A question for people who don't wear shoes in the house.

[isittheholidaysyet]

I know the whole shoes in the house thing is controversial on mumsnet, so let's not go there.

My children don't wear shoes in the house, but they keep hurting their feet. They accidently kick walls or furniture or each other as they move around. They catch their big toes on corners. They run doors over their feet and rip their toenails/skin. They accidently stand on sharp things like toys, Lego or worse. They get cold feet.

All this results in regular crying sessions because of hurt feet. Plasters etc. And I get sick of have to deal with another child who hurt themselves for something I see as easily preventable.

My DH and I would solve this by telling them to wear the shoes we've spent a fortune buying, but if you don't wear shoes in the house, how do you protect feet?

Are you just careful?
Do you wear slippers which are basically like shoes?
Do you actually wear shoes but just 'indoor' shoes?

My kids have had slippers in the past, but they don't wear/like them, and they wouldn't provide much protection.

As they are at home bare-footed all the time now, it's becoming a problem.
Any ideas?

(Kids range from 9years to 15years, so not littlies)

Slippers. Strongish ones so almost like shoes.

Well we don’t wear shoes in the house but mine aero younger (6, 4 and 1). I can’t think of any serious barefoot related injuries we’ve had, the occasional standing on Lego but none of the other things you mention!
Mine aren’t keen on slippers either.
If you’re happy for them to wear shoes in the house can’t they just wear their shoes?

Mine hurts his feet a bit and is a bit of a moaner but he wouldn’t wear slippers. So he just puts up with it. Worst is socks, makes him slip amd crack his head.

If it was a big issue I’d say wear indoor only shoes.

I’d never let anyone regularly wear minging shoes from outside, potentially with dog poo germs on, in our home. Esp on the carpet. Regular visitors have slippers or wear stockinged or bare feet. We have real wood floors.

We wear slides inside or slipper boots (like uggs but cheaper)

Slippers with a proper sole or crocs

They just need to be more careful - we are barefoot in the house and in the garden and often when we go for walks around the village too - no serious (or actually even non serious) injuries to any of us!

I have slippers but only wear them because they are cosy in the winter.

Indoor slippers only but not on stairs.

I wear slippers. 7 year old has bare feet and I can’t remember him ever having an accident as a result despite his room being a carpet of Lego (touch wood).

Daughter wears socks, I wear slippers.

Thanks french and driving

Yes, wearing shoes (Or similar) would be my answer. That's why I (and DH) wear them. But they won't. I was wondering if I'd missed something obvious. As shoes off in the house seems more common.

Crocs? I wear those

My children don't wear shoes in the house, but they keep hurting their feet. They accidently kick walls or furniture or each other as they move around. They catch their big toes on corners. They run doors over their feet and rip their toenails/skin. They accidently stand on sharp things like toys, Lego or worse.

Do they have SEN that would cause them to be more clumsy than 'normal'? Even with dyspraxia mine has never done more than accidentally stub a toe or occasionally step on a Lego. Learning to protect your feet is quite intuitive, even for small children. We are always barefoot in the house although I pop my slippers on in winter if I'm going to the bathroom or kitchen because the tiles get really cold.

So it is just a case of Be More Careful or Wear Shoe/Slippers then?

I've a 3 year old who refuses slippers in the house. Husband wears them all the time. I wear them if I have cold feet.
Small recently scraped all the skin off from between 2 toes, she still wont wear slippers.
Her feet, her choice. Eventually she will learn to be better aware, or accept she is a clumsy oaf like myself and have a well stocked first aid kit

Yes, can’t think of any other things you can do really. It’s not really something I’ve ever heard anyone mention as a problem.

Do you have an issue with them wearing shoes in the house? If not I’d say do that and don’t worry about! Doesn’t matter if other people don’t

Thick slipper-socks with grippy soles!

But if you don't mind about shoes in the house then just do that?

Do you have carpets or hard floors? The only places we don’t have carpet is the bathroom and kitchen and we never have any foot injuries at all...!

Yes!

They learn to mitigate personal risk. You provide slippers and they live with the consequences of choosing not to wear them.

A good life lesson at any age.

Crocs or slippers in the house. Feet still need protection they but don't need grubby outdoor shoes imo.

Crocs or Birkenstock. Usually just socks though

they need to learn to look where they are going, be less careless and pick up their toys. That is what pain is for, to teach you not to do it again.

Slippers or,
Crocs
Flip flops in summer
Thick socks with grip on bottom like Totes.

We don’t have shoes in our house. DH is normally in slippers and I’m usually barefoot, unless it’s cold when I’ll put socks, slipper socks or actual slippers on.

We don’t have DC so don’t have to deal with tears etc, but our friends and family who do all seem to operate the same policy. Zero sympathy and a ‘should have picked the Lego up/looked where you were going/shouldn’t have stood in the way’ policy. It sounds harsh but it’s amazing how less accident prone their DC have become.

When they were little crocs in the house, now it's just socks. I don't let anyone wear shoes in the house because that's grim. I also don't let anyone go barefoot as that can leave sweaty marks on the wooden floors.