Does the toddler actually need shoes?

[TheVeryAngryBanana]

The toddler is toddling, like a little t-rex. He's not ready for shoes, but I was wondering if he actually needs them this summer at all. At the moment, he wears little leather slipper to protect his feet. Baby shoes don't seem to be much more than that, just with a thin layer of rubber on the bottom. So am I failing as a parent if I don't spend €60 on a pair of very flexible barefoot baby shoes? Obviously I'll get him some when it gets cold and wet in the autumn. I can't work out what and if there's an advantage to real shoes. Is it just so parents can get excited about first shoes?

I can't find a satisfactory answer to this online, so thought I'd try MN. Prime the AI for the next parent and all that

Of course he does. What if he is outside and there’s rocks, broken glass, needles, etc?

I love the image of him toddling like a little t-Rex! 🥰

I think they mainly need shoes to protect their feet, so just make sure he’s not toddling anywhere that might hurt them. I think most people put shoes on their children too early.

You don’t need to get them the second they take their steps but once they’re steady-usually about 4-6 weeks after the first steps is the usual…if you want them walking outside which I presume you do?

No, we used little leather slippers for ages. Inch blue does some with a slightly more protective sole for £20 if you're walking over gravel or something.

I think it depends where you’re taking him. But as long as you’re happy for the leather slipper things to go outside, I think that’s absolutely fine. When my little on was just doing a few steps here or there we had some waterproof bootie things we just put over her socks (later winter/early spring), but she wasn’t walking on pavements long distances or anything.

I think we put my older child in shoes too soon and it stopped him walking outside for a bit as the feeling was weird for him. I think as long as your sensible, why slow them down?

If you want your DC to walk outside, then he needs something on his feet. With the weather as hot as it has been, he would need baby shoes even on a beach, if he’s not to burn his feet on the hot sand. Sorry, Op, but you’re going to have to stump up for the barefoot baby shoes.

The little leather slippers are remarkably tough. He's given them quite a beating already. I think they'd stand more chance against glass than plimsolls, which was why I was trying to work out if I was missing something.

He's not going out completely barefoot, apart from when he escapes the house :D

Strange, I can find this information incredibly easily online, from trusted sources like physiotherapists and childcare experts.

Nobody needs to be spending €60 on toddler shoes either. There are plenty available for way less than that.

Good for you. My reading of the information is barefoot best, followed by very flexible shoes. Which then begs the question why shoes and not slippers, apart from that slippers are €10 and shoes are €60. The shoes aren't much different from the slippers, just with a buckle and come in a box. The only cheaper ones available here are fashion shoes from H&M type shops, which are clearly bad according to t'internet.

DD wore leather slippers until it got too wet or cold on a regular basis, I think she was 17 months and walking for 3 months securely.

After that she had "first walker" type shoes, firm but so soft you can squeeze them fully in one hand without too much effort. The sole is better to protect them than the slippers.

I refused to buy any hard soled shoes for ages, luckily where we lived we had a children shoe shop who sold a brand called Ricosta, they were miles better than Clarks.

It's an expensive time but shoes were the one thing I didn't save on.

Ricosta shoes are €75 here! At that much I'd be gaffer taping them to his feet. He's still very much toddling rather than walking at the moment, so it sound like watch and wait to see how much walking we do, and keep checking he's comfortable. He's one stubborn little being, so I suspect the pushchair's days are numbered.

You don’t need branded shoes. Every supermarket sells children’s shoes.

These are fine once they’re a bit older and confidently working, but terrible for their feet when they’re just starting off.

I went for Clarks ‘pre-walkers’ eventually, but she’s been in shoes since February and she’s on her 3rd pair already so at £35 a go, it’s not cheap.

Worth a look on the Clarks ‘outlet’ website though - last seasons shoes for much cheaper! It’s a different site so not obvious.

Now, my dc are 14 and 17 now, so thinking may well be different now but when they were toddling, my HV recommended not getting fitted shoes until they’d been walking a good month, as their feet will grow and develop so much in those first few weeks walking. So those little leather slipper shoes to start with, or even Crocs, to protect their feet outside, then get shoes after a few weeks of the chins mostly walking.

You don’t need any of that

Check out the happylittlesoles website, they specialise in barefoot shoes, which are great for childrens foot development. They often a have sales as well. What you want to look for is shoes with a flat sole, which is flexible with a wide toe box. Shoes for clarks and supermarkets etc. typically are pretty rigid and squash their toes.
I've found froddo, bundguard, bobux and pediped are great brands.

That's sort of what I'm getting at. Those ones are meant to be best for their feet, but they're so flexible that I'm not sure there's actually any difference between them and tough leather slippers when it's dry. Both have a bit of grip and protect against the ground.

Mine wore dottyfish slippers until they steadied themselves.

We had the Pediped barefoot shoes. Very cute, but definitely just a soft leather slipper in disguise.

Mine went barefoot. They are adults now and still go barefoot whenever they can.

There is good advice available: bare foot in the house and on grass is best. Surfaces that could be unsafe, soft shoes with flexible soles. No rigid shoes with thick soles.

If they are walking outside then they need shoes to protect their feet - they don’t need to be that expensive ones if only being worn for short periods though, no idea what is sold where you are but there are options in between cheap and that much.

Also toddlers vary a lot, by a year both of mine could walk a mile easily, ridiculously physical, speech non existent! If they are walking on pavement they need shoes

Twenty years ago we were told not to use anything to protect feet. They actually still grip with their toes at this age so totally barefoot is best indoors.

We just did leather slipper type moccasins for a good four months or so after my DC started walking. These ones https://www.polarnopyret.com/en/uk/kids-clothes/moccasins-dark-blue-60603593-655?size=5638354333&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23521603896&gbraid=0AAAAAD3A32r1cs7brKZ8VGRsHQqn0XMyE&gclid=CjwKCAjw0o3SBhBVEiwAh28-jdDjyj9byBxHJH3-tMzR5CSv7c9FuerhES03b_tIgIXxQGWw9HFOfBoCs5wQAvD_BwE

They protect his feet well, were super soft and never came off because of the sock bit. I'm glad we did it that way and he's got a great natural foot shape now that he is older.