First very cautiously, then more confidently – watching your own child take their first steps is something very special!
Of course, parents want to support theirlittle ones in the best way possible and ideally equip them with their first shoes right away.
But from when are shoes really necessary? What makes a good first walking shoe and how do you determine the right size?
All this and much more you can find out in our ultimate guide to first walking shoes!
Do children actually need shoes to learn to walk?
The answer is clearly: No! The name “first walking shoes” is actually a bit misleading. Because the shoes do not support children in walking itself. Ideally, they learn that without footwear; after all, evolution has equipped us humans perfectly for this.
Little feet are surprisingly strong
Baby feet look soft and delicate. But in fact, they already withstand quite a bit of strain! After all, it is designed by nature for babies to carry their weight and learn to walk – and preferably barefoot!
| By the way: It’s completely normal for baby feet to look a bit flat! The foot arch develops over time through extended walking. The feet just look flatter because the bones are covered by a thick layer of fat. This layer protects against cold and overstrain. |
Sometimes it’s not so easy to encourage children to wear footwear. But when little ones resist wearing shoes or socks, they are actually doing everything right intuitively! Because for foot health, there is nothing better than walking on bare soles.
That’s why walking barefoot is so healthy for babies
Children should go barefoot as long as possible when out and about. Because walking is something very intuitive! Children practice best when they try out different surfaces and learn to balance unevenness on their own. The spine and foot muscles work together, and movement sequences coordinate until they function completely automatically.
Walking barefoot promotes healthy development for the feet because it…
- ...tones the foot muscles
- …strengthens the bone structure
- …teaches the feet to grasp
- …trains the sense of balance by recognizing and compensating for unevenness
- …promotes sensory perception in the brain because the child can test different surfaces
So let your baby explore with bare feet.
But: There are a few limitations that require wearing shoes.
When do walking shoes actually make sense?
Even though walking barefoot is very healthy – it is just as important
Protecting children's feet from heat, cold, or injuries. This is where walking shoes come into play. Basically, the shoes are only meant to protect the children's feet without affecting their walking.
When the home is no longer big enough and the child goes outside, they serve as protection for the sensitive baby feet.
Then walking shoes make sense
If the surface and temperature allow, the baby can be barefoot. In some situations, however, it makes sense to put on walking shoes:
- on cool surfaces as protection against cold
- in tall grass – where bees might hide or thistles lurk
- in public places where there might be broken glass or metal parts lying around. Walking shoes should not necessarily be worn all day long, but only for a few hours at a time, such as when going to the playground or shopping.
From when can baby walking shoes be worn?
At first, babies basically don't need shoes at all. From crawling to first steps, you can then put soft baby crawling shoes on your little one. Here you will find both typical crawling shoes for girls and color-coordinated crawling shoes for boys. However, these are only suitable as protection on surfaces that are not suitable for barefoot crawling adventures.
In principle, you can start thinking about first walking shoes when the baby begins to walk independently. Usually, this starts around 10 – 18 months. But the decisive factor here is not the age, but the developmental stage. Motor development varies from child to child. While some start exploring early, others take a bit more time. By the way, you don’t need to encourage your child much to walk – they will do it on their own.
Therefore: First walking shoes are only appropriate once the little ones venture outside even in cooler temperatures.
5 tips for buying: What matters in first walking shoes
Almost all children are born with healthy feet. So how is it that so many adults walk incorrectly or have posture problems? Often, this is related to wearing the wrong shoes during the early stages of learning to walk. For the child's development, it is especially important to find the right first walking shoes that promote healthy walking.
| Top priority: The shoe should adapt to the foot, not the foot to the shoe! |
Even if you are tempted to buy especially cute shoes – the appearance comes second here. Much more important is that the foot is optimally supported while walking. And don’t worry: the selection of healthy yet cute children's shoes is large! But what exactly makes a good first walking shoe?
1. The quality: flexible and pliable
First walking shoes must be gentle and flexible. A soft upper material like leather or wool is flexible enough not to constrict the foot. Good children's shoes are designed so that they do not hinder the natural rolling motion and it almost feels to the little ones as if they were not wearing shoes at all.
| The shoe should bend easily between thumb and forefinger without much effort. |
2. The sole: soft and non-slip
The sole is crucial for first walking shoes! It must be as soft as possible to adapt well to the foot. Because it should support natural foot movement and thus help develop motor skills. Still, it must provide good grip and be non-slip so the little ones don’t slip while trying to walk. By the way, baby shoes don’t need a specially shaped footbed because our foot has enough muscles to keep it in the right position on its own.
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3. The material: natural and free of harmful substances
We want only the best for our children! When choosing shoes, pay special attention to naturalness. Vegetable-tanned leather without chrome or natural new wool are very suitable for first walking shoes. These materials contain no harmful substances and ensure that the child’s foot is surrounded only by pure nature ! Synthetic fabrics are not ideal because they don’t allow the foot to breathe and usually contain various harmful chemicals.
4. Hygiene: breathable, temperature-regulating, and dirt-repellent
Even toddlers can sweat on their feet. That’s why it’s important that first walking shoes are well ventilated to prevent any moisture or heat buildup . The lining must keep warm but also allow enough airflow. A material is needed that insulates and regulates temperature independently, so the shoes can be worn in any climate.
Especially suitable for this are natural materials like wool or leather. Natural new wool, for example, has the wonderful property of absorbing moisture inside the fibers and transporting it outside on its own – all without feeling damp! This way, the feet can breathe comfortably. New wool also has the advantage, due to its special surface, that odors and dirt particles do not penetrate deeply into the material. A clear plus for shoes for little explorers!
| Natural materials like new wool or vegetable-tanned leather are ideal because of their |
5. The right size: neither too big nor too small
The shoe must fit, that is certain! Children's feet are still very soft and easily deformable. If they are put into shoes that do not fit, this can later lead to foot deformities . Note that shoe sizes can vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, it is always worth measuring the actual inside length of the shoe. What is important in this regard, we will now look at more closely.
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The right size for children's shoes
The key to foot health is that the shoes have the right size. Children initially cannot properly communicate when the shoe does not fit. But not only that – they often do not even notice! Because the nerve cells in soft children's feet are not yet fully developed, children do not feel when their shoes pinch or are too small.
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| Did you know that almost 40% of all children walk around in shoes that are too big? This was the result of a survey by the Child Health Foundation. Unfortunately, parents often think they can save a shoe size this way. But this does no good for the child. If children "swim" in their shoes, it can affect their gait later and strain their joints. |
How to find the right size for the first walking shoe
You probably also know the old trick to find out if shoes fit:
You press with your thumb on the toes at the front and feel if there is still enough space to the
Shoe tip. Unfortunately, this "thumb test" is not reliable for first walking shoes. When children feel pressure, they often reflexively pull their toes in, so you cannot accurately determine if the shoe length actually fits.
The most accurate way to find the right size for the first walking shoe is to measure your baby's foot. The best way to do this is to use our size template. You just need to print it out and can then immediately determine the correct shoe size.
We show you how to do it further down.
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A small guide for using the infographicWith our template, you can easily determine which shoe size your child needs. Simply follow these steps: as follows:
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Consider whether the first walking shoes are intended for winter or summer. Because depending on the temperature, the shoes will be worn with or without socks, which should be taken into account when choosing the size!
Important: Whether in-store or online – children's shoes must always be tried on before being finally purchased or kept. Only then can you determine if the shoes really fit.
Frequently asked questions about first walking shoes
Once the right size is found, there is nothing stopping you from equipping the little ones with their first pair of shoes. Here are a few more pointers to help you when buying first walking shoes.
How often do shoes need to be changed?
Children's feet grow rapidly, about one millimeter every month. In the first 2-5 years, that's a whole 2-3 shoe sizes per year. So if a toddler only gets new shoes 1x per year, that's definitely too little and usually means they are walking around in shoes that are too small. However, how often shoes actually need to be changed cannot be predicted, because every child's feet grow at different rates.
Check every 2-3 months whether the shoes still fit by measuring the sole and your child’s foot. Regular measuring is really worthwhile here, because after all, it’s about the child’s health!
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How many pairs of walking shoes do you need?
As already mentioned, it is basically not necessary to wear walking shoes all the time. So one pair is sufficient at first. However, if the child already walks a lot
If you are outside or on cold floors , a second pair can definitely be worthwhile. This way, you can regularly air out the shoes and still have a spare pair ready.
Do used walking shoes make sense?
Can walking shoes be passed down to a younger sibling if they are still in good condition? According to the Child Health Foundation, this is generally okay, but only under certain conditions.
For this, the shoes must be exactly the right size and must not be worn down or deformed on one side under any circumstances. If you want to be safe, it’s better to get a new pair of shoes.
Lace-up shoes or Velcro – which closure is suitable?
Walking shoes come in many different styles and with various closure techniques. Some models are designed so that you can simply slip them on and they reach up to the ankle to provide good support. Velcro closures are also a good choice because children can soon open and close them themselves – a little success experience! Lace-up shoes are not ideal because the laces can be tripping hazards – either because they come undone on their own or because the little ones fiddle with them.
When your own children start to explore the world, they should be optimally supported. This means letting them walk barefoot at first. As soon as they go outside, you can put on walking shoes. When buying, be sure to look for natural, hygienic material, a soft, flexible sole , and of course the right size. Then nothing will stand in the way of your little ones' exploration!
