What age/size for first shoes?

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The title is fairly self-explanatory, I feel! Took DD to Clark's yesterday to buy school shoes for cousin and got her measured while we were there. She's only just too small for their smallest size so will probably fit them in a couple of weeks. However, I know nothing about the whole thing, so was wondering what other people do. Do you put them in shoes as soon as they fit? Wait until some particular milestone e.g. walking (I noticed Clark's had different types of shoe for crawlers, in-betweeners and walkers)? Wait until really inevitable e.g. walking outdoors in snow?!

Long winded way of saying - are shoes a good thing which should be promoted at the earliest opportunity or a necessary evil to protect feet which should be delayed as long as possible? I insticively feel the latter, but that's because I hate shoes myself so don't want to project that onto DD!

DEfinitely a necessary evil at first.

They don't need shoes at all until they are walking out of doors. The only time you need pre-walkers are if the dc is trying to cruise or walk, and her feet cannot grip the floor. Then either take her socks off and let her go barefoot, or if your floors are very cold get her prewalkers.

She doesn't need shoes until she is confidently walking, and has been doing so for a few weeks, and even then, she should be totally barefoot as much as possible

Thanks both of you, my inherent mistrust of shoes has been confirmed!

CMOT, I wonder how this could be related to the Sam Vimes 'boots' theory of socio-economic injustice

She doesn't need shoes until she's walking outside.

The younger the child the fewer pairs of shoes they need at any one time. But the faster theyoutgrow them. The older the child the slower they grow, but the more pairs of shoes they need at any one time and the faster they wear them out.

At this time of year, when I start thinking about how much I am going to spend on new shoes for my 3dc, I am always reminded of San Vimes boot theory!

I left both my ds' feet shoe free as long as possible. Little crocs are great for grippage in these balmy summer days we are having!