What factors should parents look for when buying a pair of shoes for the baby who has just started walking?
The feet of the babies and their style of walking are as unique as their faces and smiles. When the baby starts taking those first steps, it's time to shop for baby shoes. There are four basic but important parts of a shoe you should consider:
The sole. As a general rule, the earlier the stage of walking, the thinner and more flexible shoe sole should be. Before buying a baby shoe, bend it by hand to check its flexibility. As you fit your baby's shoes, observe how your baby walks. The shoe should bend at the toes as the baby takes each step.
The counter (back of the shoe). To ensure a good fit, the counter should be firm. Squeeze the counter between the thumb and index finger as proof. If it feels too soft, it will be easily be worn out with use, which causes the shoe to slip off.
Heel. With the first shoe for your baby, a small heel is advised to help avoid dangerous backward falls.
Top and side of the shoe. These parts of the shoe should bend easily when the baby walks. If the top and side does not crease easily, it means the baby shoe is not flexible enough and the baby's foot could not bend in a natural manner while walking.
The choice of an experienced shoe salesman and a shoe store reputation important when caring for your baby's feet. When trying on shoes for yourself, it is easy to tell if shoes fit by the way they feel. But the baby cannot say whether a particular shoe feels good or not. Therefore, in the same way that you trust with your pediatrician to give advice throughout the stages of your baby's development, you should also be able to trust a shoe salesman for his advice on the footwear needs of your baby. A shoe salesperson should be someone who understands progression fitting. This means that he can properly match the changes in the baby's size and design of shoes with the progressive changes in the style of walking and growth of the foot.
Parents often ask about the shoe height. Since the baby's heel is not yet well formed during the first two years, there isn't much to hold the shoe to the foot. This is the reason why some babies need to have higher shoes than others, depending on the growth of the heel. Many babies can manage to walk in a three-quarter boot type, which is not as high as the traditional high-ankle styles, giving more freedom of movement while staying on your baby's feet as well. A well-trained shoe salesman can advise you as to what height of the shoe is best for your baby.
