How to choose the best footwear for your baby?
At what age should the first footwear be purchased?
The child has physiologically flat feet - this condition fades as the child develops muscles. There is no need to buy shoes for your little one until he can stand on his own feet - leave his little feet free to learn to walk: however, you can provide soft shoes without soles.
When the child starts walking without holding on, it's time to buy his or her first shoes. According to some experts, it is best to wait until the baby is three months old before investing in this purchase.
See also The 1st week of a baby's life: all there is to knowThe 2nd week of a baby's life: all there is to know
The 3rd week of a baby's life: all there is to knowTo know: if second-hand clothes are always a good idea, especially in times of crisis and savings, the same is not true for footwear. Second-hand shoes, in fact, could even be harmful, as they could have taken the shape of the foot of the first owner. This could damage your little one's walk in the long run!
What footwear to buy for babies from 12 to 24 months?
It is in the first 12-24 months of your baby's life that you will buy his first shoes. A choice to be made carefully, to allow the correct growth of your puppy's foot!
Choose boot shoes that will support your foot well without compressing it. The shoes must be well fastened to avoid "losing" them and incurring unpleasant and painful chafing, and must be equipped with a rigid heel and a small heel of 1 cm maximum.
Opt for footwear that is sturdy, but not too heavy for the foot. Then choose leather shoes to limit perspiration.
The soles should be flexible at the toe, to allow your child to explore the world in comfort. Choose shoes with wide soles in the front to prevent the toes from overlapping. The outer sole should have non-slip grooves or knurls, for games in complete safety and without the danger of slipping!
Velcro or with laces? Since for now you will still be in charge of lacing the shoes, choose the one you prefer! If you want to be sure that the shoe will fit the foot perfectly, choose the laces to adjust the closure. to put on and take off your shoes 10, 100, 1000 times!
Our selection of baby shoes
© PrimigiWhat to prefer for children aged 15 months to 5 years?
Footwear must be sturdy and comfortable. In choosing the right shoe, you should prefer:
- A sturdy, yet flexible structure
- Upper and lining in leather
- A stiff but not too thick sole. Flexible but not too thin. Made with natural materials to let the skin breathe.
- A tongue that protects the shoe.
- A practical hand-proof closure!
Our selection for children's footwear
© PrimigiFrom 6 years old
Let the child choose the footwear according to his tastes, but always favor sturdiness and quality. Choose at least two pairs of shoes to alternate to avoid premature wear, bad smell and to have a change of stock.
© IstockWhen to change shoes?
Attention! Children's feet are generally not sensitive to pain and your little one is unlikely to tell you when his or her shoes will hurt - check your little one's feet so you can detect when the shoes get too small for their growing feet. !
The trick: to check if there is still time to change shoes, use this little trick: when the child is standing with the shoes on, try to insert a finger between the child's foot and the end of the shoe - if you succeed, you will be able to use the shoes for some time. The wear of shoes is also very important, to keep an eye on to avoid the development of incorrect walking behaviors.
The bad idea: buying shoes of different sizes bigger because "the foot grows fast". It is true, but in the meantime the child could find himself very uncomfortable and acquire defects in walking!
Some important numbers:
- The infant size is usually 12
- At 12 months, girls' feet usually measure half of what they will in adulthood
- At 18 months, babies' feet usually measure half as much as they will in adulthood
Foot sizes change quickly:
- From 1 to 3 years approximately every 40 to 60 days
- From 3 to 6 years approximately every 3-4 months
- From 6 to 10 years approximately every 4-5 months