pre walker shoes - gimmick or should I get? what age/stage should lo be?

[cantbelieveimonhere]

lo has just started to slowly crawl. To date I put socks on her feet. Haven't bothered with "pram shoes", think they are a waste of money, usually not made of breatheable material etc

Couple of people of mentioned about getting "pre walkers" now. But I don't know if it's worth it? Is this another baby gimmick? Or do they serve any purpose?

Lo is a girl and most are either decidedly "boy" or "girl" colours. If purchasing, would be happy to get a "girl" colour. What do you think about design though? Fancy (eg flowers, ribbons suede bits etc. However downside would be shoes "clashing" with heavily patterned clothes) or plain colour (no design, bit boring, but wouldn't clash?)

Don't have anyone in RL to ask about this. Deliberating over such a thing would no doubt be considered part of pfs! What do you think MN? All advice would be gratefully received

No shoes until she's walking confidently and outside! Much better for them to learn to walk in bare feet.

Keep her in slipper socks till she's been walking for weeks. If you really want some shoes, then very soft shoes like these are best.

slipper socks or mods until walking confidently for well over 6 weeks

mocs even (moccasins)

It's a bit gimmicky really. If they're going to be crawling around outdoors in the winter and you don't have a snow suit that covers feet you might want something more solid than socks. The waterproof booties you can get are good.
We found the prewalker shoes from Clark's etc actually made fab first shoes when they were walking. Kept them in those as long as they'd fit in the sizes. They're nice and flexible for little feet.
We found the girls ones to be rather impractical colours for an active toddler, generally went with nice bright reds and blues from the boys range.

Mocc ons or shoo shoos are good, very soft but a bit easier than socks for pulling up on furniture etc without feet slipping everywhere Bambi style.

Re: design, I have never worried about DD's shoes matching her outfit. She currently has electric blue trainers that match nothing it's the perk of being a baby / toddler, you can get away with bizarre combinations!

thanks folks, if I'm understanding correctly, the general consensus is something like this..................
www.clarks.co.uk/p/26104144

as opposed to these, which are more shoe-like

www.clarks.co.uk/p/26106030

However, the moccasin style from Clarks are only available 0-3m, 3-6m and 6-9m. They don't seem to do them in 12-18months (which I would need). Their website says their shoes for crawling are the more shoe-like ones

Not worth it, and can even be inhibiting.

As it's about to be winter, the (wind proof) leather paddders might be worth it. (The Aussie make Baby Paws offers the best range of sizing that I ever came across).

But if you can hold off any form of shoe until the DC has been confidently upright for a little while, so much the batter.

CMOTdibbler thanks for the link, but think I'd want them tried on in shop, wouldn't feel comfortable ordering online for shoes

Not whilst crawling. Can be useful if they have a long cruising stage, in autumn or winter particularly. You can't really cruise round a wet playground without something protecting the soles of feet.