What to put on a cruiser's feet

[WhyBirdStop]

Just that really, DS is confidently cruising and stands without holding anything for a few minutes but not walking yet. When we're out and about he wants to try walking a lot (holding our hands), over the summer I've had him in bare feet or socks mainly, or really flimsy cotton 'sandals' before he was on his feet. Now it's getting colder what do I put him in?

I didn't think you were meant to put them in shoes until after they were walking, but his feet will get cold/dirty. He's got socks with grippy soles for inside but it's when we go out. This weekend for example we're going to visit family and they went to go out to a local country fair. Lovely, but I know DS won't stay in his pram or be carried all day and it's meant to be 13 degrees, so I feel like he needs something on his feet, the very soft pram shoe/booty type things are not good for him trying to walk and don't really seemed designed to actually go on the floor. What do other people do?

I think it's a personal decision, my DS only started walking at 18 months but was cruising from 10 months so we had a long time in the interim stage! We decided to follow the health advice to wait until 6 weeks after they start walking before buying him "proper" shoes (I believe this advice is given as a) children are more likely to trip in more structured shoes while they're still learning and b) it can therefore change how they walk and affect development of the feet). I won't lie, it was awkward as for a few of those interim months he was a size 5 and shops stop selling pre walkers at size 4 everywhere we looked. We kept DS in pre walkers everywhere he went- they did wear holes through both soles by the end! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Do whatever feels right to you x

My DD wore Dotty Fish shoes from cruising (7 months) - confidently walking at 15 months.

We didn't do much cruising outdoors in wet/very cold weather though so can't vouch for them on that front although she used them outdoors otherwise.

They are leather slippers with an elasticated ankle and a suede sole.

We’re barefoot at home and have some little leather pram shoes for out and about. They are soft sole elastic slip on. We got the latest pair in JoJo Maman Bebe but my mum had previously got him a pair off Amazon.

Thank you, he's got some little soft leather sole moccasin slipper type things that we've not put him in yet but do now fit, so might use those for outside, they were bought as a gift as slippers I think, but I prefer him to be in bare feet or socks at home. I guess if they get holes in they get holes in! I'd like to keep the cruising to inside only but he gets very frustrated if in his pram for too long and if you carry him instead he constantly tries to get down. I'm hoping walking comes soon but he's only just nine months.

The leather soled moccasins or Clark's do prewalkers

The best thing is just socks and if you really must put him down outside (honestly, you will manage just carrying him or in the pushchair for a couple months to save the hassle, especially in the cold), then socks with nappy bags wrapped over them to keep them dry. They don't need anything else on their feet. Mine has been walking about a month now (proper walking) and we're only just going to get him cruiser shoes this weekend. The longer they have nothing on their feet, the better for development.

@mindutopia I'd be fine carrying him or keeping him in the pushchair but he has other ideas, and if he wants out he creates hell, and teen fifteen minutes of 'walking' and he'll happily go back in or be carried. I thought tantrums were meant for toddlers!

We brought some prewalking shoes from Clarks. Just barefeet or socks in the house.

Clarks pre walkers are good! Pricey but you could always get measured then pick up some from ebay, cuz their feet grow pretty quick. M and s do lovely ones, but cheaper tbh. Don't think it affects their gait or feet if it's just a case of a quick toddle to stretch their legs out and about. Our DS needs to hop down and get the wriggles out every now and again, (14 months and been cruising since about 9) even if its just a quick trip in the buggy to the shops. He's just in his first proper shoes now the weather's changed.

I really liked the clarks pre walkers for that stage. We only really put them on when outside like the park etc and DD wanted to try afew steps. Other than that kept to bare foot/socks. To me Clark's always measure abit big so you normally get abit longer with the shoes aswell.

Have a look at pre walkers. They have non slip soles but are very soft and bendy so protect a child’s feet when out side. I used to sell startrite and they always had a good range as do Clark’s. Get them properly fitted though as you don’t want to get them too big or small

Dd had clarks pre walkers from 13 months. She started cruising at 10 months but wasn't big enough for pre walkers until 13 months. When she started walking at 17 months she was fitted with her first pair of first walker shoes.

We bought roamer shoesfrom clarks, very soft bases, but enough so she could practice walking outside

Cruisers by carks t's what tjhere designed for. But indoors they don't need shoes at all.