Baby not quite walking ... should I buy shoes ??

[IckleP]

My DD has just turned 1 and is not quite walking yet - cruising really well but I reckon still a month or so off walking. She has started a new nursery today and it has made me wonder about whether or not I should buy her shoes.. this woke me at 3am this morning !

Her old nursery was a newly built building and she was in the baby room where people had to remove their shoes before entering - also outdoor activities were limited (although given the time of year I don't think I need to worry about these just yet). At her new nursery she has moved up a room and is now in a room with 1-2 year olds so she is one of the youngest - a lot of the others are already walking and I don't know why I just wonder if shoes would be a good idea - I suppose I am worried about her being stepped on ! Also the nursery is in an old building (part of the appeal) with oodles of outside space (although I know it is still January) so is possibly colder/more rustic (searching for a word to use here "earthy" springs to mind but cold probably covers it !)

Tell me to go away and not be mad but I wondered what others in the same situation would do ?

Hiya, Clarks do 'cruisers' which are like shoes but still soft and are made for 'cruising' and not walking about outside etc.

I wouldn't bother, bare feet are the best thing. The nursery wouldn't let her wander about in the earthy outside space even with cruisers on I wouldn't think - she's bound to crawl as well, surely?

Clarks cruisers IMHO are just a moeny-making scheme. A good shoe shop will not sell you shoes until the child can walk across the room.

no you aren't meant to until they are really walking properly - think in terms of protection from rain, pavements etc rather than keeping warm. daisy roots or similar will be just fine. imo cruisers are a gimmick - that said ds had to have them as he was v small foot and clarks don't make 'real' shoes in tiny sizes.

you could use the waiting time to find an independent shoe shop near you, i think they are much better and little difference in price.

Agree that no shoes is the better option but I found the cruisers handy for when ds was at nursery.

My dd is 14 months and walked on her own at 11. I didn't buy her shoes until she could walk away from the shop assistant and back again on her own so they could assess her feet and shoe fit. Her feet were too big for cruisers and first walker shoes and we had to get proper shoes which I felt she was too young for. Her feet were 5 1/2 at 11 months.
Anyhow until then her feet were in simple leather soft pram type shoes for nursery and most of the time they took them off so that she and the other kids could run around with bear feet.

At our nursery the chldren don't wear their shoes in the baby/toddler rooms, and in the older rooms (so from age 2) they are supposed to have a specific pair of indoor shoes. I would not bother getting them for nursery. I didn't have cruisers for winterborn DS because he wasn't out and about much at that age, but I ended up getting them for DD who was born in May and out cruising round the garden long before she could walk properly.

Thanks guys, had decided to wait until she was walking based on what my sister had done - always best basis for making a decision.. other people's ways ! but has been backed up by my internet research. That was what woke me at 3am the "why have I decided this is a good idea" thing. Will stick to my guns for now - am sure she will walk soon and don't really want to spend money on cruisers

Will also follow advice re independant shoe shops - think there is one near where I work.

Thanks again!

hi. i realise that youve made your decision, but i wanted to add this. im not that knowledgeable about many of the subjects posted, but i managed a reputable childrens shoe shop for over 10 years - endless clarks and start-rite course (well someone had to do it) and want to stress the importance of timing for first shoes in particular.

i just wanted to suggest that you couls pick up some leaflets from a shoe store. both clarks and startrite produce leaflets about first shoes, which outlines the main things you may need to be aware of.

i also wanted to point out that not all the shoe fitters in childrens shoe shops have been specifically trained. in the clarks shops they usually wear a badge saying 'trained fitter' in others they may have certificates displayed. in the better ones they also have a policy of having all shoes that are fitted double checked by a supervisor or more senior colleague.

i hope this is helpful, and though some people may not agree, it really does pay to have feet correctly measured and fitted.