Why are soft soled baby shoes so important for your baby’s safety? Stop and think about how baby’s learn to walk.

When a baby is taking their first steps they do not pick up their feet to move them, they scoot their feet across the floor. A rubber soled shoe is going to cause drag, forcing them to lift their foot, and increasing the chance of a fall. This becomes even more important as they try to move a little faster. They are shuffling across the floor, and then the rubber sole catches a little on the floor and down they go.

With soft soled baby shoes the soles are normally made of leather. They mimic the action of the baby’s skin much more closely, sliding across the floor with enough grip to be safe, but not too much to cause accidental tripping. They are more flexible, allowing the baby to feel as if they are walking without shoes on their feet in the first place.

The leather soles let the feeling of the floor to transfer through more easily, giving those tiny feet the feedback they need to make corrections and to walk safely. Using the softer leather soles can help accelerate the baby’s ability to start walking compared to hard soles.

There is another important advantage to consider, also. Leather soles allow the feet to breathe more naturally, not trapping in the perspiration and heat that even a baby’s feet produce. Your infant will stay more comfortable, and be happier in the shoes. While they may be even more comfortable without shoes, you may want to have them wearing shoes to protect their tiny feet from small items left on the floor.

Pediatricians often recommend having your baby wear either soft soled shoes, or going barefoot as they are starting to walk. They know the shoes are healthier, and safer for your little toddler to wear.

The best news about the soft soled shoes, they are often more attractive than their plastic counterparts. You may pay a few more dollars to get the higher quality shoes, but with all the advantages they are well worth the slight difference. The plastic shoes trap the heat, sweat, and the are usually stiff against your baby’s feet.

Watch how your little one moves their feet. Their toes are always curling up, and uncurling again. In a pair of flexible shoes, this natural movement is not restricted. In a harder, stiffer pair of shoes made with man made materials their toe movement may be difficult, leading to frustration for the baby. Often you will find them protesting wearing their shoes, but if you put them in the right shoes, they are happy to wear them.

Choosing soft soled baby shoes is the right choice for your baby. Make sure you give them the most natural feeling possible when they are learning to walk and just starting on their adventures in mobility. You will make your baby safer, and much happier when they can move their feet as nature intended.