Should Babies Wear Shoes When Crawling? [Explained]

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Parents ought to be extra cautious when it comes to making decisions for their babies. And why shouldn’t they be? You may be too curious to know the right time for your little one to wear his first pair of shoes or whether should babies wear shoes when crawling? If not, when is the right time for it? Which brands do we prefer, and what are the precautions that are needed to practice? Well, we have answers to all your questions.

Should babies wear shoes when learning to walk?? No, babies should’t wear shoes when crawling. Experts believe that barefoot is best for crawlers. However, you can put a cute pair of socks or booties to keep your baby’s feet warm.

why should babies wear shoes?

It is essential to understand why people prefer their babies wearing shoes at their initial age. Shoes act as a barrier between your child’s delicate soft skin and the rough surface. It prevents injury from sharp objects and helps to keep your baby’s feet warm. Usually, indoor surfaces are not harsh or prone to have a rigid surface as compared to the outdoor.

when should babies start wearing shoes?

It enlightens the parent’s mood thinking about all the “first” moments of their child. Take this, for example, shopping for cute small shoes for your baby and waiting to record the first time he/she would wear it. The question is, when?

should babies wear shoes when crawling
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The most accurate time for it is when the baby is ready to walk outdoor. You should observe your child when you notice if he is prepared to walk so you can switch from pre-walking shoes to walking shoes. Footwear should be comfortable, which would not hurt their delicate ankles. However, during crawling, barefoot is preferred as it helps the baby analyze the coordination of their feet, balance it, and prevent falling.

effect of shoes on babies feet

Babies are in a continuous process of learning and adapting various tangible and non-tangible things from their surroundings. Considering physical traits, for instance, your child should know how the floor or even the grass feels likes. Wearing shoes deprives them of having “the sense of touch”. Babies should learn to use their bodies without any objects for intervention.

You can let them explore your backyard, or spend time at a beach, lake, etc. all this should be in strict supervision. Find surfaces on which your child could crawl or walk safely and explore a variety of different textures. Therefore, you should avoid shoes initially until the baby appropriately adapts to walk. Meanwhile, most infants are comfortable in just socks or booties in cold weather. And if the weather is warm, that would be a great time to go barefoot!

Precautions required for crawling babies

appearance

Initially, when the baby starts to crawl, there are many factors that you should consider. The foremost factor is “quality”. Markets are full of different brands having amazing baby socks, but sometimes it is just a trap for the customers. Customers get attracted to your fashionable shoe looks rather than comfort. 

a perfect shoe sole

A perfect shoe/bootie should be anti-slippery. It would prevent your kid from falling. It should have a flexible sole as the baby would be in the process of learning to polish his walk. Even if your baby continues to walk appropriately, don’t just quickly shift to hard-sole shoes, you can save it for later use. In short, try to keep it as natural as possible.

size

Choosing the right shoe size for your baby is the main challenge. You have to ascertain that the shoe is wide enough and that there is adequate room for growth without any hindrance. In short, the shoe size should not be too fit or neither too loose.

keep a regular check

We all are aware of how babies tend to increase the size of their feet dramatically. Mothers are required to keep a regular check on whether the shoe/socks fit precisely the way mentioned above or if you need to buy them a new one?

It would be a piece of advice not to buy lots of pairs at a single time as it would only waste your money if not used efficiently.

are socks complimentary for babies to wear?

Newborn babies or crawling babies tend to have cute little feet that need protection from different materials. The primary purpose of socks on your baby is to prevent their feet from cold. 

The baby does not have to wear socks 24/7; rather, it depends on the atmosphere. Wearing socks during cold or frigid temperatures helps to prevent their feet from frostbite. Even during the fall season, socks are best to maintain the baby’s feet temperature. On the other side, on hot summer days, your baby probably doesn’t need socks, but if you want to, a thin pair won’t hurt either. Therefore, you must be precautious in maintaining your child’s feet temperature.

best socks for babies learning to walk/crawling

Apart from maintaining feet’ temperature, preventing any sharp or rough object from hitting your baby’s feet, socks look very cute on babies. People usually dress their baby with a pair of socks that match the baby’s outfit, and no one can deny how adorable it looks. Perfect socks are the one that is neither too stretchy nor fit. Slightly loose socks create room for your baby’s feet to grow. Therefore, along with fashion, socks can be beneficial for the feet.

tips for parents whose babies are learning to walk/crawl

  • You should ditch a cute pair of shoes for some time until your baby learns how to walk correctly. Until then, make him feel the surfaces around him and help him build up healthy balance and coordination in his legs.
  • The main reason for denial of shoes at the early stage is that if you make your baby wear shoes while crawling, the foot must conform to the shape of the shoe rather than rest and establish naturally 
  • Let your baby enjoy around barefoot and let him learn the proper functionality of his muscles!

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