Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Not to buy 11mo DD any shoes yet?

64 replies

stressheaderic · 06/02/2011 21:37

Need some opinions here.

DD is 1 this month. She is not walking, but taking a few wobbly supported steps and standing up alone for second or two. She is slight of build and only 17lb in weight.

Shoes hadn't really entered my head yet - we have thick carpet throughout our house and she is happy crawling and pulling up on that. We haven't tried any practice walking outside yet as its still cold out.

2 of my friends with DC the same age have been to Clarks, had the fitting done and bought 'cruiser' shoes - which the DC wear every time I see them, a few times per week, inside the home, in the pushchair, etc. Even at a party the other day when everyone there was shoeless, including the adults, the child had shoes on and one was put back on promptly when it fell off. They have asked me have I not thought about shoes yet, and even tried the shoes on my DD's feet, saying 'see, they fit, she's ready, she likes them'.

OK, DD does look a bit daft going out in coat, scarf, hat, mittens and then just socks but I still don't think she's ready. She is in a footmuff in the pushchair so I know her feet aren't cold.

When did your DC first wear shoes? Is there any evidence to support not wearing shoes just yet, in terms of bones growing etc? Or an I just being a mean (and slightly tight) mum?

OP posts:

atmywitssend · 06/02/2011 21:44

I was always told that shoes are for walking in "properly" outside and that bare feet inside are much much better for learning to walk. So long as her feet are nice and warm (which they will be inside a footmuff), YANBU.

ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 06/02/2011 21:44

My ds is only 6 months but I don't plan on buying him shoes until he can walk...when shoes that will fit them for a couple of months at most cost £30 a pair no one can blame you for being tight!

hannahsaunt · 06/02/2011 21:46

DD will be 1 next Sunday and doesn't have shoes yet. She does have little leather Daisy Roots slipper things to keep her feet cosy but she's effectively barefoot for walking. She took her first unsupported steps yesterday and if she continues apace then in the next couple of weeks I'll take her to get cruisers - I have found with the others that just the weight and feel of shoes takes a bit of getting used to and it's better to step up gradually.

finallyfree · 06/02/2011 21:46

Both my DC's wore padders (padded booties) until they were steady on their feet and walking unaided. For my DS it was 2 weeks after he turned 1 (advanced child) but for my DD it was when she was about 14 months (lazy child)

Only you know when its best to put your DD in a pair of shoes.

LadyAlex · 06/02/2011 21:46

I think your absolutley right to hang fire. She is your DD and you as her mother, will decide when the right time is for shoes.

I think for many (but not all) they are a fashion accessory.

If I were you I would wait too. I bought DS thick wool slipper socks and put them over his normal socks to go out in. my health visior said this was much preferable to shoes.
When he did get shoes they were only for out and about, not in the pushchair or at home. (Why would you keep shoes on in the house???!!)

Its very expensive for no real gain at this stage. Kids managed without them for years!

Beamur · 06/02/2011 21:47

OP, I did the same as you, my DD wasn't walking at that age so I didn't bother with shoes. Once she started taking a few steps we got some and I think it did help her - she seemed steadier and more sure footed, but indoors she still had bare feet.

mummyshreddingnora · 06/02/2011 21:48

I got dd some cruiser type shoes at 9 months - but because (and only because) she was cruising everywhere confidently, wanted to walk all the time holding hands and her feet were too wide for the pram type shoes

DS is 13 months and has been crusing for ages, started taking steps last month and is up to 6 on a regular basis... no shoes of any kind for him yet as he's very happy to take his time

so I guess it depends on the child really!

mmmmmchocolate · 06/02/2011 21:49

I personally think it's better to keep their feet uncovered for as long as possible until theyre walking well. I even used to leave socks off my DD1 in the summer when she was just bum shuffling/trying to pull up etc. This did seem to piss my MIL off tho as she seemed to think her feet would freeze and fall off but there is no way I'd waste £35 on a pair of shoes for a baby that doesn't need them!

LadyOfTheManor · 06/02/2011 21:49

My ds (11mo) is one in March (obviously) he stood by himself for the first time today, and my friend is harping on about getting his feet measured.

He has little trainer booties (support the ankle) and little padded booties, which are really for show as he doesn't wear them in the house when he's "cruising".

I'm going to wait until he's walking properly without shoes, then I'll invest in some (£30 )

roadbackhome · 06/02/2011 21:50

I didn't buy DS shoes until he was walking outside (15 mths ish), couldn't see the point before that and they're so bloody expensive! I did get really frustrated at not being able to let him scamper round outside when it was wet and he was still crawling so I did get them as soon as he was up and walking.

FoundWanting · 06/02/2011 21:50

Look at their feet when they are standing. If their toes are trying to grip the floor they aren't ready for shoes.

DS1 walked early (8 months) but didn't have shoes until about 5 months later.

YankNCock · 06/02/2011 21:51

DS got his first pair of cruisers at 13 months. Prior to that he wore socks and had some leather slipper type things he wore occasionally. I was lucky he was an August baby, we got away with bare feet longer.

I'm sure I've read many places that barefoot is best, and DS is still barefoot most of the time at 17 months.

ArsMamatoria · 06/02/2011 21:52

DD2 (nearly 16 months) has been walking since 11 months and has wellies for outdoor walking.

Most of our outdoor activities don't involve huge amounts of walking, especially since it has been winter and very muddy where she walks (so shoes impractical).

PILs' house where majority of time is spent has big spaces for lots of running around and climbing, which she does in soft-soled leather shoes.

When weather is warmer and drier I'll get her some shoes. Hers will cost loads anyway as she has the widest fitting and a high instep. Startrite t-bars are the only things that seem to fit properly and they cost a lot.

prettymuchapixiegirl · 06/02/2011 21:52

When my eldest DD was a baby, you couldn't get cruisers or crawlers, everyone just waited until their baby had been walking unaided for 6 weeks or so and then bought proper shoes, or used soft pram shoes.

My 18 month old DS is walking and does have proper shoes,however I only put them on him if he's walking outside as I think little feet are better off without shoes as much as possible. His socks and the footmuff on the buggy keep his feet warm enough.

babybear5 · 06/02/2011 21:52

hi..my dd is 1 in a fortnight and also weighs just 17lb so is very slight. She is only just learning to pull herself up to standing so she doesn't have shoes yet either.
Sometimes she just wears socks, sometimes little bootees but won't think about buying her shoes until she is on her feet properly.
They are babies for such a short time so i intend to make the most of it

JsOtherHalf · 06/02/2011 21:52

Ds took his first faltering steps at 13 months, and was walking confidently at 15 months. We took him to Clarks and the assistant asked to see him walking the width of the shop before she'd measure him.

cuppatino · 06/02/2011 21:52

No don't. I believe that podiatrists advise against shoes except when necessary. My DDs have both worn pediped shoes when out and about (only when they started walking though). They are lovely and soft and recommended by the American society of Podiatrists. You could maybe try these if you go out to toddler groups etc where the floor is dirty and she wants to cruise.

blackletterday · 06/02/2011 21:56

My ds2 was cruising well at 11/12 months. Unfortunately he broke his leg on his 1st birthday. He recovered and started walking at 13 months, we waited for quite awhile to get him shoes.

He got them at 14 months when he could actually walk well, we got the soft soled version which he is still using.

We did the same for ds1, although we did get cruisers for 10mo dd (pfb ). They are pointless for non walkers, I reckon bare feet is best unless you desire for them to potter round the park etc.

QueenSconetta · 06/02/2011 21:56

DD had 'cruisers' at 10 months because she was cruising A LOT everywhere we went and I felt she needed something to protect her feet.

I think its one of these things that to an extent its your preference.

pointythings · 06/02/2011 21:58

I didn't get mine shoes until they were walking well and showing signs of wanting to walk outdoors (both winter born).

For DD1 this was at about 13 months (and she outgrew them in six weeks, boohoo!), for DD 2 this was at 11 months - she was in the swings at the playground, watching other kids run around and just shot me the filthiest look - so I took her to get her feet measured. I thought they wouldn't have anything in her size, turns ount she was a 4.5. And she didn't outgrow them for 4 months.

Until then, my DDs were in socks, booties, things to keep their feet warm in winter - and bare feet in summer. No cruisers.

Eglu · 06/02/2011 22:01

YSNBU. Both DSes lived in shoo shoos or similar until they walked. They were good for keeping socks on and keeping feet warm.

autodidact · 06/02/2011 22:03

I think they suggest buying proper shoes once they've been walking 6 weeks or so. I had soft leather type robeez shoes for my children till then. But the clarks cruisers are designed for cruising rather than walking so probably wouldn't do any harm, if people like them.

BikeRunSki · 06/02/2011 22:05

My H&V advised me not to get any shoes until DS was walking. No cruisers or anything. He was learning to walk in the summer, had some croc type things to protect his feet outdoors though. Apart from anything else, learning to walk makes feet grow and change shape so quickly, that any shoes fitted in the firts month or so get grown out of very quickly.

When I went to get DS proper shoes when he had been walking unaided for about 6 weeks, the lady in the shop wanted to see him walk properly before she would sell me any shoes. He stomped across the shop with all the balance and confidence in the world, and we were booted up in no time. And they lasted 4 months too.

Carikube · 06/02/2011 22:06

YANBU

DD1 started walking at 15 months and the shoe shop recommended we wait until she had been walking 'confidently' for 6 weeks before buying shoes so we didn't get her any until she was about 18 months.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 06/02/2011 22:09

As pretty much everyone has said, there's no need for shoes until she's ready to walk outside and even then, if it's only a few steps the padders or other pull on baby shoes are fine they don't need proper shoes until they are walking confidently and they need to do so outside.

Flip

1 2 3