Stride Rite shoes for learning to walk?

Jessica&Brett

Did you buy Stride Rite's (or similar) after your child could walk on their own, or before in order to aid in the process.

I *thought* you were supposed to let them learn to walk in soft soled shoes or barefoot, and then get the hard soled shoes after they could walk on their own, but my mom said she thought they needed the Stride Rite's with ankle support to learn on their own.

buckeyethor

I thought the ankle support thing was an old wives' tale. Audrey learned to walk around this time of year. She was barefoot in the house always but wore flip flops and Target fake sketchers wtih the strappy on top but gym type shoes on the bottom.. sorta like the ones you have. We got her some Nikes at 18 months. She never wore those high top "baby" walking shoes.

 

Ttimes3

You are correct in your thinking. Barefoot walking is best. If they *must* wear shoes (for protection, when outside, etc.), soft soled shoes are the best option. Walking shoes are a marketing gimmick.

ETA: My sister worked at Stride Rite throughout high school and college.  

Mrs.Babbsy

Ttimes3:

You are correct in your thinking. Barefoot walking is best. If they *must* wear shoes (for protection, when outside, etc.), soft soled shoes are the best option. Walking shoes are a marketing gimmick.

what she said:)

Meg41208

Ttimes3:

You are correct in your thinking. Barefoot walking is best. If they *must* wear shoes (for protection, when outside, etc.), soft soled shoes are the best option. Walking shoes are a marketing gimmick.

I totally think it's a gimmick but after we bought K a pair of walking shoes when she had been cruising the furniture for 3 months, she started walking on her own within a week.  It might be a coincidence, but once she started walking she needed the shoes anyway.

klee411

Meg41208:

I totally think it's a gimmick but after we bought K a pair of walking shoes when she had been cruising the furniture for 3 months, she started walking on her own within a week.  It might be a coincidence, but once she started walking she needed the shoes anyway.

I agree with the PP. StrideRite shoes are definitely pricey when it comes to kid shoes, but we got DS a pair right after he started cruising around and soon enough, he started taking a few steps. I think the shoes really helped him gain better balance. I still think it's ridiculous to spent so much $$ on shoes (especially since he outgrew his first pair in 6 weeks!) but it was worth it IMO. GL!

Superchicy

DD was either barefoot or in soft shoes up until just recently.  Now that she is climbing and running, I bought her some sneakers and hard-soled shoes, especially for running around outside this spring.  I don't think it's worth spending that kind of money on "walking shoes" when they are not needed, and I really noticed when DD was in shoes she had more trouble walking than when barefoot while she was just learning. 

adamsbabble

My girls both learned to walk in bare feet and wore soft soled shoes (Robeez brand as well as the Target knock offs) when out of the house.  It wasn't long before I would just put them in any kind of shoe though- gym shoes, sandals, Crocs, etc. and they have had no issues.  I would just let him go barefoot around the house for learning though.

trickeytricky

Zac has thick feet so I have had a hard time finding shoes that fit him and I can not spend the money on a pair of shoes from Stride Rite when I know I wouldn't even spend that kind of money on a pair of shoes for me and mine would fit for years.

Any who, Zac learned to walk barefoot. And then I got him a pair of boots at Target with soft soles and he is so good in them. I also purchased a pair of knock off skidders (I think that's what they are called, the sock shoe?) from Target as well.

buckeyethor

oh yeah, she also wore these soft bottomed canvas dock slip on shoes a lot last spring. Now she can walk in "princess" dress up heels. LOL

allibaba76

I don't know how Stride Rite has done it but they seemed to have convinced the world that we must buy their overpriced shoes for our children.  We have not bought anything from them yet and probably won't.  We really like the Converse velcro shoes that are available at Target.  The reinforced rubber toe holds up well with kids.  My 4 yr old's current shoes were on sale for $5 at Old Navy and they are great!

When he was learning to walk we went barefoot most of the time but did buy PediPeds because he needed some kind of shoe for outside.  Highly recommend them.  https://www.pediped.com/Product/CategoryInfo.aspx?cid=54

Jessica&Brett

Thanks ladies! Right now he has a couple pairs of Robeez (gotta love hand me downs!) - we'll probably just stick with those for a while.

He's just cruising all over the place, but won't take a step on his own, so I thought maybe I was missing something