Shopping
How to Buy Baby's First Shoes
Little baby shoes are adorable! It's tempting to buy simply based on look, style, and color. But baby's feet have special needs, and shopping for shoes may not be as simple as you think.
While shopping in a local kids' boutique, I fell in love with an irresistible pair of tiny turquoise high-tops spattered with pink polka dots. My daughter wasn't even walking yet but I absolutely had to have them—or rather, she did. They were a little tough to get on her feet and they slipped off a lot, but they were so adorable I couldn't resist.
A few months later, when my daughter began taking her first steps, I took her to a children's shoe store. As the salesman checked her feet in her hip sneaks, his disapproving look was my first indication that maybe hip wasn't smart when it came to my baby's first shoes.
"The most common mistake parents make is buying first shoes without trying them on the child's feet," he began. "Because the bones in a baby's feet aren't fully developed at this stage, proper fit is critical to ensure healthy foot growth. A shoe that's too small can constrict toes, and one that is too wide won't provide enough support. A special shoe is often necessary for babies whose feet point in or out when they are walking. And finally, besides the immediate harm to the feet, an improper fit can also cause back and leg problems later in life."
Oh, is that all? I could feel the "first-time mother" sign flashing in bright red neon across my forehead. The sneakers I had bought were a full size too small and they provided no support. Fortunately my daughter hadn't been wearing them long enough to do any damage.
It's hard not to be blinded by cuteness, but as lovable as those Day-Glo rubber-appliquéd dinosaur sneakers are, they may not be the right shoes for your baby. Here are some recommendations from the American Podiatric Medical Association to help you start your baby off on the right foot.
The Fit
A store that specializes in children's shoes will most often have professional shoe fitters. Choose a store that's nearby so you can establish a relationship with the employees. This is particularly important because most children grow out of their shoes every four to six weeks until they're about two and a half. Dress your baby in the socks that she'll probably wear with the shoes. Cotton socks absorb moisture and are recommended.
A good shoe fitter should go through the following steps:
- Measure both feet, while the child is standing.
- Check shoes for toe room. In general, the rule is a finger's width between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
- Check for heel slippage.
- Check the shoe's flexibility. The fitter should look at the ball of your baby's foot while she is walking.
Related Links
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