What should you pay attention to when buying your baby's first pair of shoes? How to choose baby's first walking shoes

After the baby has passed the sitting and crawling stage, he will start to learn to stand up slowly with the help of something, and will soon take the first step in his life. Therefore, at this time, you should prepare a pair of shoes for the baby that are easy to wear and walk in. Not only will they protect the baby's feet, but they will also make it easier for him to walk and jump, and start another stage of his life!

Key points for choosing shoes for toddlers

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." How can we help our baby choose a pair of suitable shoes for first steps in life? Therapists point out that parents should pay attention to the following points when buying shoes for first steps:

1. The sole has an anti-slip effect to avoid slipping.

2. The heel of the shoe should be high and hard to cover the ankle.

3. The shoe last should be wide to allow the toes to have space to move. If the toes cannot move freely, not only will the toes be rubbed and broken, but it will also affect the development of walking balance ability.

She added that in order to attract children to wear shoes and practice walking, in addition to choosing colors and patterns that interest babies, if the shoes can make sounds, it is believed that they can also attract the curiosity of babies. "Functional shoes are provided for babies who need correction. Babies who are just learning to walk do not need to wear functional shoes specifically to avoid relying on the support provided by functional shoes and losing their normal functions. For example, if an inner arch pad is placed in the shoe, the entire ankle joint is overprotected, and the sole of the foot is less stimulated by the reaction force, which will affect the development of the arch of the sole of the foot."

Parents may ask: When can babies start wearing learning shoes? Therapist Chen Yinian said, "When babies are about 9 months old and start to stand with support, you can try to let them wear learning shoes for about an hour a day to adjust the habit of wearing shoes."

Change shoes to suitable ones in time

As children's feet grow quickly, she reminded, "Never buy shoes that are too big for your baby just to save money. The most appropriate size is to leave a finger-width distance between the heel and the shoe. Parents may think that buying larger shoes and adding insoles can extend the life of the shoes. This will have an adverse effect on the baby's foot development and walking smoothness. Be careful. It is necessary to replace the baby's shoes with suitable sizes in time."

She said, "The wear and tear on the soles of the shoes can help us understand the baby's walking posture. Parents can observe the shoes that their baby has worn for a while. It is recommended that parents find an opportunity to consult a professional physiotherapist to confirm whether the baby has any walking problems. If there is a problem, it can be corrected early to ensure the normal development of the baby's feet."