Baby shoes can serve as the perfect way to tie together any outfit. They are great for special occasions, cold weather, and, when your baby starts to walk, trips outside. This article will cover everything you need to know about baby shoes, including when your baby should start wearing them, and what types are best for those tiny feet.

When should your baby start wearing shoes?

Before your baby starts walking, you only need to invest in thick socks and newborn booties. During these early months, footwear is only important for keeping their tiny feet warm. Of course, if you want to dress them up in a cute outfit and you think shoes would go perfectly with that outfit, it is perfectly fine to buy them a pair or two for those special occasions. Just make sure that they don’t stay on for too long.

When they start to walk, they’ll be ready for their first real pair of shoes. Shoes are  important at this stage because they’ll protect your baby’s feet as your baby goes on adventures. You don’t want them to step on broken glass or to get stepped on and hurt themselves. If they are safe in the house, though, socks should be more than enough for them to walk around in and explore.

What types of baby shoes are the best?

Studies show that for babies who are just learning to walk, going barefoot wherever possible is the best option. However, they’re still going to need shoes to protect their little toes from getting hurt in any way.     

The best walkers shoes for babies are flexible, light, and made of breathable material. You want to be able to feel your baby’s toes when you touch them, and they should not make the walking process difficult by being too heavy for those tiny feet.

As you choose your baby’s first pair of shoes, here are a few more things you’ll need to keep in mind:

• Flexibility: The shoes should be able to bend with very little effort. You can test for this by trying to bend the toe of the shoe up a bit.
• Secure: Confirm that the shoes are easy to get on but won’t easily get off. They should also be the right fit without being too loose for your baby’s feet. Still, make sure that they are not so tight that they leave marks when you remove them.
• Non-slip: The shoes should also be non-slip. Get something with non-skid leather soles, or soles that have grooves on them. This is very important especially when your baby is just learning to move around on their own. However, make sure the grip is not so strong that your baby won’t be able to lift their feet.
• Padding: Check to make sure that the heels and ankles are padded on the inside for extra comfort.

Whenever possible, you should also try to buy shoes that adjust to your baby’s feet. Velcro, laces, and snaps are great for this. Avoid crocs, flip-flops, and slip-ons because they fall off easily as your baby moves around.

Final thoughts

Some of the most popular baby shoe styles are booties, moccasins, sandals with ankle straps, and walking sneakers that have snaps, Velcro, or laces. Whatever you choose to go for, the most important thing is to find a pair that your little one likes. Find that perfect balance between price, comfort, and style and you will have a winning pair of baby shoes! Good luck!