The choice of infant shoes is a topic that raises a lot of controversy among parents. Caregivers want to ensure the health of their baby, but often do not know what to pay attention to when shopping and whose advice to listen to - family, friends, specialists? Do not rely on the opinion of others, but find out what you yourself can pay attention to when choosing footwear for children and what models are worth considering.

The moment when a child takes his first steps is special for the whole family. The toddler is happy to explore the world from a new perspective, and the caregivers "burst with pride" because their little one has overcome another stage of development. However, with the first steps comes the question "which baby shoes for boys and girls to choose?".

Infant footwear - only from natural materials

Children's skin is extremely sensitive and prone to irritation, so it is necessary to ensure that the materials with which it comes into contact are equally delicate and soft. Such requirements are met only by natural fabrics, such as leather, cotton, wool and rubber, which are used to make shoes for newborn and older children available from TupuTupu.

The footwear, which is lined with these materials, is smooth and pleasant to the touch and easily adapts to the shape of the foot, so it does not irritate delicate skin. What's more, it is breathable, so that the feet do not sweat excessively and remain dry at all times, regardless of the conditions outside. Thanks to this, the toddler can take his first steps without any hindrances and feelings of discomfort.

Baby shoes - preferably with a soft sole and a matching heel counter

There is a belief among older people that shoes for newborns and infants should have a hard heel counter and sole to stabilize the foot well and prevent deformities. However, recent studies show that in such footwear the process of learning to properly roll the feet on the ground is disrupted. Specialists point out that the best shoes for infants are soft shoes that bend naturally with the foot.

To do so, it is advisable to choose models with flexible soles made of leather, rubber, rubber or high-quality plastic, which can be bent both ways with the toes without too much effort.

A hard heel counter that surrounds the entire heel including the ankle is also not welcome. When walking in such a shoe, the muscles around the Achilles tendon are not activated, so they do not develop properly and, as a result, are unable to hold the foot in the correct position.

If you want to avoid this, choose shoes for a toddler in which the heel counter is soft and fits snugly against the heel. This will allow the toddler to run freely, walk on tiptoe and squat without the risk of the foot "running off" to the side or the shoe falling off.

First footwear for a baby - new only

Many caregivers put shoes on their offspring after an older sibling or cousin. Often they make this decision for financial reasons, but also because the older child has walked in the shoes for a very short time, making them look like new. This is not a good idea.

It is enough for a toddler to walk around in the shoes for a few hours, so that the insole inside deforms and adapts to the shape of his feet, and as a result provides them with adequate support and safety when moving. If you wear such shoes with another child, it will be his feet that will have to adjust to the insole, and not the other way around.

As a result, it is very easy to lead to disorders in their development and learning to roll them properly on the ground. What's more, the insole in used shoes will not provide little feet with support in the right zones, so the toddler can, for example, roll over more easily. Therefore, every, not just the first, infant shoes for boys and girls should be new.

Baby shoes - the most advantageous with a spare

Whether you're buying infant winter shoes, sandals for summer, or clogs for spring, make sure the model you choose fits your child's feet. Footwear must not be:

• too small so that it does not compress the toes and thus does not contribute to chafing and irritation,
• too large to hold the feet well and keep them safe while running,
• the same length as the feet, because then they will not provide enough space for free movement. Moreover, the child will quickly grow out of them.

Shoes for a newborn and older child should be 7 mm longer than the child's foot. This will allow the toes to work freely when walking, running or jumping. In the case of insulated infant shoes, take care of about 1 cm of reserve, so that you can put a thicker sock on the child in cold weather.

When it comes to choosing baby shoes for girls and boys, trust the specialists. Only in this way will you provide your child's feet with the right conditions for development.