Baby Shoes: They Are Not Necessary

Baby shoes are absolutely adorable. They are so tiny and so cute. I remember before having my first I would look at those little shoes in the stores, and I could not wait to put them on my baby’s feet. However, I never bought them. I did not use them, and they are not a necessary baby thing, at least not until your baby is walking.

9 out of 10 pediatricians will recommend skipping the baby shoes until your little one is beginning to walk. In fact, when they are learning to walk and you are at home they still should not have their shoes on. The reason it is recommended to skip the shoes for a while is that babies feet and toes naturally curl and move a lot. The shoes can be quite restrictive to their little feet. It also does not allow their feet to develop properly if they are restricted in shoes all of the time. You should try to let your baby have bare feet or just socks on as much as possible until about the age of two. When your baby is transitioning into the toddler phase he/she will actually curl their toes into the floor to help get a better grip and it helps them to learn to walk.

The sole purpose for baby shoes is to protect your little ones feet and keep them warm when they are outside or in an environment where they could potentially step on something and hurt their foot. Once your baby does begin to walk, you really should take them and get their feet professionally measured. It is not uncommon for a baby to have a wide or even a double wide foot and you want to be sure that the shoes you pick fits your child’s foot well. You will also want to begin with beginner walking shoes. They are very flexible, but offer support for your baby’s foot and ankle.

If you really do want your baby to wear shoes at an earlier stage I would suggest you get your baby a pair of Robeez shoes. They are super soft and flexible and work well to protect your baby’s feet when outdoors. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors. You can find them at a limited number of stores. I have added a link to their website below.

Again, my opinion is holding off on this baby thing until your baby is a bit older and really needs baby shoes.