Mammas of walkers

Vermillionsss

LO has been walking for about 4 months now. She' getting really good at it and to the point where I can put her down in public and hold her hand. Except, she won't walk with shoes on. She whines and bounces and looks at me like,  "I can't, mom!" 

She never really wore shoes much when she was younger because, honestly, there was no point. (unless it was cold) Is this something I should be persistent with and just keep putting the shoes on her to see if she'll do it? She did try and take some steps, but just kept falling/stopping/crying. Or should I not really worry about it since walking outside is avoidable, and she will eventually be comfortable wearing/walking in shoes?

Jessys_Girl

I'd keep trying/practicing, but maybe try more flexible/soft shoes that are less constricting.  My DD has trouble with rigid soled shoes, she's very clumsy in them still, but when she wears soft shoes she does better.

flippy1234

What kind of shoes do you have? You could always try robeez first, since they are soft soled. I just got some semi-soft sole shoes for my DD at Stride Rite.. she got used to walking in them after a couple days.

Vermillionsss

We have some Nike sandals that are almost like foam. However, they just look SO tight. (even though I've been told they're the "right size") We also have some tennis shoes, I can't remember who makes them. I guess I'll try to find some soft soled ones that aren't leather. (We're a vegetarian family)

BLONDRAVYN124

I would try to find some comfy soft-soled shoes for her, like PPs suggested, and keep putting them on her every once in awhile to get her used to them.

We were lucky enough to not have this problem, because when DS started "standing/cruising" around 5months, we made sure to try to put shoes on him often so he would get used to them. It actually helped his standing & balancing out a lot. Then when he became an "official unassisted walker" 1wk before 8months, we would make sure to always have shoes on him while out so he would get used to walking on outdoors surfaces (not so much at the beach though.)  DS has always been in regular sandals & gym shoes (not specific soft-soled prewalker/walker shoes).

Now if you don't mind carrying or having your DD in a stroller the whole time while your outdoors, then I guess it doesn't really matter if you put shoes on her. You could always just carry a pair in your diaper bag for a "just in case" moment.