NEVER JUDGE A BABY UNTIL YOUVE WOBBLED A MILE IN HER WEEBOKSbrbrAny Parent Will Tell You That There Is Nothing Quite Like Watching As Your Child Takes Her First Steps. When Little Tom Or Katie Start To Teeter Around Upright For The First Time There Are A Few Messages That Should Flash Through Your Mind In Order Of Importance. Somewhere After Please Dont Fall, Oh Please Dont Fall And Hmmm The Out Of Baby Reach Shelves Need To Be A Bit Higher Now Should Be Time To Get The Little One Some Shoes. And So The Hunt For Baby Shoes Begins.brbrWHEN IS IT TIME TO BUY BABY SHOES?brbrOnce Your Baby Starts Taking Those First Steps, It Is Definitely Shoe Time. While It Is Perfectly Acceptable (and Actually Quite Helpful) To Allow A New Walker To Go Barefoot While Learning To Balance And Totter Around Effectively, There Are Situations Where Shoes Are A Must Due To Hazardous Or Unsanitary Conditions. A Good Rule Of Thumb Is In The House And On The Carpet Barefoot Is Ok - On Tiled Floors And Out Of Doors Shoes Are The Way. Walking Barefoot Helps Babies Learn To Use Their Little Feet And Toes Effectively To Balance And Get Their Sea Legs So To Speak, So Its A Good Idea To Allow Them To Be Sans Footwear Whenever Feasible. On Surfaces That May Contain Hazards, However, Shoes Are A Must.brbrWHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BABY SHOEbrbrBaby Shoes Should Be Comfortable And Flexible So That The Child Is Encouraged To Walk In Them. Look For Shoes That Are Made Of Breathable Material So The Babys Feet Dont Get Too Hot Or Sweaty. Theres Nothing Sadder Than A Toddler With A Case Of Athletes Foot That Reaches William Perry On The Severity Scale. The Soles Should Offer Some Traction But Not Be So Thick That The Baby Cant Feel The Floor Beneath Her Feet. Nothing Will Make Your Baby Take A Header More Quickly Than A Pair Of Shoes With Thick, Heavy Soles.brbrRemember That Baby Shoes Are Not The Same As Those For Adults And Older Children. They Should Not Need To Be Broken In By The Child Because That Simply Isnt Going To Happen. Baby Shoes Arent Worn Long Enough To Be Worn Out Or Broken In. When Fitting The Shoe, Make Sure That It Doesnt Rub The Little Ones Feet The Wrong Way And That Theres Plenty Of Room To Grow. Now That Youre Buying Baby Shoes You Should Be Prepared To Buy Them Often. Babies Grow Faster Than You May Realize And Youll Probably Be Looking For New Baby Shoes About Once A Month.brbrFor Your Babys First Few Pairs Of Shoes You May Want A Pair With Velcro Fasteners Rather Than Laces. Its Easy For Babies To Untie Shoelaces, Which Will Have You Either Retying Them Repeatedly Or Constantly Worrying That Little Dave Or Carmen Is Going To Trip Over A Loose Shoelace. As The Child Ages, However, Find Some Point To Switch To Laces. Just Because Velcro Shoes Are Available Into Adult Sizes Doesnt Mean You Want Your Son To Be Unable To Tie His Shoes Until Hes Thirty-seven.
