When will my toddler stop hating his shoes?

[hotcheeto]

My 15 month old has been walking inside for a few weeks and is confidently tottering around now. We took him to Clarkes last weekend and got him two pairs of shoes; sandals, and a closed toe trainer pair.

He absolutely hates them both.

He screams when I put them on and refuses to walk and flops to the ground flailing. I know they are the right size and they seem comfortable?! He won't even stand with them on. The crying escalates to basically hyperventilating if I don't pick him up or take them off!

I feel stupid that I didn't put any soft sole shoes on him to get him used to the sensation on his feet. Everything I read online said children do not need to/should not wear shoes until they are confidently walking in the house.

Does anyone have any similar experiences and can tell me how to encourage him and when it will stop?

He even cries with them on in the pram/car seat. I feel sad and annoyed that I've been anxiously awaiting his first steps so we can finally properly enjoy outside activities and now seem to have run into this roadblock.

It's very normal. It feels really weird for their feet at first.

Are the shoes soft enough in the sole i.e. first walkers?

There's nothing for it but perseverance, put them on, leave them on, comfort him through it. Use them only when needed though, he doesn't need them on in the car/buggy. Eventually, he'll realise that having his shoes on means he gets to run around outside.

It's a weird sensation for them. I'd agree with only putting them on when he's actually walking outside so it's easier for him to make the connection 'shoes on, exploring outside'.

As it's summer, I'd also look into getting him a pair of the really soft, suede-soled shoes – those could be easier for him that full-on shoes, plus the softness and ultra-thin sole is good for their development. Dotty Fish, Inch Blue, and a bunch of other places do them. Ours were from Minifeet and held up to a lot of use.

Try these - very flexible and comfortable but will still protect his feet outside https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-non-slip-and-breathable-bootees-blue-pink/_/R-p-304189