Does my son need "proper" shoes yet?

He's coming up to 14 months old. He is walking fairly well but only indoors. He usually just wears socks in the house and a pair of soft shoes when he goes out in the pushchair. He doesn't walk outside because he's not steady enough on his feet yet and falls over a lot so I either carry him or push him in a pushchair when we go out. I'm not expecting him to start toddling outside much until the Spring (really looking forward to taking him to the park).





I've held off buying "crawler" shoes etc so far as we're on a low income and babies grow so quickly I couldn't really justify £25-£30 on something he might only wear for a month or so and didn't really need. It just seems that all the other babies of his age are in "proper" shoes now, plus he's growing out of his soft shoes and they don't do a bigger size than 12-18 months (he has big feet, lol!)





Do you think I should wait a few months before having him measured for shoes? I'd prefer him to get a few months' wear out of them

Does my son need "proper" shoes yet?
thank goodness there's a mum like you





totally honest lol





OK I'm on low income and no i wouldn't pay out loads for a pair of shoes that wont last very long but....





having a pair of shoes will help him to develop his steadiness in walking





i bought my daughter her first shoes at the same age they cost me £5 (the right price)





take him to a shoe shop to get his feet measured if the prices are to steep shop around you don't need to buy where you have his feet measured





i went to shoe zone they do a nice range of shoes at the right price for boys and girls





even a pair of little trainers will be OK to get him started





you just need something that will train his heel down so he's not walking tippy toes
Reply:If he is walking it is a good idea to get him some proper shoes or atleast go get him measured properly at Clarks.





He may be falling over so much BECAUSE he doesnt have a pair of proper fit shoes!!!





Little feet and bones need support especially in the early days when they develop and grow so quickly.





I appreciate your comment about their cost but we have only one pair of feet and they need looking after!!





Let's face it....you wouldn't put him in clothes that were too small and very tight would you?!!!!
Reply:Personally I'd leave it until he's really steady and ready to step out into the big wide world. That's what I did with my children. Good luck when he starts running around!!





My children had big feet so I bought them 'doodles' in clarks shoes shops for their first shoes. Little fitted canvas light shoes ideal for spring summer
Reply:Hi There, My little boy is 13mths and has been walking since 22nd Dec, also only indoors as he was very wobbly on his feet, we went to clarks last week for his walkers, and the difference in his walking since, i can now let him walk outdoors holding my hand and we have no tumbles.


Also when you purchase shoes from clarks they ask you to bring your child back in 6wks for a free refit, if their size has changed they change the shoes for you at no cost.


So if i was you id take a trip to clarks and watch your little man take off in his new shoes.
Reply:the fact that he only wears soft shoes may be the reason he is still so unbalanced on his feet. my daughter started her first steps around 10 months but it wasnt until i got her shoes with a hard sole that she could really begin to move around well. i know its hard to spend the money when they grow so fast, but i think 'proper' shoes will really help out, even if he doesnt go outside much yet.
Reply:Yes you should wait, if he has big feet then he will prob grow out of the shoes fast and not get wear out of them. Plus the soul on babys feet is so soft but as they start to wear proper shoes the skin can get harder. Plus if he ist walking proberly yet ten whats the point in shoes.!
Reply:it sounds like a good time to put him in to "proper shoes".. you may find it will encourange him to walk more...
Reply:You oviously are not in the US, but anyways..my twins are 14 mo old as well, they started walking at 13 months and they are practically running now. I never bought my kids soft shoes, I went straight from socks when they were tiny, and I only put them in hard soled shoes when it was cold outside. Ever since they have began walking they are always in shoes when we are out of the house (whether in a stroller or not)


Kids pick up on things fast, and my twins walk just fine in regular shoes. It took them a few minutes of stumbling and then they were just fine. I live in Alaska and its cold and snowy and I occasionally let my kids walk outside so they can experience the snow (they love to pick it up and eat it) so I say go for it!
Reply:We bought a pair of crawler shoes - they were very cute, but a TOTAL waste of money!! lol, he's 10 months now, and getting there with his walking, but I'm going to hold off until he actually needs them now.


The department of health or whoever it is that says these things say that they don't need them until they are walking properly outside.


Until then, just stick to his soft shoes - if he's in his pushchair the whole time he only needs them to keep his feet warm!


Oh, and asda do 18-24 months if that helps!!
Reply:I`d leave it a while longer,theres no need for shoes untill he`s walking outside.


They say bare feet is best anyway so if he`s only walking about indoors round the furniture etc i wouldn`t waste your money!!


Having said that when you do get him proper shoes i wouldn`t get just any,make sure they are properly fitted..clarkes is great and prob the cheapest of the bunch for properly fitted shoes
Reply:It would probably be good if you started him now not just for walking but it also helps strengthen the foot so that he can walk... it gives support... they usually say its good when the baby is stepping. I would say go for it... take him somewhere where he can get his foot measured for the right size and usually they'll tell you how long you can expect for your son to stay in those shoes...
Reply:i think that you should hold off buying shoes for as long as possible. as long as his feet are warm and dry you should be fine. i would put a couple of pairs of socks on him until then. bare feet is best until he can walk.
Reply:leave him a long as possible - I did my kids and they have lovely feet, even now we all only wear shoes if really necessary
Reply:when he's ready to go walking outside then he's ready for shoes. Clarks first step shoes have a slightly softer sole for starter walkers and they will ask your child to walk in them b4 they sell them to you.
Reply:I'm with you on this one. There are some very silly parents who rush out and buy shoes for their child before the poor thing is walking! Its much better for their feet to be free and most children don't need shoes so early. I waited too and went to clarks - its expensive and you are right, sometimes they aren't in them very long. As for unsteady outside, if you don't dislike reins, then its quite useful for the unsteady child as you can stop them from falling over if they are wearing them - so many people don't like them though.
Reply:I would say that he will be ready very soon for some proper shoes, you do not have to spend £45 tho !! I went to Brantano with my 15 month old daughter and they will properly fit good shoes for a lot less money, I went recently and got DD a great pair of hush puppies (end of line ) for £16 and some really supportive Nike trainers for £18 , hope this helps :)
Reply:Regardless of what you decide - bear in mind sale times - around now Clarks are often half price (they are in John Lewis!)
Reply:If ur on a low income.. %26amp; you dont plan to take him walking for a while... then dont!





Asda/Tesco do hard shoes for kids at £4 a time... now im not reccomending cheap shoes.. but walking in hard shoes takes time to get used to... so he could wear them in the house %26amp; garden for short periods of time (little feet are so delicate)


Buy the more expensive well fitting shoes when he's more confident %26amp; is gonna do regular walking.


The more expensive properly fitted ones allow for more than a few months growth, so you do get your moneys worth!





Hope thats useful
Reply:The longer he spends in bare feet in the house the better!!! My little had his first proper pair at 15 months when he was walking well - they lasted 6 weeks! No rush really. Particularly at this time of year.
Reply:He could be walking outdoors if you bought him some shoes.


Hold his hand and walk him down the street until hes tired .He'll let you know when hes had enough.Paying money on good shoes is the best way to look after him.Then get him walking and he will get the wear. Save them for his brothers and sisters .They may well fit.
Reply:Until your baby is walking outside, he doesn't need anything other than the crawler shoes. As long as his feet are warm when he goes outside, there is no reason to be concerned. When he does start walking outside, the shoes do not have to be expensive. According to my mother - in - law (who is a physical therapist), buying sturdy shoes for a new walker will NOT make him walk steadier. In fact, it will make it more difficult for him to learn. Instead, look for a pair that have good arch support and allow your baby to wiggle his toes, but that aren't too flimsy. If money is a concern, you can always find fantastic deals on Ebay. Good luck and have fun chasing your little man!
Reply:Here you go, these shoes are for toddlers, it might give you some ideas...http://www.shoes.com/cat_e.asp?Departmen...





this link is for infants.http://www.shoes.com/cat_e.asp?Departmen...





I agree clarks are exphensive, but there are less exphensive stores if you shop around...I wouldnt pay £45 either, more like £10..
Reply:Wait. Bare feet are best for foot developement anyway. If bare feet aren't possible, soft soled shoes are second best.


Osh Kosh sells "prewalking" shoes through Target that are less than 15 dollars and go up to *i think* size 5 and have flexible soles.


If he isn't walking outside, there really isn't a need for shoes at all :-)


Good luck








After reading these other answers (please don't listen to most of them...) it seems I should include some sources so I'm adding them.


Also, your son isn't unsteady on his feet because you don't put him in hard shoes- it's because he's normal.
Reply:Hi hun, wait until as late as possible, it will do your son no harm toddling about in his bare feet, my parents were very pedantic about us having clarkes shoes (back in the 70's) and they used to advise to leave it as late as possible before you put them into shoes.. I go along with that now, my daughter was barefoot until she was 17-18months and when I bought her her first 'outside' shoes, I bought her her reins!!! children are expensive, save your money until you need to spend it.. xx
Reply:If you value your baby's feet you will get him proper fiitting clarks shoes and the cost shouldnt even come into it. They are made to give you 3 -4 months growing space so you wont be replacing them ever month as you state.



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