Shoes for Toddlers

Shoes for toddlers have changed a lot in recent years. When today’s parents were learning to walk, experts believed that babies walked better and earlier if their feet were kept in boot-like, hard-soled shoes that protected the foot and supported the ankle. Many of us remember those leather booties because our parents had them bronzed and kept them on a shelf in the living room. Today, researchers have found that those stiff designs actually impede babies and toddlers from learning to walk.

Barefoot is Best

Pediatric and orthopedic researchers have agreed in the last decade that babies do best learning to crawl, pull-up, cruise, and walk when they are allowed to sport bare feet. Research shows that babies develop stronger, more coordinated foot muscles when they are left barefooted most of the time. Early walkers have not yet mastered the heel-toe method and stiff shoes make toe-walking difficult or impossible. Most toddlers do not walk using the heel-toe method until at least 18 months. The bare foot interprets information from the surface it is in contact with about where weight should be distributed and how the foot should be positioned. Shoes disrupt this communication between the foot and the brain. Therefore, in order to insure proper foot development and an easy transition to walking, parents should allow babies and toddlers to go without shoes whenever they are in a protected environment.

Protective Shoes for Toddlers

Although experts agree that barefoot is best, there are times when a toddler’s feet need to be protected from hard surfaces and from the cold. When toddlers are inside, the only protection they need from the cold is a pair of socks. Look for socks that have rubber treads on the soles to prevent novice walkers from slipping on smooth surfaces. Many companies also make indoor toddler shoes that have very thin, flexible soles yet offer warmth and a bit of traction. Preschoolians offers an excellent selection of toddler indoor shoes. When toddlers are cruising outside, it is necessary to protect their little feet from the weather as well as from rough surfaces, glass, and germs. Look for a sturdier shoe with a thicker sole for outdoor protection.

Decorative Toddler Shoes

No matter what the research says, it is difficult to resist the adorable shoes for toddlers available today when putting together a special outfit. Little girls in fancy dresses wouldn’t look complete without the black pat and leather shoe. Little boys in navy blazers look out of place without tan bucks. Sometimes the only reason for toddler shoes is for decoration. Don’t worry about keeping your toddler barefoot every minute. Toddlers who have been walking for two months or so are ready to wear shoes more often, and a little practice in shoes won’t damage development. Many companies like Baby Gap offer adorable shoes that coordinate with their clothing line. For more affordable options, Children’s Place offers coordinating shoes too. Also more affordable is Payless Shoes where you will find toddler-pleasing character lines and shoes that flash lights when they make contact with a surface.

Toddler Shoes Summary

Although keeping babies and toddlers barefoot as much as possible is the best way to ensure proper foot development and an easy transition to walking, there are times when toddlers will need to wear shoes. When toddlers are inside in a protected environment, choose socks or flexible, soft soled, indoor shoes to keep tootsies warm. For outdoor protection, look for a slightly thicker sole. It is fine to put babies and toddlers in shoes simply as decoration on occasion. Once your toddler has been walking well for about two months, you can increase the amount of time he spends in shoes without restricting development.

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