What age??

[SS1987]

Very random but what’s the best age for kids to start wearing shoes? DD is just about to turn 8 months old so not in any huge rush... more curious than anything 🤔

@SS1987 maybe when walking? As the shoes might be pointless? Unless going out etc to get warm maybe? Or maybe from now to get them used to them? My dd is 8 months too so I'm unsure of when they start properly wearing them to?

I didn’t put shoes on them until they were walking outside tbh. If they were pootling around on grass etc in the garden I wouldn’t use shoes then though.

When walking unaided is their preferred method - not crawling etc.
So could be any time, whenever they are ready.
Mine was ten months, and they had her walk around the shop a good while before they accepted she needed shoes.

I waited until they were walking confidently enough to walk outside.

Once they can walk..
no need before hand

No hard soled shoes until they are properly walking. When they first start walking they are still wobbly and will tend to revert to crawling or sitting regularly so you don't let them walk outside much anyway as it isn't practical. And also if you put shoes on them too early you can harm the development of their feet.

If you really want something before that, either to protect feet or keep them warm, there are little soft leather soled shoes which are quite sweet. Robeez or snuggle feet or dotty fish are the ones I've used.

Don't bother with the cruising or crawling shoes Clarks sell as they are too rigid. Babies and toddlers should be barefoot when possible or as close to because that's how they learn to balance and walk.

When they are walking unaided for 6 weeks. As recommended