A guide to choosing first shoes: from first steps to healthy, strong little feet

A guide to choosing first shoes: from first steps to healthy, strong little feet A guide to choosing first shoes: from first steps to healthy, strong little feet

Children Barefoot Walking, Movement and Health Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes

This article will guide you through when and how to put shoes on your child for the first time, so their little feet get the best possible start on their first steps.

Children grow in the blink of an eye and, before you know it, they start attempting their first independent steps. There’s definitely no need to rush into buying their first shoes. The right children’s shoes shouldn’t just look lovely – above all, they should meet a few key criteria. So how do you choose the first shoes for your little one?

The fact that you’re about to buy your child their first pair of shoes is a big milestone in their life – and it’s not something to take lightly.

Poorly chosen footwear can lead not only to swelling or blisters, but it can also deform little toes or negatively affect the way they walk for life.

You’ll find more useful information in these articles, which – like this one – we wrote in collaboration with physiotherapists:

Modern habits it’s better to forget

As soon as your little one starts pulling themselves up and trying their first steps, you might feel tempted to get them into shoes straight away. It sounds logical, but the truth is a bit different. Before you head out shopping, give it a little time.

“Supporting” a child’s foot with ankle-high shoes tightly laced up can do more harm than good. 

A child’s foot develops best and learns to work properly when it’s completely barefoot – without socks, too.

Another common mistake many parents still make is holding their child under the arms, constantly helping them walk or, worse still, using various walking reins. It’s best to avoid all of that for one simple reason.

Your child needs to strengthen not only the muscles in their legs, but also their back extensor muscles, along with the rest of the muscles in their body. That’s exactly how they gradually learn to walk properly.

When to buy your child their first shoes

If you can’t wait and still want to get your child their first footwear (especially in winter), choose so-called soft sole shoes. Their advantage isn’t just the soft sole – they also don’t stiffen the ankles, so the foot can move freely. It’s best for your child to practise their first steps in soft soles at home, on a flat floor.

When buying first shoes, it’s ideal if your child has been walking independently indoors for more than two months, without any support. Their hands are no longer held up for balance, and they can manage a little run without any trouble.

Once you can see they’re gaining confidence in walking (walking without support and not balancing with their arms), it’s time to go shopping and choose your child’s first proper shoes – also known as pre-walkers. In our e-shop, you’ll find them in the Shoes for first steps category.

Why to avoid conventional shoes

  • Conventional shoes have the disadvantage of a hard, inflexible sole, and they also usually don’t have enough room for toes. 
  • So they squeeze the foot unnaturally and don’t allow it to work properly when walking. 
  • It’s also quite common for a child, step by step, to relax their tummy muscles, stick their bottom out or let their ankles collapse. They may also start tripping because they can’t feel the ground properly through their feet. 
  • Likewise, steer well clear of any raised heel, even a slight one. It can lead to shortening of the Achilles tendons, which can also limit development not only in the whole lower limb, but in overall posture and body alignment too.

The right size is essential

Shoes mustn’t restrict the foot in any way and they should be big enough – but not too big. They definitely shouldn’t press across the instep, and they should fit well around the heel. Sizing can vary from brand to brand, because manufacturers often differ slightly in their measurements. To choose the right size, you need to know the most accurate possible foot length and width, ideally also the instep height, and you also need to remember the growing room. For first shoes, this should be a maximum of 10 millimetres in length and 2 mm on each side.

If you’re not sure, read our complete guide to measuring children’s feet: tips and mistakes to avoid or pop into one of our shops, where we’ll be happy to advise you.

P.S.: One thing you really shouldn’t forget – children’s feet grow quite quickly, so measure them regularly so the shoes don’t start to pinch.

What a barefoot shoe should offer

Barefoot shoes mustn’t restrict the foot while walking or disrupt its natural development. A raised heel or a narrow toe box, which we mentioned above, should therefore be a complete no-go. So what features should you look for to recognise good barefoot shoes?

  • Lightweight, soft construction – the lighter the shoes, the better. The feet of small children learning to walk are still relatively weak, so unnecessarily heavy footwear would restrict them during those first steps.
  • A sole that bends in all directions – a hard sole can easily lead to tripping. If it’s flexible enough, your child will feel the ground well and the foot will work naturally.
  • Plenty of room for toes – the shoe needs to widen anatomically at the front so it doesn’t squeeze the toes, but instead allows them to spread freely.
  • Breathable material – it’s not unusual for small children’s feet to sweat a lot, so avoid synthetic materials. Natural materials (ideally leather) are a better choice, as they let little feet breathe.

Tips for specific brands

Once you’ve measured your child’s feet carefully, you can start shopping. We’ve picked a few tips for specific brands that will not only look great, but above all help your child learn to walk well.

To start with, you can choose soft sole shoes:

Barefoot soft sole shoes are light, soft, fully flexible and have plenty of room for toes. The breathable material lets the skin breathe freely. Simply ideal footwear, especially indoors, for your toddler’s first attempts and first steps. 

  • CRAVE – they’re made from high-quality soft leather and, thanks to the elastic at the back, they stay on the foot brilliantly without digging in. You can choose an all-leather version or a warm-lined version with wool, in several colour options. They fit best on average and wider feet. 
  • Hopi Hop – cheerful models suitable not only for toddlers but also for older children – not just at home, but also in the pushchair or at a play centre. They have an elastic cuff around the ankles, so they don’t slip off, and they’re also suitable for all seasons.

For winter, add booties:

Winter booties are a practical solution to keep children’s feet warm and dry during all winter activities – whether your little explorer is learning to toddle outdoors, spending time in a baby carrier, or resting in the pushchair. They’re light, soft and designed not to restrict movement.

  • Reima – made from a breathable waterproof material, but the seams aren’t taped, so try to avoid puddles. The non-slip sole helps very small children with their first steps. Thanks to the drawstrings around the ankles and at the top cuff, they’re easy to put on and stay securely on the foot. 

Then you can buy your child their first proper shoes:

First shoes (pre-walkers) should be very light and flexible, so your child can bend them easily. And that’s exactly what you’ll find from these brands:

  • Bobux – beautifully made shoes from quality materials. We recommend their wonderfully flexible pre-walkers, which fit narrower feet and a lower instep. You can choose leather shoes or winter versions with merino wool in lots of bright colours.

  • Froddo – soft leather shoes that you can put on your child for wearing at home as well as their first outdoor adventures. Warm-lined models with sheep’s wool can be worn in winter too. Thanks to their shape, they’re especially suitable for average-width feet with a medium to lower instep.

  • D.D. Step – very soft canvas or leather shoes with a flexible sole and playful details for confident little walkers. They fit a wider foot and a higher instep. They’re not suitable for a narrow heel and a dominant big toe.

  • Bundgaard – children’s barefoot shoes made from soft leather. They have a soft sole and, in winter versions, a warm lining made from 100% sheep’s wool. A practical toe bumper protects the shoes from knocks. They fit medium to wider straight feet without a fan-shaped forefoot and a higher instep, and thanks to the Velcro straps you can tighten them easily even around a narrower ankle.

  • Pegres – these Czech leather shoes are light and flexible, ideal for first steps. They’re easy to put on thanks to a strap with elastic and Velcro, and they fit medium to wider feet, including a dominant big toe. A suede toe bumper protects little toes, and winter versions are warm-lined with sheep’s wool.

Affenzahn – high-quality, beautifully designed pre-walkers, ideal for first steps. They fit medium-width feet and can be tightened well even for a low instep, but they can also handle a slightly higher one. There’s a leather and a vegan version available, including all-year-round and winter models with a membrane.

Barefoot shoes for healthy, strong little feet

So there’s no need to be afraid of barefoot shoes for children – shoes that mimic walking barefoot. You can confidently put them on from those very first independent steps. You’ll see for yourself that this investment is worth it and pays back in the form of healthy, strong children’s feet that don’t need any intervention from a physiotherapist.

This article was created in collaboration with Bc. Edita Prošková – a podiatrist specialising in acquired and congenital foot conditions in children and adults. Through exercises and podiatric aids, she helps restore impaired foot function, which affects the condition of the entire musculoskeletal system.

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