Ps. Found this on the web:
When Do Babies Need Shoes?
By Ashley Westbrook
Most of our lives we cram our feet into tight-fitting shoes or super-high stilettos — all for the sake of fashion. But what about our babies? When should they begin wearing shoes?
“For children not yet walking, but who need protection on their feet, socks provide the best covering, but barefoot is best for children learning to walk,” says registered nurse Marsha Blackman of Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. “They seem to learn better balance without shoes because they can grip the floor with their toes.”
“A shoe worn prior to the walking stage serves as fashion and not as function,” agrees Dr. Chris Straughn of Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth. In some cases, a shoe worn during the developmental walking stage may even serve as a hindrance instead of an aid.”
But babies can’t savor the carefree, barefoot lifestyle forever; once the child has reached the stage where walking has become easier and curiosity takes them to places where foot protection is a must, it’s time to embark on your first shoe-purchasing journey. Here are a few tips:
* Make sure the shoe has a space as wide as your index finger between the end of the shoe and the child’s toes.
* The shoe should be wide enough and flexible enough to let toes wiggle comfortably.
* Velcro is a safer choice for first-timers over laced shoes.
* Shoes that have a type of tread on the bottom help provide friction between the child and the ground and help create balance.
