Your Baby’s First Shoes: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Watching your baby take their first steps is one of those parenting milestones that you never forget.  There's usually a lot of wobbles and a lot of giggles involved. And shortly after, your thoughts will often turn to thinking about protecting those newly-walking feet. So, here's our simple guide for buying your baby's first pair of shoes.

1. When Does Your Baby Actually Need Shoes?

Babies will usually take their first steps anywhere between the ages of 8 to 18 months. While it can be tempting to immediately buy a cute pair of new shoes for them, from an early development perspective it's actually better for them to be barefoot as much as possible, while indoors.  Walking barefoot helps a new toddler to develop motor skills, co-ordination and balance. Once your baby is regularly walking outside of their home, such as in a park or shopping centre, then you'll want to be able to protect their feet with shoes.

2. What to Look for in a Baby’s First Shoes

The material your new baby shoes are made from is very important. Soft, flexible and breathable materials like premium leather are best. Leather is a natural material that allows their little feet to breathe. Your babies new shoes should be secure but comfortable, with closures like self fastening tabs that stay on but don't restrict little feet.

The fit of baby shoes is just as important as the fit of shoes for older children. Kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you don't want shoes that are too big or too small, you want shoes that fit just right! For a new walker this means around 0.5-1 cm of growth room. You can ready our easy guide to learn how to measure your child's feet.

3. The Myths About Baby Shoes

"Babies need arch support" – While older children need arch support, this is not true for early walkers. This is because baby feet are flat, made up of more cartilage than bone. Their little leg muscles do not have the strength in them yet to support their arches. Over time their legs grow stronger and their arches will develop, but usually not before 18 months of age.

"Rigid shoes help babies walk better" – Flexible soles are actually better for little feet. With flexible shoes they can move their feet more naturally and feel the ground beneath them, aiding in their ongoing development, balance and co-ordination. 

"One size up for longer wear" –  While it may be tempting to size up in baby shoes to get more wear time, this is a risky option. Oversized shoes can result in instability and lack of co-ordination, causing your baby to trip and potentially injure themselves.

4. The Role of Shoe Design in Healthy Foot Growth

Babies’ feet are not just smaller versions of adult feet—they are still developing, with soft bones, cartilage, and muscles that need freedom to grow naturally. At Surefit, we understand that the right shoe should enhance this natural development rather than restrict it. Our ergonomic designs support little feet with flexible soles for natural movement, breathable high quality materials, and a secure but comfortable fit. We work with podiatrists and footwear specialists to ensure our designs align with best practices for early childhood foot development. Our shoes are shaped and structured in a way that allows babies to explore and move freely while still providing necessary protection.

Got a new walker in your life? View our range of leather baby shoes now!