When do you buy the first pair of proper shoes?

[zebedeethezebra]

DS is 13 months. I was going to wait until he could walk properly which he can't at the moment, although he is cruising very well.

Then 2 friends have told me that you're supposed to wait until 8 weeks after they start walking for the feet to flatten. I've never read this in any book. Is this right?

Our nanny thought it might help him walk if we got some now, but I'm not sure what to do. Will it damage his feet if we didn't wait until 8 weeks after walking.

I can't see the point in buying "cruising shoes" since he will probably be walking within a month or so.

Any advice gladly appreciated.

I waited until they really wanted to be walking outside, shoes are bloody expensive!

when you need them for walking outside.

You shouldn't buy shoes until the toes have stopped curling (in a sort of attempt at grip), putting shoes on toes that are still curling while he walks will hurt and risk him losing his confidence - you are taking away the control as he is just learning it. You can't be in pre-walkers or cruiser shoes too long, no harm in waiting until he grows out of them to buy the real shoes. It is better to be a bit later than perfect than too early with first shoes.

The best thing for learning to walk is bare feet although obviously something will be needed for outdoors.
Cruisers are fine for now or something soft. How about soft leather shoes. DD2 has these Although obviously not for very wet floors.

I was advised to wait till about 6 weeks after DD had mastered walking untill getting proper fitted shoes.

I think it is at least 4 weeks after they are walking.
As said above, whats the rush?
I found shoes slowed my 2 down to a certain extent so I encouraged them to master walking a bit and only put shoes on minimally at first.

I have read that it is better to wait until the child has been walking unaided for at least 6 weeks. Tiny children just don't need shoes unless they have to walk outside. DD got her first pair of shoes when she was 19 months old because the weather was too foul to go outside until then. By then she had been walking unaided for three months, but indoors only. I didn't even bother with cruisers as I think they are a waste of money and entirely unnecessary.

I'm with needsatrim, what's the rush?

I think you should wait for as long as possible. I used to fit children's shoes and often used to see parent rushing to get shoes for their babies before they were confident enough on their feet.

They say to wait until they can do around 20 steps in one attempt, unaided. But at that stage, they aren't really going to be walking alongside you in town so I would just wait for as long you can. Bones are still very soft at this stage.

My DD could walk at 13 months but we didn't get her shoes until she was about 17 months, when she started showing an interest in walking up town, and wanting to get out of the buggy.

HTH

I got DS cruisers when he'd started walking on his own and wanted to go outside (in Autumn).

He's been walking on his own for several months now, but am not getting 'proper' shoes till he grows out of the cruisers. He just has bare feet in the house so they're just to keep his feet warm and dry outside!

I liked the idea of cruisers being softer, not sure if I am just sucked in by marketing! They were instead of, not as well as harder shoes, so don't mind really.

my dd had crawling shoes then cruisers when she was walking as they are softer, i gradually increased the firmness of the leather. felt it was too harsh to go straight to walking shoes

Go to clarks and look at the sale shoes! I brought a pair for £4 reduced from £28. I mind paying £28 but they can have a few pairs at £4 each! lol