Baby friendly shoes and first steps

Crawling and walking are maturation processes and there is little point in trying to accelerate them. Except in isolated cases, we have no reason to doubt that the child will be able to walk on his or her own and without the help of shoes.

If we use shoes with reinforcements to support the weight of the body, we are limiting the development of babies’ foot and ankle muscles. Or do we put them in wrist braces when they start crawling? Just as we leave their wrists free to crawl, we should leave their feet bare whenever possible.

Barefoot or respectful shoes are ideal for babies and children in their early stages of development, as they allow a natural movement of the feet, which provides greater stability, strength and flexibility in the muscles of the feet and ankles.

Studies indicate that optimal foot development occurs in a barefoot environment, and that the sole function of shoes should be to protect the foot from injury and infection. Stiff, compressive footwear can cause deformity, weakness and loss of mobility. Therefore, it is important to choose footwear that resembles barefoot conditions as closely as possible, so that children can develop their cognitive and motor skills optimally, such as proprioception and balance. In addition, studies have also shown that prolonged use of conventional footwear in children aged 3 to 8 years can alter foot morphology and tread type, so it is important to opt for barefoot and barefoot shoes whenever possible.

Footwear for infants and children

The journal Pediatrics, more than 20 years ago, published a review in which it already pointed out that optimal foot development occurs in a barefoot environment. It further states:

• That the sole function of shoes should be to protect the foot from injury and infection.
• Stiff, compressive footwear can cause deformity, weakness and loss of mobility.
• The selection of children’s shoes should be based on the barefoot model (respectful shoes or barefoot shoes).
• There is evidence that prolonged use of conventional footwear in children 3-8 years of age alters foot morphology and footprint type.
• In older children, habitual use of shoes reduces the arch angle of the foot, which may lead to future knee or ankle problems.

Unroll your baby!

Babies do not have a formed arch, but their proper arch formation depends on allowing their feet to develop freely. In addition, babies who tend to go barefoot develop better cognitive abilities.

According to the study by podiatrist Isabel Gentil, the first 18 months of a baby’s life are key. During this stage, the greatest changes occur at the neurological level, since the child’s central nervous system has a lot of plasticity.

The feet of newborn babies have a great tactile sensitivity to stimuli external to the body, much more than that of the hands. To start walking, the child needs the information received from the sole of the foot (proprioception) and the joints to coordinate movements and achieve balance.

By putting their feet in contact with uneven surfaces, different ground pressures and textures, they develop proprioception. They also improve the position of the joints and strengthen the muscles of the feet.

We will not be able to prevent our children from wearing shoes. But, when that happens, we should wear respectful footwear that simulates barefoot conditions as much as possible.

And what is the ideal shoe for the first steps?

Well… none! You will probably take your first steps at home or on controlled ground, so it’s a good opportunity to leave your feet free, and if it’s cold, you can always wear socks.

When the baby needs to wear shoes to go outside, they should follow the barefoot footwear philosophy and always use respectful or minimalist shoes that meet the following characteristics:

• Respectful shoe with a non-slip sole, thick enough to protect it from possible dangers, but thin enough to perceive the irregularities of the terrain.
• The shoe should be lightweight and not interfere with the natural mobility of the baby’s foot and ankle.
• The front part of the fingers should be wide, so that it does not oppress them.
• Respectful shoe without drop (part of the heel higher than the toe) to avoid shortening of the posterior musculature.
• Inner insole without any anatomical element.

In a nutshell

During the first 18 months of life, children’s brains are more plastic. Through their feet, they receive many stimuli that favor the development of intelligence. Leave them free as long as possible so that they can make the most of their cognitive abilities.

When you have to put shoes on your baby’s first steps, choose a respectful shoe so that he/she can continue to perceive stimuli from the environment and strengthen the musculature of the feet and ankles.