Letting your rascals go bare foot is safe in the comfort of your home, but their growing feet may need a little more protection when you head out for the day.

Luckily, a good pair of baby shoes will be comfortable, and won’t restrict movement and growth. There are several kinds of baby shoes, from sandals to boots, trainers to dress shoes.

The type of shoe they need will depend on the occasion, whether you are spending a sunny day at the seashore, heading out to the city, or going for a walk to the park on a blustery day.

Prioritising foot development doesn’t mean you can’t make a fashion statement. Quality baby shoes come in all sorts of designs, some that will even match your favourite pair of shoes!

Soft Soles For Comfy Feet

Soft sole shoes help feet develop healthily. They are really the only shoes you should be looking at for your baby.

When choosing shoes for your little one, it’s a good idea to consider their design, construction and materials. Look for shoes that are designed with the understanding that barefoot is best.

This philosophy is necessary to the design of baby shoes because it means that these shoes prioritise comfort and development - unlike so many competitors that still have rigid soles, which are not only uncomfortable, but can do serious damage to little feet.

Pre-walkers need shoes that let them wriggle their little toes, bend, splay, grip and strengthen their feet. Soft sole shoes allows your kid to grow and develop as nature intended.

Closed Toed Shoes That Promote Development

Shoes aren’t always necessary for babies, but when they are, it’s important that they wear shoes they are appropriate and promote healthy development.

Especially, as they start to become more agile, tumbling around, crawling after you, and generally becoming a bother.

This may especially be necessary when you leave the house. Closed toed shoes are needed most as winter comes on and the cold weather starts to nip at their little toes.

They’ll keep their feet toasty, as well as providing them a little traction when crawling. They’ll also keep those socks clean!

Velcro & Slip-Ons

Velcro and slip-on shoes are recommended for pre-walkers, as laces can be done up too tight and cause the shoes to be uncomfortable, as well as hindering the development of their feet.

Slip-on shoes are great, they’re quick to put on, which will save you a lot of time and hassle during a hectic morning rush.

To get slip-on shoes on, and to get them to stay on, it is necessary to ensure they are the correct size.

Too small, and you’ll have no luck slipping them on. Too big and the little rascal will kick them off in the middle of a supermarket, and they’ll likely be lost forever!

Velcro and elsastic shoes are a great option, as it ensures the shoes stay on, and as long as your bub doesn’t get too smart for their own good, they can be difficult for them to take off.

Open Toed Shoes So Little Feet Can Breathe

Open toed shoes will let your hell raiser’s feet breathe during the hotter months while keeping them protected. Sandals are cute, but it’s also important that they be designed and constructed well.

The soles must be soft, and they shouldn’t hinder the movement of their feet too much. So those strappy sandals with the stiff sole are not appropriate for a baby of this age.

As with any baby shoes, they should be soft soled, uber-flexible and a good fit.

Sandals

A sandal that looks like a normal pram shoe, with added cut-outs will let their feet breathe while also providing protection. Velcro on sandals will keep them on, no matter how much they kick or fiddle!

With sandals, they don’t have to wear socks, which may make them preferable during summer. Bobux sandals also feature a removable inner sole which can keep their feet a warm and comfortable on those windy days at the beach.

Generally, look for sandals with soft soles that are made from non-slip materials like suede.

Shoes for Babies Learning to Walk

It’s important to remember that you need to choose baby shoe sizes and types based on their stage, not necessarily their age.

Babies often take their first step at nine months, although in 2012 there was a case where a six month old started walking, much to the chagrin of his proud parents who had to chase after him!

But for most babies, at nine months of age, it’s a good idea to start looking at walking shoes. Bobux Step Ups are perfect for your growing bub who has begun cruising and walking.

It’s important that walking shoes support healthy foot development, and that they are specially designed for the needs of first walkers.

Bobux has stylish and comfy shoes for your little mischief-maker, whether they're just beginning to crawl, or running rings around you! Shop our range of soft sole shoes for prewalking babies today!