Soft shoes vs first shoes - when to choose which

When a child starts pulling up on furniture, that means many parents buy their first shoes. However, this is not the best solution. Our feet are made from early childhood to walk barefoot, so as long as it is possible and the weather allows it, we should let children go barefoot at home and outdoors. So when should you get the first slippers and when the first shoes?

When and why to choose slippers

You can get slippers for a child when they start pulling up on furniture and you do not want them to get cold feet. If you have carpets at home or heated floors, then slippers are not necessary. They are suitable for children who already walk on their own, but it has not yet been at least 2-3 months, before you get their first shoes. They are also useful in a stroller and in a baby carrier (for winter, insulated slippers), outdoors, and for older children also in a children's group, nursery, or gym as indoor shoes.

Parents most often buy leather slippers, which hold their shape nicely, do not slip, and keep feet warm. Slippers are soft, do not press, and do not restrict the feet in movement. For winter and colder months, you can also get insulated slippers with fur lining, which can be worn outdoors without any problem.

When and why to choose the first shoes

If the child can already walk independently and it has been at least 3 months, then you can get their first shoes. Since their foot is still developing, the best shoes are barefoot shoes, which do not press on or restrict the feet in any way, so the child walks just as if they were barefoot. However, it is important to consider the shape of the child's foot and then choose the most suitable ones accordingly (wide foot, narrow foot, high instep, narrower ankle, etc.).

Conventional footwear is often very narrow, has a hard sole and usually a heel as well, which results in deforming little feet that are trapped in shoes and do not have space to develop as they need to. Moreover, if a child wears them as one of their first shoes, they most likely will not be able to walk in them at all, which definitely will not happen with barefoot shoes.

Do not rush the purchase of the first shoes. For home, cloth slippers will be enough; for outdoors, leather ones are fine. If your child starts walking on their own in the summer months, let them go barefoot as much as possible so they can train the muscles in their feet and explore the terrain firsthand. It is simple: just trust your child, and for you it is a great opportunity to try barefoot shoes.