Footwear

One of the most exciting milestones is watching your child take thir first steps. 

The human foot is complicated and has 26 bones. Baby's feet have no fully formed bones - they are made up of soft  and flexible cartilage but change very quickly especially in the first five years. What you put on your child's feet matters. Allowing your child to go barefoot will help develop co-ordination, balance and posture. It is important to keep them  from being restricted. Cover their feet loosely so he can move them freely and put him in PJs without feet at night when he has bedding to keep him warm. 

Most toddlers don't need shoes til they have been walking a few weeks - they need to learn how to walk first.  When its time to buy their first shoes, have their feet measured by someone qualified. Cotton and leather are the best materials to look for as they allow the foot to breathe. Buy quality rather than fashion (or if you like me, aim to get both!).  It is better for everyone, including adults, to have new shoes and not to buy second hand shoes as they have been worn in by another. I never used to worry about what I put on my daughter when she was younger and she had a mighty collection of shoes. I was lucky to get my son measured properly when he was 14mths and I learnt  a lot from the shoe fitter. I bought his first shoes for $49 which I thought , though expensive, was worth it. They retail for $189 so it was a bargain really! Now my children have less pairs of shoes but they have quality footwear which I think is preferable. Even though babies don't need shoes I bought some great shoes from TipToeyJoey for my baby when he was 3mths. Now I wouldn't buy any other baby shoe - he has several pairs! They are made from soft leather they have elastic making them easier to put on but they don't fall off. And as a bonus - they look gorgeous!