At this stage of your child’s life, your main focus is to protect their little feet, and ensure proper growth, therefore a running shoe or anything that is made for jaunts, running etc is not suitable for your infant. Keep in mind that your baby’s feet are soft and precious and need plenty of space to grow, so a soft, slightly cushioned shoe is best.

When deciding on the types of shoe your baby needs think about when and where they will be wearing them and the use they will really be getting out of them. For the most part of their early stages of life, you will probably find yourself putting them in onesies that have their feet covered for you. Shoes only start to come into play when you need to properly dress your baby, go outside, or perhaps a special event.

On a day to day basis, basic slip-on moccasins work wonderfully; they are easy to slip on and because of their elastic band in the ankle area of the shoe they will stay on nicely. Your child is of course not yet mobile and so a nice soft sole that their feet can essentially mold to is perfect and will leave your child feeling comfortable throughout the day. Ensure that their shoes also are made with a nice breathable material so that they are not sweating and uncomfortable, especially during warmer months.

Your baby has finally reached the stage where it is time to put away the little baby socks and venture into the world of infant shoes. This can be a scary time if you are not sure what exactly your baby needs in terms of foot protection, and cushioning. You do not want to be splurging on shoes that either doesn’t work for their age range or are not functional, so it is important to first have an idea of the types of shoes your child is going to need for the next several months.

Your baby will go through shoes very quickly, so if you can plan ahead it can be very helpful. If you know there is a wedding or special event coming up in a few months, buy the size that will fit them then, and be prepared to not get too many uses out of those shoes. Baby shoes can be a bit of a catch 22, especially at the infant, pre-moving stage because of the rate at which they will outgrow them. You will want to buy good quality shoes that protect their feet properly, especially if they are cold weather shoes, however splurging on brand names, or trendy shoes and sandals that have no function can be a waste.

When it comes to baby’s shoes it’s easy to wonder if buying quality over quantity is an adage that actually rings true. You would want to buy quantity due to the fact that your baby is going to continually and rapidly outgrow most of their shoes, however, these are the most important years for foot growth and you want those feet to develop properly. Investing in quality shoes may seem expensive and unnecessary but it will pay off in the long run, plus quality does not only mean expensive, let’s find out why.

The first thought that comes to mind when you think of quality is money, name brands, and expensive materials but that is not always the case. Many brands create exceptional quality products for infants at affordable prices, and won’t leave your wallet hurting in any way. Firstly think about the material, and how it affects your child’s feet.

Any sort of synthetic or plastic material in a shoe is not only going to be uncomfortable but it will not allow for their foot to properly breathe or allow moisture to escape. Your baby’s feet will sweat a lot, especially during the summer so any sort of material that doesn’t allow for proper air flow is a big no-no. The easiest way to find a quality pair of shoes regardless of brand is to see if they are flexible, allow for breathability, fit nicely, and are durable. If you can find all of these qualities, the pair of shoes is a total keeper.

One of the most important things to always keep in mind when purchasing shoes for your infant are how they will fit and for how long they will fit. Shoes with a little bit of wiggle room, yet that still fit nicely are ideal because not only do they give your infant’s feet space to splay out correctly and comfortably, but they also will allow for a decent amount of wear time. You may feel like you are constantly buying shoes at this stage, however, you want your child’s feet, especially at this young age, to grow properly.

It is not recommended to buy shoes for your baby until they reach around 6 months of age, because of the rate at which their feet are growing and changing. After that 6 months, any shoe that is worn should encourage natural foot development, and fit just right. Always avoid trying to prolong the life of a pair of shoes by purchasing them in sizes larger than what fits your child, you are trying to encourage potential first steps, not have them wobble and slide around in shoes that do not fit.

How you can find the perfect pair of shoes for your baby that will fit just right:

The shape of the shoe should be similar to that of your child’s foot; no narrow, pointed toe shoes, always go for the square or oval shapes.

Your baby’s longest toe (generally big toe) should be around ½ an inch from the front of the shoe.

Any high-top styled shoe, such as booties will always be more secure on an infant.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with baby shoe sizes and how they work and you will be sure to find the right fit quickly. Your baby will be wearing up until a size 4-4.5 before they start being mobile, so the general guide is:

0-3 months = size 1
3-6 months = size 2 – 2.5
6-9 months = size 3 – 3.5
9-12 months = size 4 – 4.5

That is not to say your baby should follow this chart exactly, every child is different and so are different brands so always take the time to properly measure their feet, and check on the fit every month or so to ensure everything is good.

Your baby’s shoes should have absolutely no break-in period, these are not a pair of Louboutins, they should easily slide onto your child’s feet and feel comfortable immediately. If for whatever reason they pinch or cause discomfort that will not go away after a couple wears – you need a new size.

Your baby’s footwear, aside from fitting properly, and staying on their feet throughout the day, should be extremely breathable and flexible. Not only does this allow for optimum comfort, it will keep their feet nice and cool to prevent clamminess and sweating and it will also bend and move freely with their feet. If you can, always choose a canvas or soft leather shoe, as it is the easiest material to stretch and mold to your child’s foot.

Their shoes should be soft, or with a firm sole and offer a relatively decent amount of support. These shoes will not yet be supporting a toddler that is running around, so it is okay for them to not have thick soles and offer the most support, however, some cushioning on the bottom is nice for protection. If you are going for a more high-top style like booties, padding around the heel and collar are a nice added touch to further prevent any sort of rubbing or possible irritation.

At this age the most important purpose of shoes is to keep their little feet warm, so fuzzy linings and cozy snug materials are ideal, and will feel nice for them. Try to not focus on what you like, and what style you think is cute and keep the main focus on what will feel nice for your baby. Those gladiator sandals may look adorable, but will they feel comfortable, are they going to leave red marks all up your little one’s leg. You do not want your baby to feel anything but comfortable when wearing shoes because you are trying to get them used to the feeling.

If your child is constantly taking off their shoes, or at least attempting to, try to go through different pairs and see if maybe there is either a specific pair they like and find out why that is. Whether it is due to the fact they feel the nicest, or they like how they look, not struggling with your child to keep their shoes on all day is a plus.

Once your child begins to move, then it is time to start looking into different styles, different soles with all sorts of levels of traction etc, but for the meantime try to stay focused on the protection of their feet and what feels best for them. The period of time between being too young for shoes, and suddenly needing sturdy shoes goes by very fast, so enjoy it and focus less on style and more on comfort.

It is very easy to want to follow trends, or be tempted to buy the cute flip flops or strappy sandals at the store, these are not functional though and can make it very hard for your child who will soon try to stand up and take their first steps. The restrictiveness of these shoes can really affect the muscle development of your baby’s feet in the long run, and they are not worth it.

Where winter shoes are concerned, you do not need to worry about traction or the type of sole they have. As long as the entire shoe is waterproof, and properly lined to ensure the utmost warmth to your child, things like rubber soles and grip are not a concern because your baby’s feet most likely will not even be touching the ground when out in the snow. Try to always keep in mind, that regardless of how cute a pair of shoes may be; will they not only fit into your infant’s wardrobe and be used but how often?

You will find yourself going through shoes very quickly at this age, so finding a pair you love and know works well for your child is ideal. It is even better when the company continues to make that shoe is larger sizes, allowing you to continually repurchase it for your child without having to do further research each time your infant outgrows another pair.