What's this pre-walker shoe stuff about then?

[slightlysoupstained]

DS is 1 and not walking yet (cruising though).

He's never worn shoes, and since he learned to remove them, rarely worn socks. DP got him a little pair of shoes from the supermarket the other day, which are labelled as "pre- walker". What's all that about? Are they likely to be harmful in some way when he starts walking?

I think pre-walker shoes are softer than normal shoes. I don't think they will be harmful. However, I would bother. My ds is the same he is always taking his socks off.

I wondered about this.
I'm sticking to my guns though and not putting anything other than socks on my little chap. He is nearly 8 months and cruising quite happily around without anything on his feet.
I just think that soft little growing bones shouldn't be restricted.

I think it's a marketing thing in all honesty.

Hi,as I understand it pre walkers are a hybrid between socks and poper shoes. When my DD was cruising I got some, but mainly because we had hard floors and cold weren't helping with grip. She also was cruising and started walking in winter and so with feet on the ground I was worried about the cold.

The most important thing is they are not hard soled and are really flexible. Totally up to you, if you and he are happy in socks, there is no need to change!

Yes it is marketing. Other than for warmth (ie socks) babies don't need anything on their feet until they are walking outside

Okay, so basically they aren't likely to hurt, but possibly a bit of a waste of money?

Was wondering as when it gets colder, it'd be handy to be able to keep DS's feet warm but didn't want to risk restricting his soft little feet.

One of the babies at a group I used to go to had some rather natty moccasin type things that I've never seen elsewhere - they were kind of like long socks with little soft leather soles. Those would be good - any idea what they're called?

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0094FR0FU

like these?

Yes, they're a bit of a waste of money. Barefoot is best until fully upright, unless the walking is on rough surfaces.

But they can look cute, and they're warmer than socks so useful when out an about in winter just for conifer toes.

I treated them as waterproof socks. Pre walker shoes are softer so easier to crawl in I guess?

Oops, that sounds like I was describing baby dryads. I meant 'comfier'

I don't put anything on my DD feet unless it's cold. Why would I? her feet are her favourite toys why would I cover them

DS was quite a late walker (17mo) and we needed pre walker shoes - they do have their place. He was crawling (or bumshuffling) everywhere when all his buddies were walking and I couldn't deprive him of the park in the winter while they were all on the swings and clambering everywhere. So I would say they are useful if you have an outdoorsy child like I did - you don't want to keep them indoors the whole time they are learning to walk do you? DS cruised and crawled around the park for months before he needed proper shoes. Never used them inside though.

Pre walkers are good because they are soft and wont effect the development of their feet. They recommend that they don't have shoes til they've been walking for six weeks. We got DS his first pair when he turned one and was starting nursery, but he was walking confidently by then so I felt happy with it.

They definitely have their place if you have a later walker. DS cruised/walked holding hands from 14-17 mo and it got to the stage where I felt he couldn't explore as well without some sort of foot protection so I bought him some of the soft soled 'cruisers'. To be honest in DS case I think they improved his walking as there were more opportunities to practice. He's 18 mo now and been walking about 5 weeks still wearing the cruisers, I'll wait until he's grown out of them before getting real shoes.

Farely those are the ones, thanks!

DS has now learnt how to undo the Velcro on the pre-walkers [sigh] - so I might get a pair of the mocc-ons for winter in the hope they'll be waterproof & a bit more resistant to coming off.

TBH feel a bit of trepidation about getting first real shoes, seems like so many people reckon Clarks etc don't always measure properly. Are you really supposed to measure every 6 weeks?

I was off the mindset it was just a marketing thing too, but DS is now starting to walk and was MOST reluctant to wear any shoes! His Clarks Cruisers have proved a fantastic middle ground

Polarn o pyret and I think jojo maman bebe do similar moccasins.

Fine until walking outside I think.

these are the best. Good for walking on wooden floors, still like socks, full flexibility of sole and can be worn outdoors too. I have some myself they are fab. Generally I think the slipper soled moccasins are a waste of money, though.

Even at 22mths and walking since 10mths I still look for the flexibility of Clarks crusiers when choosing shoes. If I can't squish them they don't get brought.

Have a look at www.happylittlesoles.co.uk for other choices. We are lucky to have them local to us.

www.happylittlesoles.co.uk

And I used Stonz for when outside and needing warmth/protection or in sling

Dc2 is cruising but likes being outside too. Haven't been putting anything on her feet but picked up some of those soft leather soled slippers for when it's cold!

The lady in clarks practically shouted at me when I took DS in with DH to get him new work shoes. She said they don't recommend shoes for baby until they're walking outside. I told her dh would indeed be walking outside so were we ok to look at shoes ;-)
The following week I got an email from clarks advertising their pre walker shoes!!