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Guide For Infants To Toddlers FootwearWhat kind of footwear is best for your baby? When should your infant or toddler start wearing shoes?
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When Your Infant or Toddler Should Start Wearing Shoes
Although every time you look at the baby department and see all of those cute little shoes, you need to know when your infant or toddler should start wearing shoes. Don't grab that first pair of cute shoes, that you see, for your baby.
In spite of beliefs, babies don't need shoes to help their feet develop or to help them stand or walk. Before a baby starts walking, bare feet or socks are best. The bones in a baby's foot are soft and don't finish hardening until a child is around 5 years old, though kids' feet keep growing into their teenage years.
In spite of beliefs, babies don't need shoes to help their feet develop or to help them stand or walk. Before a baby starts walking, bare feet or socks are best. The bones in a baby's foot are soft and don't finish hardening until a child is around 5 years old, though kids' feet keep growing into their teenage years.
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What Size Shoe Does Your Child WearIt is hard for parents to decide what their child's shoe size is. Shoe stores can be too expensive. Family discount stores are essentially self-service. Many are making their purchases online these days. Now you can measure your child's foot and growth til they are 12 years old.
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Developing Feet
There are pediatricians who believe that constricting soft feet with rigid shoes could prevent the bones from developing properly. The bones in your child's feet do not harden until the age of 5 and are not totally developed until they are much older. which is why it is important to not put shoes on your child too early, and to know how to choose the right shoes, when to get new ones and so forth for your child as they get older.
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Choosing Footwear
Choose shoes that have a little less than your thumb's width of room at the toe so that your child can grow into it. When their toe approaches the end, it's time to buy a new pair.
“We like for them to have a really soft moccasin-type shoe that has a wide toe box because most kids have kind of wide feet with a small fat pad on top,” Carter(Kathy Carter, nurse practitioner at Doctors of Children) said. “Those little bones in their feet are being formed until they’re 21 so we don’t want any kind of restrictive footwear. We like a wide toe box with a little bit of wiggle room at the end.” Source: Wide, moccasin-type shoes best when babies begin to walk By LINDA ULRICH / For the Lincoln Journal Star
More Information
Preventing Children's Foot Trouble
Things Every Parent should know about their children’s feet!
“We like for them to have a really soft moccasin-type shoe that has a wide toe box because most kids have kind of wide feet with a small fat pad on top,” Carter(Kathy Carter, nurse practitioner at Doctors of Children) said. “Those little bones in their feet are being formed until they’re 21 so we don’t want any kind of restrictive footwear. We like a wide toe box with a little bit of wiggle room at the end.” Source: Wide, moccasin-type shoes best when babies begin to walk By LINDA ULRICH / For the Lincoln Journal Star
More Information
Preventing Children's Foot Trouble
Things Every Parent should know about their children’s feet!
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Footwear Choices For InfantThe best footwear for your infant is no footwear. In reality, the only footwear that your baby should wear, if anything, are booties, socks that extend out 1 inch from toes.
You don't need to spend a fortune on socks, booties or even shoes when it is time to purchase them. There is a wide selection to choose from at varying prices. Target has a cute line of booties and socks from Carter's and others. |
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Trumpette Socks
Trumpette socks have a good reputation. They come in assorted colors and styles. There are some that have the non-skid soloes. Trumpette socks are also known for holding up well, not slipping off of child's feet. Trumpette products are found in department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, and high end boutiques all around the world. However, you can also find Trumpette socks at Walmart, as well as Amazon. |
Waddle and Friends have a line for infants. Their bootie and socks come in a variety of styles and colors for boys, girls, and unisex. Walmart has an adorable line of socks and booties.
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Footwear Choices For The ToddlerIt isn't long before baby doesn't want to sit on laps; they want to stand up, with help of course. Yet, they aren't even close to standing on their own or taking that first step.
The day comes when baby is found in their crib standing while holding on to the rails, or baby stands up while holding onto the coffee table for a short period of time. However, it won't be long before they start taking steps around the coffee table while holding onto it. No, it isn't time for your baby to have their first pair of shoes. Again, even the toddler is better off going barefoot while indoors. They really only need to wear shoes when walking around outdoors. It will soon be time to go shopping for shoes. Find out about the types of shoes that are best for the toddler. |
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Footwear Choices For The Toddler |
What Do You Look For When Making Footwear Choices For The Toddler
Rubber Soles: Provide more traction, lessening the chance of slipping. Hard soles add weight to the shoe which may contribute to the toddler falling or tripping when they are beginning to learn how to walk and run.
Flexibility: The uppers should be flexible, soft enough that you can twist and bend the shoe easily. You don't want a shoe with hard material that will cut into your child's skin.
Closed Toes: If you remember busting your toe open while wearing flip flops, this is the reason that you should purchase closed toe shoes for your toddler.
Flexibility: The uppers should be flexible, soft enough that you can twist and bend the shoe easily. You don't want a shoe with hard material that will cut into your child's skin.
Closed Toes: If you remember busting your toe open while wearing flip flops, this is the reason that you should purchase closed toe shoes for your toddler.
One of the first pair of shoes that is purchased for the toddler is those hard shoes that have high top which are believed to support the ankle. The first pair of shoes should not be this high top type.
"After they start walking, you want them either barefoot or in the most flexible shoe possible so their muscles can develop properly," said Dr. Jane Andersen, a podiatrist in Chapel Hill, N.C., and past president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists. "Flexibility is the most important issue as they are developing their arch." Source: Chicago Tribune
"After they start walking, you want them either barefoot or in the most flexible shoe possible so their muscles can develop properly," said Dr. Jane Andersen, a podiatrist in Chapel Hill, N.C., and past president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists. "Flexibility is the most important issue as they are developing their arch." Source: Chicago Tribune
More Tips For Buying Shoes For The Toddler
Take them to a shoe store and have someone measure their foot so that you know what size is the correct size. Doing this in the later part of day is best, when their feet are a bit more swollen than they are in the morning hours.
Have them walk and run around in their shoes before buying them. Watch their facial expressions and look for signs of discomfort which means these are not the right size or right shoe for your child.
Choose shoes that have a little less than your thumb's width of room at the toe so that your child can grow into it. When their toe approaches the end, it's time to buy a new pair.
Familes often try to help each other and pass down shoes to other children. This is a mistake. Take a look at your leather uppers of your walking sneakers, etc. You will see that the shoe has taken on the shape of your foot. A toddlers shoes does the same thing. Your child needs shoes that are formed to their foot, not the foot of another child.
More Tips For Selecting Shoes
Have them walk and run around in their shoes before buying them. Watch their facial expressions and look for signs of discomfort which means these are not the right size or right shoe for your child.
Choose shoes that have a little less than your thumb's width of room at the toe so that your child can grow into it. When their toe approaches the end, it's time to buy a new pair.
Familes often try to help each other and pass down shoes to other children. This is a mistake. Take a look at your leather uppers of your walking sneakers, etc. You will see that the shoe has taken on the shape of your foot. A toddlers shoes does the same thing. Your child needs shoes that are formed to their foot, not the foot of another child.
More Tips For Selecting Shoes
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RobeezRobeez has an adorable line of shoes that vary in materials and styles.
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PedipedAn array of boys and girls toddler shoes. Moms love these because they are flexible, durable and slip resistant. You can find sandals that have closed toes.
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Stride RiteStride Rite has been around for years, measuring little feet, giving mom information about shoe selection. Stride Rite has been known for a high quality shoe. You can find Stride Rite shoes, today, at retailers other than Stride Rite stores. Target carries and adorable line of Stride Rite Shoes. You can also find Stride Rite for infants to big kids, as well as socks at Walmart.
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