Walking shoes?

[Dov'sMom]

When do I need to put my baby in shoes? I mean the soft leather kind, like Robeez.

My 7 month old is standing on furniture and trying very hard to stand independently. He doesn't cruise, per se, but he does walk along with something that moves with him -- for example, if the baby fence isn't secured, he'll pull up on it and walk along as it swings shut. Or he'll pull up on a toy and slide it in front of him as he walks.

My babysitter is saying he needs those leather things for better traction. On the one hand, I feel like being barefoot is good for him; on the other, better traction will mean he can climb the stairs much faster, which worries me. I don't have a fence at the bottom of the stairs because I know my preschoolers will try to climb over, which could be disastrous, and so far the baby takes a long time to climb because his feet keep sliding away, which means I have plenty of time to get him before he goes high enough to hurt himself. I'm sure he'll master the stair climbing before he's smart enough to come down safely, but I'd rather minimize the time I need to have fences there.

I no longer remember what I did with my first two, though I think I waited until they were closer to a year.

[busymama77]

I just recently started putting the Robeez on my 7 month old. I did with DS1 around the same age maybe 8mos when he was really crawling and when it was cooler outside. Plus, it's something else that keeps them occupied other than trying to pull on my hair or earrings.

[sunnygir1]

I only put them on when their feet get cold. The weather is getting colder here, so we wear shoes when we go outside and occasionally inside on cold mornings. I think barefoot is best developmentally, so you don't "need" to put shoes on them at any certain age.

ETA: We have hardwood floors, and crawling/walking traction has been a challenge for my babes, but I didn't do anything about it. They get stronger and figure it out...no harm done.

[waiting2bemommy]

teach him now how to scoot downt he stairs safely on his belly. I would do that regardless.

They also sell at the dollar store and walmart and target non-skid socks for toddlers. Youmight try those if you don't want shoes. I personally hate robeez...i think they are ugly, look nothing like any shoes I have ever seen before, and are way overpriced. Converses are way cuter and are great toddler shoes because they are super flexible and comfy.

I put shoes on both my kids from day 1. But in the house we all go barefoot, as we do in the yard as long as it's warm enough. I just put shoes on them when we go somewhere. Bare feet are good for you!

[Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

I only put them on when their feet get cold. The weather is getting colder here, so we wear shoes when we go outside and occasionally inside on cold mornings. I think barefoot is best developmentally, so you don't "need" to put shoes on them at any certain age.

ETA: We have hardwood floors, and crawling/walking traction has been a challenge for my babes, but I didn't do anything about it. They get stronger and figure it out...no harm done.

Shoes are not necessary and many feel that they are detrimental, especially when used too young (I didn't know better and put shoes on my oldest from the start... looking back, I see how absurd that practice is ). I use soft soled shoes outside only when they are new walkers and still being carried/worn a lot. It is not until walking is their primary mode of transport that they wear more sturdy shoes.

[ErinYay]

Originally Posted by waiting2bemommy

Converses are way cuter and are great toddler shoes because they are super flexible and comfy.

IMO, for young, young toddlers (like <1 year) Converse are WAY too still and bulky, but I've sold my soul to Robeez and will never look back. Heck, I live in my Chucks and if I walk too much, my arches and ankles are in agony, because they're still yet have no support.

V is toddling at 10 months, and has a pair of handmedown flexible-yet-stiff Stride Rites that trip her up constantly. She wears he Stride Rites when we're out shopping or something where she'll be up or worn the whole time.

She's been cruising for 4 month and toddling for 1, and has only just started wearing shoes as of last week. DH and I would joke that he needs to work hard, because baby needs a new pair of shoes, as she had ZERO shoes until last week.

We just got a pair of Robeez today at the local branch of a chain kids' resale shop that I always refer to as Once Upon A No Child Left Behind for $6.50, which is way cheaper than full price, and even cheaper than ebay. She moves beautifully in them, and they give her feet protection against cold and rough surfaces without interfering with her gait.

I see so many new toddlers who have that really clompy, old-man gait, largely because (IMO, of course- I might be full of it!) they're wearing what appears to be 50 lbs of sneaker on each foot.

[carmel23]

:

I wanted to echo ErinYay's comment.

My almost 10 month-old is walking well, and literally won't tolerate *anything* more then a robeez type shoe. He will sit down and do everything he can to remove the shoes (even really soft ones, like pedoodles, etc.)

I think the little ones really like to feel how their toes grip the ground/floor and can't do that in stiffer shoes (even if they are very flexible).

[Dov'sMom]

Not planning on anything more than Robeez -- though I think we go with the Target brand until the baby outgrows it (my kids have HUGE feet).

Just wanted confirmation that he doesn't need them yet. He's mostly "walking" in the house; when he's on the grass, he wants to crawl and explore.

Waiting -- yes, we are working on teaching him to go down on his belly, but I don't remember any of my others picking it up so young. Then again, I don't remember them climbing stairs at 6 months either. The bigger problem isn't trying to come down, it's that he loves to share his accomplishments. So he gets up a few stairs and then bangs a lot so we notice and then turns around to grin, whereupon he falls. So far, we've caught him every time, but that's partly because he does so much banging and progresses so slowly. Our main mode of protection right now is keeping him away from the stairs entirely so he doesn't get much practice...

[WorldsBestMom]

Robeez I remember that brand . Now would be a great time to let your baby start wearing shoes so baby can learn to walk in them and stand in them.

[ErinYay]

Originally Posted by WorldsBestMom

Robeez I remember that brand . Now would be a great time to let your baby start wearing shoes so baby can learn to walk in them and stand in them.

I'm sorry, but I think this isn't great advice, unless you're referring to super-soft shoes like Robeez. It can't be good for little joints, muscles, and bones to be forced to learn to walk while encumbered by clunky shoes. Kids have their whole lives to wear uncomfortable shoes that aren't great for them; there's no legitimate need to get them used to it any earlier than needed.

Even my niece, who was walking well at seven months (that kid is ridiculous!) and could run fluidly at 9 months, now at 20 months still gets tripped up in "real" shoes, as my sister has outfitted her solely in Robeez since she could walk.

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by WorldsBestMom

Robeez I remember that brand . Now would be a great time to let your baby start wearing shoes so baby can learn to walk in them and stand in them.

They can learn later; there's no reason they need to "learn" to walk in shoes at 7 months.

[EdnaMarie]

My feeling is, a baby doesn't need any shoes unless there are splinters in the floor. Socks with traction are fine if a floor is slippery, then Robeez if baby is playing at the park. It's a question of foot protection, not support.

If it rains a lot, but baby wants to walk out to the car or on damp store floors, I do think Converse are a nice alternative to the much thicker, or much more flexible but super-expensive, shoes. We used them.

For your needs, I would say you do not need them. Get tractioned socks if she really feels the need to put some on him.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by WorldsBestMom

Robeez I remember that brand . Now would be a great time to let your baby start wearing shoes so baby can learn to walk in them and stand in them.

It takes absolutely 0 skill points to stand in Robeez. They just protect from minuscule rocks, shards of glass, etc. outdoors when baby's feet still just need to walk on the ground to remain steady. They're like leather socks.

[busymama77]

There are also other alternatives to Converse but have a flexible sole like Robeez - Pedipeds or SKR Smaller. Once DS is walking, I plan to purchase a pair of each and see which ones work better. Once they are walking, they do need a little more ankle support and PP and SKR offer just that. As well as a non-skid sole.

[Friday13th]

We started putting robeez on DS1 when he was around 9 months, he was cruising, we had hard wood floors, it was winter and he would not keep a pair of socks on.

He wore pedipeds and see kai run (smaller) as his outdoor shoes until about 2 when we got him some regular see kai runs and robeez tredz.

I also love Converse and we all wear them now but I don't think they're appropriate for a one year old.

[sewchris2642]

I second going barefooted whenever possible. Feet are made to be walked on barefooted. If the feet need protection from weather and sharp rocks and stickers, then no skid socks or soft soled shoes like robeez are best. Hard soled shoes aren't needed until the child needs the extra protection when doing things like riding a bicycle. And then make sure that the shoes are big enough to allow wiggle room for the toes.

[chel]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

My feeling is, a baby doesn't need any shoes unless there are splinters in the floor. Socks with traction are fine if a floor is slippery, then Robeez if baby is playing at the park. It's a question of foot protection, not support.

For your needs, I would say you do not need them. Get tractioned socks if she really feels the need to put some on him.

i agree. shoes are for foot protection. either from the ground or weather. my dd2 is 8m and i've just started putting a pair of robeez on due to the weather. she's already cruising, but never on surfaces she would need protection from. if i had a pair of socks that would stay on i would use that, but at the momment i have a free pair of robeez that i use.

i was the same with dd1 and she had no issues adjusting to shoes when they were needed.

[Asiago]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

My feeling is, a baby doesn't need any shoes unless there are splinters in the floor. Socks with traction are fine if a floor is slippery, then Robeez if baby is playing at the park. It's a question of foot protection, not support.

I feel similarly.
I waited as long as possible to put shoes on my son. Once he began to stand up outdoors I realized it was time for some protection.