Walking and Shoes

Telly21182

Babies wear soft sole shoes for awhile after walking, correct?  How long until they wear harder soles?  We're not there yet, but I was just wondering that this am.  I bought Ty two pairs of Hunger Caterpillar Robeez for his birthday party, not sure what size he'd need, and they came in yesterday.  The 12-18 months are huge compared to his feet, so I don't think we'll need them.  I was thinking that he could maybe wear them still, later though, but at the rate he's trying to walk, and his feet are growing (or not growing - they're small feet!), I doubt he'll get to wear them.  I'll probably just sell.  Obviously I'll wait until I know, but it got me thinking about when kids switch to harder soles!

JayElleJayCee

My friend was trying to tell me that I need to put my daughter in hard sole shoes so she can learn how to walk and said that I need to keep her in them all the time.

I told her about research that says soft shoes or no shoes is better for muscle development and coordination. She told me that was stupid.

So I called the pedi. They told me it doesn't matter either way.

I am curious to see what others say. I do not plan on keeping my daughter in hard sole shoes 24/7. Sorry friend. (This is the same girl that told me I needed to give my daughter water at 3 months old as well as pasta sauce or else she wont like it like her daughter does now).

gymnst1013

I'm probably the odd duck on the board but I will probably never put N in traditional "hard soled" shoes.  He'll be barefoot whenever possible and in barefoot-type shoes when he needs a shoe.  MH has done a country ton of research into feet and footwear and it seems as though most modern shoes are actually pretty terrible for our feet and, in turn, our knees, hips, back, etc. 

Telly21182

gymnst1013:

I'm probably the odd duck on the board but I will probably never put N in traditional "hard soled" shoes.  He'll be barefoot whenever possible and in barefoot-type shoes when he needs a shoe.  MH has done a country ton of research into feet and footwear and it seems as though most modern shoes are actually pretty terrible for our feet and, in turn, our knees, hips, back, etc. 

I don't disagree with this, but I guess my concern with him not wearing harder soles is that he won't get adequate sole and heel support.  At the same time though, from what I've seen, the harder sole kids shoes don't really seem to mold to your foot, therefore they may mess up the support structure.

We're not there yet, so I have time still to research, ask my pedi his opinion and just try out a few things.

SarahKate31

DS is still wearing his 0-6m soft sole Robeez. The 6-12m ones I bought him are still huge on him. I guess I plan to put DS in a harder-soled shoe when he starts walking well, mostly for going to daycare since they play outside a lot. At home, I don't put shoes on DS (and DH and I don't wear shoes in the house either).

milesc

This may be a dumb question and I apologize If it is... But where do you get Robeez, and do you think they would hold up if being worn outside? I've looked at stores, but can't seem to find them

gymnst1013

Telly21182:

gymnst1013:

I'm probably the odd duck on the board but I will probably never put N in traditional "hard soled" shoes.  He'll be barefoot whenever possible and in barefoot-type shoes when he needs a shoe.  MH has done a country ton of research into feet and footwear and it seems as though most modern shoes are actually pretty terrible for our feet and, in turn, our knees, hips, back, etc. 

I don't disagree with this, but I guess my concern with him not wearing harder soles is that he won't get adequate sole and heel support.  At the same time though, from what I've seen, the harder sole kids shoes don't really seem to mold to your foot, therefore they may mess up the support structure.

We're not there yet, so I have time still to research, ask my pedi his opinion and just try out a few things.

That's actually the point though, our feet have evolved to work perfectly as is - they don't need the support that modern shoes provide.  It's that very support that cause the problems.

march2008

I just checked my AAP baby book and here is what it says about shoes in the 8-12 months chapter.

"As your child begins to walk outside, she'll need shoes to protect her feet. They should be comfortable and flexible with nonskin soles to avoid slips and provide room to grow; sneakers are fine. Your chid does not need wedges, inserts, high backs, reinforced heels, special arches, and other features designed to shape and support the feet as they have no proven benefit for the average child."

Telly21182

milesc:

This may be a dumb question and I apologize If it is... But where do you get Robeez, and do you think they would hold up if being worn outside? I've looked at stores, but can't seem to find them

I've seen Robeez at one store locally - it's a small little local owned toy shop that just so happens to be next door to my work.  I've heard Norstrom carries them too, but I've never seen them.  I haven't really looked though either.

The one's I got for Ty's birthday I got from the Eric Carle Museum because they're the Hungry Caterpillar ones since that's his theme.  They had them on BS a few months ago but I couldn't decided on the size and once they were sold out I realized I could have bought both.  I'm not the brightest! 

CarlaAndJames

I figure I'll switch once she's running around enough outside that she's tearing up the soles on the bottom of the soft ones.

I was really sad when she came home with one of her (3!) pairs of friggin $25 (on sale!) pedipeds all scuffed up. But I guess that's the price I pay for having a fearless monkey daughter and a daycare that encourages them to explore outside! The soles are still in good shape, she just scuffs the toes up.

Telly21182

gymnst1013:

Telly21182:

gymnst1013:

I'm probably the odd duck on the board but I will probably never put N in traditional "hard soled" shoes.  He'll be barefoot whenever possible and in barefoot-type shoes when he needs a shoe.  MH has done a country ton of research into feet and footwear and it seems as though most modern shoes are actually pretty terrible for our feet and, in turn, our knees, hips, back, etc. 

I don't disagree with this, but I guess my concern with him not wearing harder soles is that he won't get adequate sole and heel support.  At the same time though, from what I've seen, the harder sole kids shoes don't really seem to mold to your foot, therefore they may mess up the support structure.

We're not there yet, so I have time still to research, ask my pedi his opinion and just try out a few things.

That's actually the point though, our feet have evolved to work perfectly as is - they don't need the support that modern shoes provide.  It's that very support that cause the problems.

I can see that.  I'm a weirdo though that is more comfortable in shoes which is why it's hard for me to imagine wearing soft soles or no shoes!  

kas80

milesc:

This may be a dumb question and I apologize If it is... But where do you get Robeez, and do you think they would hold up if being worn outside? I've looked at stores, but can't seem to find them

Robeez is a division of Stride Rite.  So you can either go to a Stride Rite store if you have one near you or they have them on amazon/the Stride Rite website but you have to sort of guess at the size.  Our Babies R Us also carries a few styles.

gymnst1013

Telly21182:

I can see that.  I'm a weirdo though that is more comfortable in shoes which is why it's hard for me to imagine wearing soft soles or no shoes!  

I understand.  Like I said, I'm probably the odd duck on this topic 

milesc

kas80:

milesc:

This may be a dumb question and I apologize If it is... But where do you get Robeez, and do you think they would hold up if being worn outside? I've looked at stores, but can't seem to find them

Robeez is a division of Stride Rite.  So you can either go to a Stride Rite store if you have one near you or they have them on amazon/the Stride Rite website but you have to sort of guess at the size.  Our Babies R Us also carries a few styles.

 

Whoa really? (I feel really dumb right now) I had no idea they were a division of Stride Rite! I believe have a Stride Rite outlet right across the street from where I work!! I've never been in it, I just looked for them at Target, BRU... I didn't  see any last time I was there, but may have over looked them. I'll have to go into Stride Rite and check them out!

 

Thanks for the tip! 

MouseInLux

gymnst1013:

Telly21182:

I can see that.  I'm a weirdo though that is more comfortable in shoes which is why it's hard for me to imagine wearing soft soles or no shoes!  

I understand.  Like I said, I'm probably the odd duck on this topic 

I agree, I love going without shoes, DD'll hopefully follow in my footsteps

sunset+skies

gymnst1013:

Telly21182:

I can see that.  I'm a weirdo though that is more comfortable in shoes which is why it's hard for me to imagine wearing soft soles or no shoes!  

I understand.  Like I said, I'm probably the odd duck on this topic 

We can be odd ducks together. I go barefoot whenever possible, and D will, too. Unfortunately, it looks like the times when he'll need shoes, D will probably be wearing hard soles, unless I can convince DH to order online. D's already in size 2 shoes, and I can't find soft soles shoes locally any bigger than a 1.

MouseInLux

why don't you keep both sets and use the bigger ones as house shoes when they fit?

gymnst1013

sunset+skies:

gymnst1013:

Telly21182:

I can see that.  I'm a weirdo though that is more comfortable in shoes which is why it's hard for me to imagine wearing soft soles or no shoes!  

I understand.  Like I said, I'm probably the odd duck on this topic 

We can be odd ducks together. I go barefoot whenever possible, and D will, too. Unfortunately, it looks like the times when he'll need shoes, D will probably be wearing hard soles, unless I can convince DH to order online. D's already in size 2 shoes, and I can't find soft soles shoes locally any bigger than a 1.

If you do get to order online, check out Preschoolians.  

Telly21182

MouseInLux:

why don't you keep both sets and use the bigger ones as house shoes when they fit?

My BFF suggested this as well.  I may do this, but honestly, the size difference is staggering and at this rate it looks like he won't even be in the 12-18 months until kindergarten! (JK, but they're huge!)