Shoes and walking

Breena is walking about 95% of the time now. I have new Stride Rite sneakers for her, but is it necessary to put them on her when we're just hanging out in the house? I have not let her walk anywhere else (like in public!) yet, so I'm not sure what to do.

Baylinn on the other hand is still walking mostly on her knees. If knee walking was an Olympic sport, I'd have a gold medalist!

 

We only wear shoes outside or in public. Around the house they go barefoot unless Meara finds shoes and then she insists on wearing them.

 

QUOTE(sunshinetwins @ Aug 17 2008, 01:56 PM) [snapback]934066[/snapback]
Baylinn on the other hand is still walking mostly on her knees. If knee walking was an Olympic sport, I'd have a gold medalist!


Too cute!

What I have read is that beginning walkers do best barefoot or as close as possible, and that shoes at this point are to protect their feet from sharp objects and sun-baked surfaces. I don't know when they start needing "support", but it's not for a long time yet - several pairs of shoes away at the rate my guys are going! Anyway, to keep costs down and because they will take the shoes off if we don't do it for them, they're almost always barefoot in the house.

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ Aug 17 2008, 10:00 AM) [snapback]934068[/snapback]
We only wear shoes outside or in public. Around the house they go barefoot unless Meara finds shoes and then she insists on wearing them.


Ditto. We never wear shoes unless we're going out. I had read that it is better for those learning to walk to be barefoot in the house if possible.

 

We were barefoot most of the time too. If they weren't barefoot, they were in their Robeez.

 

We live in FL too, so they hardly wear shoes in the house and I let them out back on the patio without them. But I have noticed that Tyler benefits from the support of the shoe inside so occasionally I will put his tennis shoes on in the house and always outside now.

 

Barefoot here too! We only put shoes on when leaving.

That is SO cute about Baylinn!!

 

Like the others said, barefoot is best. It lets them feel the floor when they are walking and work all the muscles in their feet.

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Aug 17 2008, 06:12 PM) [snapback]934270[/snapback]
Barefoot here too! We only put shoes on when leaving.

That is SO cute about Baylinn!!


It was cute....at first. Now I get strange looks and comments from the other moms at Gymboree :huh: ! I thought Baylinn would get on her feet more (she does walk a little too) now that Breena is really moving, but nope - she keeps up with her sister while on her knees.