Shoes In The Early Years

     Baby shoes have gone from being cherished bronzed mementos of baby’s first step to “let them go barefoot”. Parents still hear many opinions about what shoes are right for toddlers and when to start using them, but parents and doctors all agree that the old white, rigid, high-top, stiff-soled baby shoes are out. Most of the body parts we have after tens of thousands of years of evolution work pretty well (sinuses excluded) and the feet were not designed hoping that the right shoes would be invented someday.

     Before infants are walking, shoes and socks only serve to keep the feet warm. Before the baby is walking, those tiny infant shoes are very cute, and they cause no problem as long as they are loose enough.

     When your baby starts to walk, going barefoot is the best for him. It helps baby learn to balance naturally using his toes. If the foot needs extra warmth, socks with gripping material on the bottom work well.  When baby starts to walk outside of the home, buy shoes that are flexible. Experts recommend shoes with rubber soles that you can bend in half with the toe up and can twist from side to side. Be sure the shoe is loose and the foot is not constricted. There should be about the width of your thumb between the toes and the tip of the shoe.

     It seem that flip-flops are the most popular shoe for kids in summer, but they are tough to run in, they don’t work well for climbing on the park equipment and the toes are open to injury. Closed-toe, soft tennis shoes are great for doing all the things kids love to do and give a reasonable level of protection.  As soon as possible back at home, take both the shoes and socks off and go back to barefoot.

     Hand-me-down clothes are great, but you shouldn’t put your toddler in hand-me-down shoes. Everyone walks differently and shoes wear differently. He has to break his shoes in to match his way of walking.  But as rapidly as kids grow out of shoes, paying $40 a pair for “specially fitted” shoes is probably not worth it. Along with being flexible, comfortable, protective and fun, shoes should be cheap. You’ll go through a lot of them before he leaves for college.

     If your child has in-toeing or other specific problems, you need to speak with your child’s caregiver or a podiatrist.