To have still not put my DS in shoes?

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

DS is almost 18 months and has never worn a pair of shoes. He's been walking since about his first birthday.
When in the park or garden he either goes barefoot if it's wet out, or sometimes he wears just socks.

When I spoke to the guy in the shoe shop he said it's really important to spend the extra money and buy properly fitting and properly made shoes, or the next best thing is no shoes at all. So I just decided not to bother.

I get a lot of odd looks from other mums and wondered if I'm being disapproved of. Do you think I'm BU?

Chunkymonkey- that's the thing, I'm often barefoot myself (I'll wear sandals on pavements and then slip them off whenever we get to where we're going) Perhaps that's why it seemed so normal to me that DS goes barefoot.

I agree op that barefoot it best.

All of our family prefer barefoot, but in approriate places. My dc (6 & 2) also don't wear shoes at the park, I tend to take mine off too. It is a nice non glass park, and what are the chances of standing on a bee

But walking down the road etc we will wear shoes, although my 2yr old has only recently stopped wearing the leather soft ones. It might be worth looking in to these, as it does sound a bit strange that you don't let her walk anywhere else but garden & park.

I'm not sure anyone's saying the OP should take the toddler into town without a buggy.

Just that she should perhaps think about letting him stretch his legs a bit too.

If anything, it tired mine out nicely for bedtime

I think they should be out the buggy, not all of time but certainly some of it.

Who said forget the buggy.

I said it should he there for when they git tired but not sat in it all the time.

By 18 m having walked from.a year they should manage a bit of walking around town or to the local shops

My 13 month old holds my hand walking from the car into shops, his sisters nursery school etc. All those little walks in my opinion are good for him to learn how to walk outside. that's why I bought him little coasting shoes from Clarks although they're not proper walking shoes.

It certainty tired me out carrying them when they didn't want to walk anymore.

The child is only 18 months old. Plenty of time for the MN childrens 5 mile hikes.

I'm not suggesting you get rid of the buggy DD still travelled the 2 miles to nursery in hers til nearly four just, you know, let the little blighter out every now and then instead of confining him because he has no shoes.

What do you do in cafes or restaurants? I can't imagine they want barefoot kids walking around..

I wasn't quoting anybody when i said forget the buggy, that was just what I was reading into people's posts. I wasent attacking anybody when I said it, was genuinely impressed/shocked that some people were managing round town without a buggy at 18 months. Dd only started holding my hand at 20 months!

I'm absolutely not against letting him walk in town, it just hasn't occurred to me that he was the right age. And I just want to be clear that him not wearing shoes was no factor in not letting him walk in town.
I think I'm going to wait til I'm not an elephant so pregnant before I introduce it, and I think you're right, if he's walking on pavements he should be in shoes.

I can see why you'd like to keep his feet free indoors or even in your own back garden but I certainly wouldn't do it public places. Don't know what's about, even on parks.

I'd be letting him walk some distances doesn't have to be to town and back! Just gradually increase the time walking. My 21 month old DS is in the buggy everywhere but he doesn't walk so it's not a major issue.

I kept my kids out of shoes for ages. I don't think tiny children do walk outside very much, he's only 18 months, some kids aren't even walking yet at that age, DS was happy running around at home or in the garden but didn't like walking on pavements when small. The DC wore the little soft leather slippers when outside only when tiny and now wear barefoot shoes at school. I've got a few barefoot shoes myself and confirm they are the comfiest shoes I own.

Have a look on Happy Little Soles for some great barefoot shoes. Avoid the well known high street stores and their 'you must have your child wearing firm shoes before they walk' attitude.

I used to run a restaurant and no toddler would be walking about anyway- but I would have returned one with no shoes very firmly to their mamma.

They don't need to be doing 5 mile hikes, just practising walking nicely and getting to look at different things slowly instead of whizzing by in the pram.

I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid at a baby walking around a cafe with no shoes on.

My dc didn't walk until 18 months+ so you would have seen them in the pushchair, but yes, as soon as they could walk, they walked to the local shops, park etc. Are you sure you don't see other kids doing it? TBH I wouldn't have let them out in the town centre but that was so I could keep them contained whilst I was distracted buying stuff, but the rest of the time, yes they walked.

If you go and look at some decent early walking type shoes they are so soft they just screw up in your hand, but they are very pricey. If I couldn't afford decent shoes I would use leather slippers as some others have suggested.

I've run a cafe for many years. I wouldn't care if a baby didn't have shoes on.

My dd took her own shoes off in a cafe recently. We were very firmly asked to ensure she kept them on

I had to get the bus so it's far easier to not have buggy just to go to town and pick up a bit of shopping. buggies are more of hassle to mess about with on buses or whilst needing to use a trolly. so why wouldnt you leave it at home to run a short errand.

when we walked to town it was there they just chose not to use it.

far better they have the chance to walk or make the choice surely. nothing to do with being "wonderful"

people use buggies far to.long these days. gets ridiculous seeing kids in school uniform. In a buggy. SN or extra long journeys/holidays aside there's no need for it. kids need the chance to walk

All of mine go barefoot as much as they can get away with (so do I and have been known to pop to the corner shop with no shoes on. It is literally on the corner though!) but they still all had shoes when they started to walk confidently. DC3 refused her buggy from a year old so walked or went in her Smart Trike for longer distances.
I think on balance YABU although I do see the whole 'barefoot as much as possible' stance. Get some reins or a back pack and some shoes - you really don't need to spend a fortune on shoes, my lot have never had a pair of Start Rites or Clarks in their lives and their feet haven't dropped off, just a sturdy good fitting pair and get your DC walking

I would not have done it but each to their own.

"I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid at a baby walking around a cafe with no shoes on."

I wouldn't give a shit, personally, but other responses on here prove you wrong.