Moms of new walkers- shoes

OK- I'm catching ALOT of flack from people because I have yet to put shoes on my daughter who only started walking about a month ago. As of now she wears socks or is barefoot.

Do I go to Stride Right? Do I just buy "walking shoes" or should I start with a softer sole since she's still relatively new at this walking thing?

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

The best is still barefoot, IMO.

DD spends most of her time barefoot...BUT when we do go outside...other than just in the yard...I bought her a pair of new balance sneakers and I LOVE them. I did go to Stride Rite in Tanger and they SU CKED. Well, not the shoes, but the sales people.

You DO want to get a proper measurement of DD feet.

I am also a huge fan of PediPeds. DD has a few pairs of those that she also wears when we're out and about.

her sneaks

Message edited 8/14/2008 9:49:57 AM.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

They say it's better for their feet to be barefoot at first - so tell everyone else to shut it!
I let Lily got barefoot at home, and when we go out, I bring shoes in case she wants to walk around....
I bought her some cheap shoes on sale at BRU....but I'm planning on some Stride Rite soon....

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

Jack is pretty much barefoot all the time unless we are out at certain places - then he has his sneaks from STride Rite on.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

We headed right over to Stride Rite I would wait until Sept to get her fitted for good fall walking shoes....

Message edited 8/14/2008 9:51:05 AM.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

We went to Stride Rite (not Tanger - I agree with pp that they s uck!) and got DD a pair of the Stage 3 walking shoes - they're designed to help mimic barefoot walking (which should be a good indicator that barefoot = GOOD)...

I usually let her go barefoot at home, and shoes if we go out anywhere...

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

I'm so bad- I even let her go barefoot outside . Well in the grass that is. On concrete she's in socks.

We were at 2 family parties this weekend and every person that came over to say hi would look at Mads toddling in the grass and say, "What? No shoes?" My mom is the worst offender.

My next question is- is she going to have a hard time walking the first time I put shoes on her? I mean, is she going to have to "relearn" how to walk? It sounds so stupid- but I really have NEVER put shoes on this child (except for pictures).

I feel like if I don't put shoes on her she's going to be some wild beast running all barefoot in the street....

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

Message edited 8/14/2008 9:57:25 AM.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

I always had DD barefoot, even in pictures. Then she started walking, and she walked barefoot outside in the grass too. Then we went to Stride Rite to get measured and discovered she has a DOUBLE WIDE foot, so I could only buy 1 pair there, that's all they had. She has not yet worn those shoes though b/c they're the traditional walking shoes and it's too warm for that and socks.

So I went to a local shoe store and got her measured again and got her 2 pairs of nice supportive sandals for summer. My sister jokes that they look orthopedic, but they're structured, which I like. She's an expert walker (and runner ) now, so the next ones don't need to be as supportive I don't think. She'll get new shoes for fall.

Once she really, really is a walker, at least in my experience, she'll want to get down walk EVERYWHERE (stores, restaurants, etc.) so you'll need shoes with you if it's somewhere she's able to walk.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

DS started walking a couple of weeks ago at 11 months and he is ALWAYS barefoot. I did take him to Stride Rite to get fitted and bought a couple pairs of sneakers in case we were out and needed to put his feet on a dirty or bumpy surface. But he walks so much better in his bare feet because he can use his little toes to help balance himself. I love his little drunken walk!

I have heard that barefoot is best when learning to walk!

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

I keep them barefoot inside, even if we go to someone's house and we are staying inside.
I recently bought DD a pair of Clarks walking shoes and they seem to be ok. To me they seem big so they are going to be perfect in the fall which is when I intended to really keep the shoes on her. I am looking for something with a little more support though and their are way to many nice shoes to choose from. Sweets13 got me addicted to www.6pm.com.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

My son is walking a little over a month now. I still keep him barefoot at home for the most part but for going out I use my Stride Rite shoes. He is doing well in shoes now but the first couple weeks he had a hard time with them. For my experience with my older son, he always walked best in his stride rites over other shoes I bought so I stick to them. I had him measured in a local store and they didn't have the shoe I wanted in the store so I ordered from shoeboy and saved at least $20-25 on the 2 pairs I bought. Don't bother with soft soled for outside. Great for inside - I love my robeez for inside - but my soft soled stride rites ripped too quick with my little maniac man from going outside in them (I bought them when he was still crawling and just learning to walk).

Message edited 8/14/2008 10:34:01 AM.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

Emma has wide feet and I mostly put her in Pedipeds. She walks very well in them and they are adorable.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

I completely agree that barefoot is best at first. When we did get DS measured, we went to Stride Rite in Smithhaven and got his first pair of shoes there. Now that he's walking, he still prefers to be barefoot or have the socks with the grippies on the bottom. However, I got him some New Balance sneaks which are a bit lighter and he will walk with them as well.

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Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

I love when people who don't know what they are talking about try to convince you to do something for your kid that you know you don't need to do! Everything I have ever read says they are best off barefoot, even when they begin to walk. One of my friends thought it was horrible that DS is 8 months and has never owned a pair of shoes--she even called him a hillbilly which ****** me off. Don't tease my kid!

Anyway, I do think he should have sneaks or something for when the weather gets cold this year. We'll probably go to Stride Rite to get measured, though I can't stand the sales help at that store either.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

DS is walking and I still leave him barefoot or in socks. The only time I put shoes on him is if we are going somewhere like a birthday party, or someplace special. IMO, it is still best for them to be without shoes. I am no expert though.

Re: Moms of new walkers- shoes

Honestly bare foot is best - esp at home - but you will want something outside so they don't hurt their feet. My ped told me not to waste my time on the walking shoes that the only benefit was to mommy b.c it is harder for them to take off - but to get her some shoes. I went to an outlet and she has been wearing stride rite sandals all summer - in fact she has outgrown a few pairs already. She does very well in them and they are very comfy - with the fall coming up you might want to think about sneakers if that matters to you.

BTW you could go to a stride rite store and get measured - then go to the outlets or check amazon.com - I have gotten stride rites from both for good prices (even nordstroms has sales and they are 50% off sometimes. She just went to a size 4 and since we still have august and disney coming up I wanted sandals - and got them for $12 and $14. They had a lot of selection (and some cute sneakers and mary janes too).