Bottom shoes for babies

A few weeks ago, I was at a cousin's bridal shower with my 2-month-old son in tow. I had dressed him to look extra cute and was proudly showing him off to all the attendees when I overheard a group of elderly women expressing their disapproval over the fact that my baby wasn't wearing any shoes. His little feet were covered in warm socks, but that was apparently insufficient, despite the fact he won't be walking for practically a year. I felt pretty defensive, but inside I began to second guess myself: When should a baby start wearing hard-soled shoes? It turns out, my original instinct was just fine. Medical advice on the subject today is quite different than it was a generation or two ago, when no family picture was complete without a bouncing baby in high-top booties.

Here's your guide to finding the right walking shoes for your baby at the right time. Your baby will need her first pair of shoes once she starts to walk to protect her feet from broken glass and other problematic objects or substances on the ground, and to prevent injuries if "bigger" people step on her tiny toes. Otherwise, she should ideally go barefoot whenever possible to give those tootsies room to breathe, stretch and grow. That said, there's nothing wrong with buying a pair of baby shoes to dress up an outfit at any age, as long as you don't keep them on too long when she's very young. If your baby is learning to walk , it's best to go barefoot whenever possible: Doing so helps build arches and strengthen ankles.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It's a wonderful phase of your life as a parent, but it can also become a hard one. And why not, look cute!

Almost every parent will tell you their world is flipped upside down once their baby starts walking. Many professionals including those associated with the American Association of Pediatrics recommend that you allow your child to practice walking barefoot first. Learning how to grip the floors and coordinate their steps with little or no support gives children the best chance to develop their bones and muscles. With so many choices on the market, it can be daunting to find the best baby walking shoes.