Some of the cutest things in the world are baby shoes. Their tiny replication of big people shoes is undeniably adorable. Nobody would argue against the charm of mini moccasins.
In the world of tiny tennies, there are three phases little shoes go through. There are crib shoes, crawling shoes, and all too quickly, walking shoes. While each of these are self-explanatory in their name, here are a few things to know about each to help pick out the right shoes for your baby’s feet needs.
Newborn babies get the tiniest shoes. Crib shoes are made for babies from birth up to about 6 months old and are made of lightweight and soft fabrics. They are measured in size from 00-2. Shoe sizes do vary by brand, so try them on your baby before buying. If a shoe is a half an inch too long, it’s ok – baby’s feet will grow! Keep in mind that brand new babies really don’t need shoes, but they can be the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. Get all baby and toddler shoes made out of natural, breathable material, such as leather or fabric (not plastic).
Babies learning to crawl and stand can take advantage of crawling shoes. These are designed to protect teeny tootsies that are going to experience new surfaces, while providing a soft sole for feet that are still forming. These shoes usually fit babies wearing sizes 0-3. Check with your pediatrician about their opinion on a baby learning to walk wearing shoes. Some doctors may recommend that your baby not wear shoes often to strengthen his feet without any interference. When trying out Crawling Shoes, try to bend the shoe in half. If it bends in half in your hand, it’s got good flexibility for feet that are still forming.
All too soon, those little footsies will be antsy to be put to use, and walking shoes will be the key to encourage those confident steps. Just like your own shoes, take a baby to have her feet measured in the afternoon as they will naturally swell more than in the morning. Keep the width of her feet in mind as well. My friend has a baby boy the same age as our daughter, and his feet are nearly twice as wide. Measure both of baby’s feet every time before you buy shoes, and have a professional at the shoe store help to get an accurate measurement. The best way to measure is to have the baby stand as his feet are being measured. If you prefer to shop online, there are sites, like PediPed, which provide a printable measuring guide page to make the selection easy. When trying on new shoes, give the heel of the shoe a little tug to ensure that it won’t slide off too easily. Walking shoes should be very flexible, and should have good traction to reduce slipping. Make sure that those toes have a little room to wiggle, (think 1/4 to 1/2 inch,) but not much more so that shoes aren’t sloppy.
Enjoy every moment as those little feet grow with that bouncing baby!
About heidi
i like those shoes because look confortable for little kids because they need something soft.