Baby's First Shoes

It may seem like every time you blink, your little one is reaching a new milestone. Shortly after learning to crawl, parents need to prepare for baby’s first steps. Aside from baby proofing the house, preparation should include shoe shopping. Try to avoid going for the shoes that are the cutest. The best idea is to have a professional fit the shoes. If shoes do not fit properly, it can affect your child’s foot development.

Go for shoes with stiff soles, as they have the best support. Make sure there is room for the foot to move around. There should be at least a quarter inch of space between the front of the shoe and the big toe. Children’s feet grow quickly, so it is important to check the fit often. You may even want to check the child’s foot for blisters or redness.

The best way for a child to learn how to walk is barefoot, so don’t worry about wearing shoes in the house. Save them for outdoor activities.

Image by Dustin McClure. (2013). Baby Shoes. Flickr.