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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Does my DD need shoes yet?

27 replies

HollyFP · 08/09/2011 20:54

DD (14 months) has been walking unaided for 2 weeks. She is improving massively every day, barely even crawls now. I would be happy to keep her shoe-less for as long as possible, but now the weather has descended into winter practically overnight I want to be able to keep her feet warm & dry when we're outside, with the possibility of her walking if she wants.
Is it too soon?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

goosey123 · 08/09/2011 21:13

I bought DD2 her shoes at about 13 months before she started walking. She is used to them now, and has been walking for a couple of weeks. I'm very glad she has them as she is walking in the park and garden now, which wouldn't be much fun in her socks!

TheArmadillo · 08/09/2011 21:16

We're at the same point (dd is 13 months and has been walking for a few weeks) and are going out tomorrow to get proper shoes. We walk everywhere and she is not prepared to spend several hours in a pushchair without getting out for a walk around every so often and now the weather is bad soft shoes are no longer an option.

I say get them but limit to outside times only (though I'm sure you would anyway).

YougreatPamplemousse · 08/09/2011 21:20

DD2 is 15months and has been walking since 10months, we got her cruiser shoes at a year and 2 weeks ago we bought her first proper shoes. She still spends most of her time barefoot. They are best off barefoot as much a possible because they use their toes to grip and balance.

Original poster

HollyFP · 08/09/2011 21:37

Will do as TheArmadillo suggests, shoes only for outside. That's our house rule anyway
She is desperate to walk outside, I feel mean strapping her to the pram

OP posts:

limetrees · 08/09/2011 21:44

Definitely get her some shoes so she can walk outside.

Tigresswoods · 08/09/2011 21:51

Err, she's walking & will probably go outside at some point. Why would you not put shoes on her?

Original poster

HollyFP · 08/09/2011 21:57

Tigress I went to get shoes a few weeks ago only to be told it was too soon.

OP posts:

startail · 08/09/2011 22:01

I tried to get some more wear out DD2s soft crawlers. She decide she wanted to walk everywhere including back to the car at the garden centre. Unmade car park of huge chippings. Next shopping trip we bought some shoes

Original poster

HollyFP · 08/09/2011 22:04

ok looks like it's time!

OP posts:

Issy42 · 08/09/2011 23:08

My daughter's paediatrician told me to get her cruisers as soon as she started pulling herself to standing as the support helps them to start walking. Was it too soon because her feet were too small?

TheSugarPlumFairy · 09/09/2011 12:54

CLarks will tell you that they should be walking about 6 weeks before you should put them in solid soled shoes. That said, a pair of cruisers should be fine as they are flexible soled and the sole is quite thin so shouldnt infer with them improvong their walking skills.

SecondRow · 09/09/2011 13:10

Erm... what are these cruisers of which you speak?

DD is nearly 13 months and not walking unaided yet but we are out and about a lot, and I'd like to be able to let her stand without getting wet socks etc.

nocake · 09/09/2011 13:27

Issy42 Your DD does not need support from shoes to help her start walking. In fact wearing shoes at that stage could be harming her feet as being barefoot will help her muscles develop. There is good evidence that people who wear shoes later and less often have better flexibility and mobility in their feet and their feet are stronger. Of course your child needs shoes for walking across car parks and pavements but the less they wear them the better.

TheSugarPlumFairy · 09/09/2011 13:34

www.clarks.co.uk/first-shoes/cruising

Original poster

HollyFP · 09/09/2011 13:37

Yah but the problem with cruisers is that she will only have about 2 weeks in them before she needs proper shoes. At £30 each I'm reluctant!

OP posts:

TheSugarPlumFairy · 09/09/2011 13:42

DD wore her cruisers for about 4 months. She was walking quite confidently from early January and wore them until May i think. They had growing room built in and were supportive of her foot so we didnt see a reason to get her new pair of hard soled shoes until then.

Original poster

HollyFP · 09/09/2011 13:48

Can they walk outside in cruisers SugarPlum?

OP posts:

TheSugarPlumFairy · 09/09/2011 13:50

yes, they have rubber soles and are waterproof. It is just the sole is slightly more bendy than normal shoes. It is like that so they can feel the surface they are walking on better which helps them learn to adjust their walking to different surfaces

YougreatPamplemousse · 09/09/2011 13:55

We had cruisers for ages because real shoes only start in a size 3 and DD2 was less than a size 2 when we first had her measured so size 2's lasted ages.

Original poster

HollyFP · 09/09/2011 13:55

Oh ok that sounds good then ta

OP posts:

SecondRow · 09/09/2011 14:15

Ah thanks SugarPlum. They still look very structured for this stage, but I suppose I only need them for outdoors.

Issy42 · 10/09/2011 23:44

nocake - I thought that too which is why I hadn't put shoes on dd before, but I raised this with the doctor and she was adamant that 'barefoot is best' is not correct as cruisers can help confidence. I try to make sure that she's as comfortable with or without them but DD loves her cruisers so taking them off is a bit of an issue. I have to 'put them to bed' in her wardrobe at night, so they're out of sight in the morning and don't put them on again until we go out.

smearedinfood · 12/09/2011 13:09

We went to Clarks at bauked at the price for something that they might kick off on the buggy, get them sized at Clarks and then go to another shop. We ended buying converses for him machine as they cheaper, sturdy and machine washable. Now I get further pairs on ebay.

Someonesomewhere · 03/10/2011 12:35

I've been pretty compelled by the "barefoot is best" school of thought - here is a good article if you're interested www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/09/barefoot-best-for-children

We have since bought a pair of Vivo barefoot shoes for our daughter - they seem way way more natural than anything else she has worn (founded by the guy who started Clarks originally - but now claims to have improved the approach). They are expensive though.

zimm · 03/10/2011 20:02

someonesomewhere - Clarks was founded well over a hundred years ago in my hometown so I am afraid your vivo guy is telling a great big fib! Or he is 150.

I sued to work for Clarks in said hometown and we had battles with parents ho wanted to put their children in hard shoes the minute they could take the smallest step! Very odd if you ask me. DD got her first cruisers a few weeks ago as she was walking and wanted to do so outside. She won't have hard shoes until she grows out of the cruisers. Cruisers are for outdoor use only.

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