Best first shoes/sandals?

Hi,

My twins are not walking yet, but they are walking holding onto furniture, and if we are holding their hands, so I am thinking they may be walking alone in a month or so (not looking forward to both of them walking in 2 different directions at the same time, but that's another story ). I didn't put shoes on them so far, just because I didn't see the need for it, but when they'll start walking I guess I won't have a choice for outside.

What kind of shoes would you recommend as good first shoes or sandals?

Thanks,

Monica

 

It is best that babies learn to walk barefoot. It is good for them. After that, especially for outside, I would suggest a supportive pair of Stride Rite shoes/sandals. Honestly for sandals, I think I used crocks... but whatever you decide, I would pick a sandal that had protection for the toes. Covered toes will protect them for those trips/falls.

 

My girls started walking at 8 and 9 months and I still didn't get them real shoes until they were 12 months. I bought PediPeds for their first shoes and now buy stride rites. They are a bit more expensive, but they were the brands recommended by our pediatrician so I went with them. They are made very well and are extremely supportive.

 

We got our boys Stride Rite tennis shoes for their first shoes. But they only wore them when we would go outside or out in public. They always go barefoot at home.

 

Another Stride Rite fan here. Once they were really walking, we went out and got their first shoes.

 

Stride rite tennis shoes only. We wear Nike and stride rite now

 

We kept our LOs barefoot as long as possible, I think until about 15 or 16 months. One started walking at 11 months, the other at 13 months. The first summer they toddled barefoot in our garden and stayed in the stroller or the carriers for longer outside trips. We did not buy the first shoes until the fall when it was too cool for them barefoot in the garden, and that is when they got to walk in the street, park etc. too. I still try to have them barefoot indoors as much as possible.
As they outgrow the first shoes so quickly (we need new ones about every 3-4 months) and good shoes are expensive, you might want to buy just one pair per baby and skip the sandals this summer. I agree with JicJac - if you buy them sandals for this summer while they are still wobbly walkers, get something with covered toes and good support.

 

Thank you everyone. I am not going to make them wear shoes yet, I was just wondering what works best, being proactive about the future. I read that it's best for them to learn how to walk barefoot also, so I am planning to leave them barefoot as long as possible, but in the fall, I guess I will have no choice for outside. Thanks for your suggestions, I appreciate it.

 

My girls are a month ahead of yours and they're doing the same thing. They can stand very briefly without holding on. But anyway, I plan to leave them barefoot until this fall when they'll need something covering their foot. I always love the Robeez (sp) shoes. I buy the Target brand and bought a couple pairs off ebay with my DD2. I have a pair for the girls that are still too big so they might be able to wear those early fall. For outside I buy something a little thicker soled. If we're going to be out for a short time and them mainly in the stroller they will wear their robeez.