shoe advise

[legend_018]

Is there any recommendations on shoes and when they should start wearing them.
My LO is almost 6 months old. She hasnt' worn shoes yet. I don't think I really see any of the babies at day care wearing them.  I live in New England. I wonder if there is a recommendation or is there an actual age where it starts becoming important for shoes to be worn? Sneakers and/or shoes of course.

[ryan's mum]

Ryan didn't wear shoes untill he was walking .He had little soft slippers to keep his feet warm in the winter

[binxyboo]

You can get the Robeez, they are soft and so cute, but kind of expensive. Lo would never keep any shoes on so I gave up trying. Now he is walking and still doesn't want the shoes on

[Erin M]

Most info that I have read says that until they are a few years old, you should generally avoid shoes that aren't of the Robeez type as our LOs are still developing their balance and coordination.  My DD almost never wears shoes unless she's outside walking where she might hurt her feet or in a store somewhere.  The soft slipper shoes (like Robeez) work really well to keep their socks on.  Basically for the first few years of their lives it's more important for shoes NOT to be worn than to be worn. 

[Marisa's Mom]

When DD was younger, before she could walk, we got her Robeez slippers to wear mostly to keep her socks on because it was winter or cold at the time. After she started standing & walking, she still went around the house either barefoot, with just socks, or with socks & Robeez. Robeez are soft soled shoes which I've read are better for our LOs.  She wears shoes when walking outside, but once we get into the car or back home, they come off.

At 6 mos, I wouldn't hurry to push the shoe issue. There's nothing wrong with bare feet, or even socks on cooler days (unless your LO kicks off her socks, then something like Robeez will help keep them on  )

[legend_018]

Thanks for the advise. 

[MandyP]

Madison wears Robeez.  She won't keep socks on, and with it getting colder, I had to take some action.  She has no problems walking in them, and she can't pull them off, so her feet stay warm.  They are a little on the pricey side, but they can usually wear them for 6 months at a time.

[Kate A]

we just had the recent shoe transition.  I second all those above.  we wore robeez until walking and once she could walk well, about 3 weeks or so after her first steps, we went to Nordstrom kids shoes and they fitted her for shoes.  We ended up purchasing a pair of Ecco's which are very good for first walkers.  She only wears them when we leave the house.  But I would highly suggest them when you do get to the shoes. 

[MrsKirky]

We did first walker shoes when he was starting to stand, around 9 months ($45). They lasted him for about 4 months. These he wore to school and in public places.  The Robeez at home or relatives' houses. There are Robeez knock-offs at babies-r-us and Target if you want a less expensive option.  We bought both kinds (Robeez and a knock off) and they were both fine.  They can't possibly wear them long enough to wear them out, anyway!

BTW, I bought shoes for him only because the other kids at school had them and I thought I was doing something wrong  ...At home, we mostly are barefoot, unless it is cold or he won't wear the socks that day.

[Marisa's Mom]

Gosh, DD's last set of Robeez shoes lasted her from the first week of Dec 2005 until a few days ago when I decided she could wear the two in the next size up (18-24 mos) which we got her a few months back. 10 months wear isn't bad at all! And they're still in great shape...

[MrsKirky]

Oh - the shoes that lasted 4 months were from...hmmm...Thom McCan?  One of those type places....He only wore those where I was afraid he may hurt his feet on gravel or glass or some such nonsense.  They are still in perfect shape, looks like he never wore them, but he grew out of them!

[Raquelita1]

My dd has been in Robeez from about 8 months, once she started getting mobile and to protect her feet a bit as she used to bum shuffle and her feet would always rub along the floor.  She's been walking about 3 weeks now and I've ordered some Preschoolians for her which a friend of mine who lives in the US highly recommends.  They have shoes called 'i'm walking barefoot' that are soft uppers like the Robeez but with a thin rubber sole instead of suede.  These soles are still completely flexible but allow more protection, which is what dd needs now that she's toddling about in the park, on gravel paths etc.  Here's the website: http://preschoolians.com/.  They ship internationally and work out quite a bit cheaper than if i were to go to a shoe shop here in Spain where i live.  They also come with 3 footbeds (narrow, medium and wide) so you can use the one that suits the width and girth of your child's foot.  hth 

[hawkeye1315]

In case anyone was planing on ordering some, Robeez.com is having a shipping promotion during the holidays. 

[legend_018]

thanks i'll check it out.

[maggieruth]

our Robeez that Ethan started wearing last christmas (at 7 months) STILL fit him at 18 months!  of course crawling outside has worn them out a bit but i would recommend them completely. 
he's got some 12 to 18 months ones just waiting.....