with flexible soles. Shoes that bend easily at the toe are best for baby. This will interfere the least with the baby foot's natural range of motion.

2. Buy shoes that are cut low. High top shoes tend to stay on your baby's feet. However, they are too confining and can interfere with your baby's ankle movements.

3. Get shoes that have flexible and breathable uppers. To maintain foot health, your baby's feet need to be able to breathe and have plenty of movement. This is best accomplished in shoes made of leather, canvas or cloth.

4. Find flat shoes with nonskid soles. Make sure that your baby's shoes do not have slippery bottoms. He has enough to content with when he first begins walking. Grooved, rubber soles are usually the least slippery.

5. Make sure that the back of the shoe is not flimsy. Try to make sure that it is padded and the seam is smooth so that it does not hurt your baby's heel.

6. Find the right fit. It is better that the shoes are too big rather than too small. If you are going to have thick socks on your baby while she wears the shoes, be sure to have a pair of socks on your baby while trying shoes on. Measure her feet and test both for fit.

7. Stick to standard shoes. Novelty shoes such as hard party shoes or cowboy boots may look cute, but they can actually distort your baby's foot as he grows. Look for shoes with a wide instep and absolutely flat heels.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have plastic or rubber rain boots for your baby, use them only when out in bad weather and remove them as soon as possible. If you have a pair of shoes for your baby that you really like but the bottoms are too slippery, rough them up with some sandpaper. When testing your baby's shoes for fit, make sure that the top does not gap open and that the heels do not move up and down when she walks. To check the width of your baby's shoe, pinch the shoe at the widest point. Make sure that you can pinch just a little bit between your fingers. The back of your baby's shoe should be snug and not too tight. Do not be too concerned with the shoes' durability--your baby will out grow them quickly.

• Shoes made of imitation leather or plastic will make your baby's feet sweat too much. Check your baby's shoes for correct fit every couple of weeks. She will outgrow her shoes very quickly, sometimes within a matter of weeks. If your baby has red areas on her toes or feet when you take off her shoes, they probably do not fitting correctly.

Resources

• Pediped Baby Footware