Every stage of infants’ growth is vital. Parents need to monitor the development of their babies if they are matching with the preset milestones. Infants learning to walk is one such milestone that parents need to watch. The age when children learn to walk differs with every child. It can be anywhere around 10-16 months.

At this juncture, it is essential to know what kind of footwear to choose for babies during their early stage of learning to walk. It is a common situation that many doubts occur to parents at this instant. Not surprisingly, parents would do enough research about walkers shoes for babies to clarify their related doubts.

Why does my baby need shoes?

Babies’ feet are flat, unlike adults. It takes around 6 years for babies to develop curves in their feet and get to their final shape. It is why footwear plays a crucial role in supporting the growth of their foot and shaping them.

Tight shoes might hamper the growth of your baby’s foot. They can also trigger conditions like ingrown nails and rough soles.

Choosing shoes that fit well will turn walking into a comfortable experience for your babies. Good shoes will provide enough support and grip to their feet, thus minimizing the risk of falling and injuries.

It is vital to introduce shoes at the right age. However, shoes do not help in making the baby learn to walk faster. The age of walking varies from infant to infant and generally falls in the range of 10-16 months.

Leaving your baby barefoot will allow their muscles to strengthen. It renders the adequate exposure their toes need to acquire shape and strength. Hence, as much as possible, let your baby crawl and try to walk barefoot.

However, if you live in cool places and wish to provide warmth to your baby, socks and booties will help.

Walkers shoes for babies

Walker shoes for babies are one of the top choices to introduce them to footwear. They are designed specially to impart comfort and grip to the children that are learning to walk by taking the support.

The difference between walker shoes and other shoes is their focus on offering comfort to the child. The sole of the walker shoes is both flexible and sturdy enough to encourage them to walk.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind while choosing the best walkers shoes for babies:

• Opt for shoes with a rounded toe design. They allow free movement of your toddler’s toes and do not hurt them.

• While measuring the foot size of the toddler, note down the length and width of the foot. If the length of the shoe fits but not the width or vice versa, the shoe won’t be of any use.

• Inspect the soles of the walker shoes. They should allow ample space for the baby to move their toes freely when they wear the shoes.

• The sole should also be flexible and bend along with the baby’s foot.

• Choose walker shoes from brands that specifically cater to the needs of toddlers. Shoe brands meant for adults might not always help when it comes to kids.

• Invest in good quality walker shoes from brands that adhere to Pediatric association recommendations. Shoes from brads pass all tests and assure quality and comfort for your baby.

• Shoes for toddlers must be easily washable. Kids take no time to dirty their shoes by playing in puddles and soil. Hence, read the manufacturer’s guide to know how to clean the shoes, so you prolong their life as well as provide hygiene to your baby.

• Kids can also spoil shoes with urine, poo, and food. Dark color shoes can be a little easier to clean and might make your life easy dealing with your naughty kids.

Summing Up

Walker shoes can allow the best grip on your baby while walking. They make a great choice to accustom children to walk. Make sure to pick those that offer comfort and grip to your baby. The shoes must also be washable and moderately priced. Measuring the foot size and going through reviews also help in choosing the best shoe for your toddler.

A pair of clean clothes and matching shoes are essential to make kids look adorable. Kids love jumping and playing – be it on cots or in the muddles. The latter can invite added tasks to mom such as cleaning shoes loaded with dirt.

Many moms worry about cleaning their kids’ shoes. After all, kids’ shoes are expensive and demand effort to clean and maintain them. However, with some knowledge on cleaning children’s shoes, moms can stay assured that their task is less stressful than expected.

In this post, let us talk about methods to clean kids’ shoes with special attention on shoes for newborns.

How to clean kids’ shoes?

Kids’ shoes can attract tons of dirt at the end of the day. The task becomes heavier if the children are of school-going age and play in the playgrounds and open muddles. The method of cleaning shoes varies with the type of shoe material.

Canvas shoes:

It is easy to clean canvas shoes as they are made of breathable materials like cotton. Soak canvas shoes in water if the mud is too high. Change the water based on necessity. After some time, take out the shoes from water, use an old toothbrush or cloth brush and remove the mud by gently brushing the shoe.

You could also put canvas shoes in water, provided they are not of leather or mesh. Remember to put shoes in a pillow cover or lingerie bag before you throw them in the washing machine.

Baking powder is the safest bet to clean canvas shoe soles. You could use this technique to clean shoes for newborns too. Just a half spoon or less would suffice to clean kids’ shoes if you are concerned about using baking powder for cleaning.

Sprinkle baking powder on the soles, let it sit overnight. The next day, dust off the powder thoroughly from shoes and let them air dry. They are as fresh as new and ready for your kids’ use.

Indoor shoes:

Indoor shoes do not attract much dirt and are grim. Especially, kids, do not need much regular cleaning unless they spoil them with food, urine, and poo.

Soak the shoes in warm water, and gently hand wash them with mild, child-safe detergent. Remove water thoroughly by using a towel and let them dry fully in the natural air and shade.

If the shoes contain decorations or fur, avoid putting them in the washing machine. Always hand washes kids’ shoes to increase their lifetime.

Leather shoes:

Regular maintenance of leather shoes enhances their span. Apply little coconut oil or Vaseline on the shoe using an old cloth or sponge. Keep them aside and let them air dry.

Never clean leather shoes with water or in the washing machine. They must always stay away from water and should be thoroughly dry. Use dry brushing to remove the mud and grim, and clean with a cloth applied with beeswax or Vaseline as mentioned above.

More methods to clean kids’ shoes

If you want to refrain from using chemical-based cleaners for kids shoes or know how to remove stubborn stains from kids’ shoes, try these techniques:

Magic erasers: Rub magic erasers on the stains on kids’ shoes. They are a trusted solution to clean hard stains by moms and should come in handy to you too.

Toothpaste: Using toothpaste is one of the gentlest methods to clean kids’ shoes. Apply toothpaste with an old toothbrush all over the shoe and the sole. Let it remain for some time and clean the shoe with plain water using the toothbrush. Dry them in the shade, and they are ready for your naughty one’s use.

Washing machine: If the shoes are too dirty to clean with hands, soak them in the detergent for a while. Then clean them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. Refrain from using a washing machine dryer. They could shrink the shoe and make it lose its shape. Instead, dry in the natural air in the shade to retain their shape and color.

Conclusion

The task of cleaning kids’ shoes is a hassle for moms but not too difficult. Handwashing is the best method to clean kids’ shoes while gentle machine wash also helps in certain cases. With regular maintenance and cleaning, you can easily prolong the health of shoes besides ensuring their hygiene.

Watching the kids making their first steps wearing the infant shoes is like a dream come true for parents. Shoes for infants are the essentials that parent purchase while designing their nursery. Those little steps in the cute shoes with kids trying to learn walking by taking support is a sight anyone can fall in love with.

At this juncture, many parents are confused about introducing baby shoes to infants. Various questions arise in their mind, and they wish someone would solve their doubts.

As we move ahead in this article, we will talk about everything parents ever wished to know about shoes for infants.

Age

“At what age should I start putting on shoes to my kid?”

This is one of the most asked questions from parents. To be specific, there is no exact answer to this. Babies start walking around 12 – 15 months. Child growth can vary from baby to baby, and so does their age of walking.

Walking and crawling barefoot helps to strengthen the muscles and joints of kids. Thus, till your baby starts walking on its own, it may not be suggested to put on shoes. Instead, you can use booties and cotton socks to keep your foot warm.

Benefits

Kids’ shoes protect the baby’s little feet from injuries. They keep their feet warm and protect from the cold atmosphere outside.

Good quality kids’ shoes offer anti-slip protection and prevent babies from falling. They offer extra comfort to the little feet, thus making your baby’s walking experience a happier one.

Besides offering protection, kids’ shoes add a dose of swag to the little ones, thus stepping up their style quotient.

Selection

Some of the factors to keep in mind while choosing shoes for infants are as below:

Price:

Kids grow fast. Shoes are the first ones that turn tight to your baby even before you notice them. Thus, while purchasing shoes, it might not be suggested to pick too pricy ones as they soon become outsized.

Cheaper shoes might not offer the support and experience your baby deserves. They may develop wear and tear and may even increase the risk of slipping.

Hence, invest in good-quality shoes for infants that promise both comfort and safety at moderate pricing.

Fit:

While this is a no-brainer, shoes for infants need to be the perfect fit for their little feet. While a loose fit might make your baby slip, too tight a fit might trouble their delicate skin.

Hence, while choosing the shoes, measure the baby’s feet with tape to pick the correct size. Alternatively, you could also check the measurement table the manufacturer provides.

In many cases, testimonials and reviews also provide an idea about the fitting of the shoe. Checking such reviews before you finally make your pick would save your time and effort.

If you get a chance to buy shoes in person, never miss the opportunity to put on the shoes for your baby and try them before you buy them.

Features

The shoes must-have features that add comfort to your baby:

Sole: The sole must be soft, breathable, and provide warmth to your baby’s foot. It must not occupy too much inner space and make the shoe tight. Cotton soles are breathable and offer more comfort to your baby than synthetic ones.

Closure: There are many types of closures available in shoes for infants: buckle, button, lace, pullovers, etc. While lace ones offer extra space as your baby’s feet grow, pullovers offer ease of wearing. A thing to remember is, kids soon outgrow their shoe size and hence choose shoes that fit even as your baby grows.

Know what to avoid

Shoes for your baby must be soft and comfy. Avoid choosing crocs and flip-flops right at the introduction level. They tend to be slippery and hence do not suit babies that are learning to walk.

Conclusion

Kids’ shoes come in various attractive options and features. Choose the ones that best fit your baby and offer them complete comfort and safety. If you are a parent that loves experimenting, explore the various colors and designs available and turn your little one into a fashionista!