Guide to Buying Baby Shoes

It’s finally here. You’re in a shoe store with bright lights, a toddler on your hip, and you wonder: Is this the right time to buy their first pair of shoes? At first, it seemed like a wonderful milestone, but now it’s causing you to ask yourself several questions.

• Do they need shoes?
• What is the best type of sole for tiny, chubby toes?
• Is it necessary to sell my kidney to buy something that they will outgrow within six weeks?

You’re not the only parent, and you are in the right place.

Lucy Jackson, the co-founder and CEO of Beautiful Soles, has been down this road before (pun intended!) Lucy Jackson, co-founder of Beautiful Soles, has walked this road (pun intended!) and is here to guide you through the big step in your child’s development. This blog is based upon her experience, professional insights and, most importantly, on her journey as a mother trying to do what’s best for her child. 

A Personal Journey that Inspired a Brand: Guide to Buying Baby Shoes

Lucy’s journey in the world of baby shoes didn’t begin in a boardroom, but in a hospital. Madeline, Lucy’s daughter, of 11 days, contracted a severe infection in her bone and was on the verge of losing her leg. Lucy was worried about Madeline’s mobility in the long term and wanted to give her daughter a good start when she started to crawl and walk.

She asked pediatricians and podiatrists for advice, and she was told the same thing time and again: flexible, soft soles are the best option for young children. Why? Baby feet are still developing and are not simply smaller versions of adults’ feet. Shoes that are too rigid or structured can hinder this crucial development.

Lucy Henry and Alison Henry, who struggled to find high-quality leather shoes with soft soles that were stylish, well-fitting and durable and approved by podiatrists, created Beautiful Shoes. The brand is dedicated to creating shoes with high-quality leather and soft-soled soles designed for babies and toddlers.

Madeline, a four-year-old energetic and happy girl, is now a happy child who runs up to 100kph, or so her mother claims. Madeline is living proof that choosing the right shoes from the beginning can help your child develop healthily and strongly.

Baby Shoes: More than just cute accessories

It’s very easy to fall for the trap of thinking that baby shoes are adorable fashion statements. While tiny shoes may be adorable, they play a crucial part in your child’s physical development.

Talk about your feet for a minute.

Did you know that the human foot contains 26 bones and 33 joints as well as more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons? Your feet are under twice as much pressure with each step. What about your baby’s foot? For the first few months, they’re mostly cartilage. This makes them incredibly flexible, but also incredibly vulnerable.

Most foot professionals advise going barefoot as often as possible. In countries where babies and toddlers are allowed to walk barefoot, foot problems in later life are less common.

But of course, barefoot isn’t always realistic–especially with modern flooring, public surfaces, and unpredictable weather.

When shoes need to be, they must mimic the conditions when barefoot.

When should you buy your baby’s first shoes?

The answer to this question isn’t quite as simple as you may think.

It’s not necessary to wait for your baby to be able to walk confidently before purchasing their first pair of shoes. If your child is crawling around the house or even cruising on furniture, you might want to start shopping. It’s not necessary to buy structured walking shoes, but rather soft-soled Pre-walkers, which offer protection and freedom.

During this stage, babies will drag their toes across the floor and cause scrapes. Soft leather shoes with suede soles and elastic ankles are ideal for protecting your baby’s feet from cold or rough floors.

Consider them “footcovers” rather than “shoes”, in the traditional sense.

What to look for in first shoes

It can be a bit overwhelming here, but you don’t need to. Lucy’s advice simplifies it into a few main points:

1. Flexibility Is Key

The shoes that you choose for your baby should be flexible, whether they are crawling, standing or taking their very first steps. The shoe should bend easily in your hands. The natural muscle development of their feet and ankles can be affected by shoes that are stiff or have a hard bottom.

2. No to arch supports and heels

You might think it’s counterintuitive, but kids don’t require heels or arch supports. Artificial support can be harmful to their developing arches.

3. Natural Materials Matter

Baby feet sweat a lot. Natural, breathable shoes made of soft leather or cotton, as opposed to synthetics, are best. Synthetics can trap moisture, leading to discomfort and even fungal problems.

Fitting tips: Size matters more than you think

Let’s talk about sizing. Babies grow fast, like really quickly. Their feet will grow an average of two sizes every year up until the age of five. It’s tempting, thinking that they’ll “grow into” them, to buy a size larger. But this can delay walking and cause problems with balance and foot health.

How to find the perfect fit

1. Stand-and-Measure

When fitting shoes for your child, they must stand (if possible). It allows their feet to expand fully under weight and gives a more accurate shoe size.

2. The Rule of 1cm

The space between the longest toe of your baby and the tip of his shoe should be approximately 1cm. This will allow for the proper growth and movement of your baby.

3. Wiggle Room, But Not Too Much

Babies need space to move their toes. This helps with balance and comfort. Shoes that are too large will cause them to trip. The goal is to find a comfortable but snug fit.

Avoid the price trap

All parents want to give their children the best, but the most expensive shoes aren’t always the best choice for their feet. The name of the designer brand can make them more expensive, but not necessarily because their shoes are made to meet the needs of growing feet.

Many mainstream baby shoes are just scaled-down versions of adult footwear, and don’t take into account the wider toe area that babies require for growth and balance. Choose brands that work closely with healthcare professionals to design shoes for babies and those that are designed specifically for the baby’s anatomy.

There are different types of shoes for different stages.

You can plan your next steps by breaking them down into stages:

Crawlers (Pre-walkers):

• Soft leather or cloth
• Non-slip soles in suede or rubber
• Keep them on with elastic ankles
• Breathable Material

First Walkers

• Rubber soles that are still flexible
• No ankle or arch support
• Roomy toe box
• Use Velcro or laces as fasteners to secure them

Confident Walkers:

• Flexible soles with a more structured sole
• Lightweight, supportive and not restricting
• Every 2-3 months, check the size.

One shoe to rule them all? Not quite.

You can’t expect a single pair of shoes to fit every occasion. What most parents find useful:

• Indoor slippers with suede bottoms for traction.
• Outdoor shoes for walks or parks with rubber soles
• Sandals or water shoes for beach fun and summer days

Always, always make sure to check the fit of your shoes every few months. These little feet grow quickly.

The Mystery of the Disappearing Shoes

Have you ever come home to find that one shoe is missing from your house? You are not alone. You’re not alone.

For infants who love to pull off their shoes, elasticated shoes can be a life-changer. Choose shoes with Velcro straps or double-knotted laces for toddlers. Anything that will stay in place when they are playing wild.

Bonus tip: Label your child’s footwear or purchase clip-on labels for childcare days. This will save you a lot (and a lot more arguments) in the future.

Last Thoughts – Trust your gut (and your child’s feet)

It doesn’t need to be stressful for you or your child to buy their first pair of shoes. With the right information and patience, you can make it a fun experience. No matter if you are a new parent or a third-time toddler tornado, healthy foot development is the key to a lifetime’s worth of good posture, balance, and movement.

Take your time and let your child try on a variety of shoes.

Enjoy this small milestone. This may be just the beginning of many exciting adventures to come.