"Real" shoes vs. soft soles

tmadden · November 2012

My son is still wearing primarily soft sole-type shoes (Robeez knockoffs). Should he be wearing harder soled shoes by now, or when do you transition? He's been walking for three months already.

cantalopes24 · November 2012

We got Lo's shoes from Stride Rite, they aren't the soft soles but they have a flexible rubber.

nikki2246 · November 2012

I switched to stride rite shoes a few days after DD started walking. They make the first walker shoes that are a little harder then soft soled. She wears uggs alot also. Took a day or two to get her used to walking in them but she never looked back. Plus I liked knowing the size and fit were correct.

ababymaybe · November 2012

I don't know what the "right" answer is but I have been using his Robeez for indoor shoes when required at the indoor playground etc and his See Kai Run sneakers as more of a walking/outdoor shoe. He's been walking for a month and is pretty proficient.

ebp913 · November 2012

We wear "real" shoes like Nike's and other rubber soled shoes. Olivia is outside a lot so we wanted shoes with more of a sole.

Jazzym12 · November 2012

E transitioned once she learned to walk. She wears anything and everything now.

Elsa1984 · November 2012

We now put her in See Kai Run shoes most of the time which has flexible rubber. But occasionally I will put her in Smaller by See Kai Run which has thick leather bottoms with rubber circles for traction.

blu-eyedwife · November 2012

The AAP recommends soft soled shoes for at least the first 18 months.

"In fact, shoes that are rigid prevent foot motion and may diminish the development of the intrinsic musculature of the feet. Properly fitting shoes that have flexible, smooth soles and soft uppers should be recommended initially and subsequently. They need not be expensive. Toddlers can go barefoot in a protected environment, such as indoors. Sneakers are perfectly adequate for summer wear and for winter indoor wear for older children, but toddlers may stumble in sneakers, which can stick to the floor during the stance and step-off phases of the toe-to-heel gait that typifies this age group."

Source: AAP Textbook of Pediatric Care:
Robert A. Hoekelman, MD; Maurice J. Chianese, MD

citing:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). August 10, 2007.
Bleck EE. The shoeing of children: sham or science? Dev Med Child Neurol. 1971;13(2):188-195.

KrisM86 · November 2012

blueyedwife:
The AAP recommends soft soled shoes for at least the first 18 months.nbsp;nbsp; "In fact, shoes that are rigid prevent foot motion and may diminish the
development of the intrinsic musculature of the feet. Properly fitting
shoes that have flexible, smooth soles and soft uppers should be
recommended initially and subsequently. They need not be expensive.
Toddlers can go barefoot in a protected environment, such as indoors.
Sneakers are perfectly adequate for summer wear and for winter indoor
wear for older children, but toddlers may stumble in sneakers, which can
stick to the floor during the stance and stepoff phases of the
toetoheel gait that typifies this age group."Source: AAP Textbook of Pediatric Care: Robert A. Hoekelman, MD; Maurice J. Chianese, MDciting: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons AAOS. August 10, 2007. Bleck EE. The shoeing of children: sham or science? Dev Med Child Neurol. 1971;132:188195. nbsp;

I was just about to post this! DD wears soft soled shoes almost all the time. She just started walking so we'll get something a little more substantial for walking outside in cooler weather, but for indoors and running errands we will stick with the soft soles.

stardust317 · November 2012

DD will not wear soft soled shoes. We have 1 pair of hard soled shoes and she only wears them to daycare.

CMonkey515 · November 2012

DS is barefoot or in socks with Grippy writing on the bottom at home, or if we are visiting friends or relatives. We use the stride rite shoes with the flexible rubber sole for in public or outside. They provide more protection for his feet than a soft shoe, but are much more natural feeling than a hard sole. I'll probably stick with that kind until he's around two at least.

blu-eyedwife · November 2012

canadiansciencegeek:
DD wears Pediped Originals which to me are a compromise. They are still soft soled, but have an extra layer of leather and padding on the sole to make walking more comfortable on rough surfaces. They're also textured to prevent slipping. And of course, they're ridiculously expensive.

LBB's going to get a new pair for Channukah.

UFCasey · November 2012

Rocco isn't walking yet, but his daycare requires that he wears shoes. So we bought some from Stride Rite (not Robeez though). As soon as he gets picked up from daycare we take the shoes off and he does not wear them on the weekends. I'm honestly not in a rush for him to learn to walk, chasing after him crawling all over the place is exhausting enough as it is. Parent of the year over here.

Scramblersmom · November 2012

DS is wearing the Robeez Mini Shoez. They have a thicker sole and are more protective than their soft shoe but not as thick as a regular shoe. We find that they work great for now and I really do not want him wearing his Converse very often until he has been walking for awhile.