If your LO is walking...

Mrs.LisaP

Now that your LO is walking, have you bought them walking shoes? My mom insists that I buy her "walking" shoes now that she's walking...if so, what brand did you buy? I thought bare foot was best, but LO acutally walks better with shoes on (barefoot, she curls her toes under).

CWest0405

I had a hard time finding shoes that fit my LO's Fred Flintstone feet, but ended up finding some cute ones with flexible soles at Babies R Us for $12.99.  I did the whole Stride Rite thing but couldn't justify spending $44 on shoes that he won't wear very often and will outgrow in a couple of months.  We leave him in socks or barefoot inside.

MrsC17

Yup! We got them at Stride Rite...it was still really warm out when we got them so we hardly put them on her at first (she went barefoot), but now that the weather is cooler and she wants to walk on her own everrrywhere we go, I'm going to get her a second pair that will go with more of her clothes (the first pair are brown with a hint of pink...only now am I realizing how little pink and brown she has in her wardrobe LOL).  I definitely suggest going there-they size them for you and help you pick out a pair (for instance my LO has wide feet so she needed a specific shape shoe).  GL!

karlee1122

DS actually just started walking this week!  He still isn't steady enough to try it with shoes and probably won't be for a couple more weeks.  I just want to make sure he can do it well enough before I add something else to make it harder for him.  I have also read that it is easier for them to learn without shoes for a little while so they can balance alot better.  My only worry is that he will be like I was if I don't get some shoes on him soon.  My parents said that I walked great until they put shoes on me and then I wouldn't even attempt to walk.  haha  As far as what type of shoes are best I have no idea.  DHs cousin's baby just started walking and they bought her some of those squeaky shoes, but they are kinda thick and seem to make it harder for her to walk.

Leap08

My daughter has pedipeds and she walks really well in them. Sometimes I think she walks better in them than she does barefoot. I think they work well for her because they are very light and don't really have a sole. If I put shoes with a heavy sole on her, she doesn't know what to do. I think that's because she can't feel the floor.

diana.filipi

They used to say walking shoes had a lot of 'support'. when I was a baby folks thought a new walker should have ankle support from a hightop type shoe. She may be going off info like from when she had you :-)

Now we know better.  A prewalker/new walker shoe should bend in half easily and usually the sole rubber wraps up over the toe.  Or do the completely soft soled shoe like Robeez or other brands (there are lots).

superaunt

S has a pair of moccasins that she wears, but mostly she's barefoot. She's not full blown walking yet but even if she was, we'd just stick with the mocs until spring time when it's warmer and she may actually walk outside more.

TeamRey

Our pediatrician told us that you do not need shoes for indoor walking and for ourdoor walking you just need soft soled shoes...it doesn't have to be "walking shoes" from stride rite or anything like that.