Should Your Baby Wear Shoes?
I will admit, there are few things on this planet that are cuter than a pair of tiny baby shoes. I mean, come on, miniature fluffy Uggs? Adorable.
But really, is there anything cuter than bare baby feet??
Most are surprised when I tell them our baby has never worn shoes and that I don’t have intentions of buying them anytime soon.
She isn’t even walking yet, so not wearing shoes isn’t really a big deal at this point. However, even when our munchkin starts walking, I don’t plan on having her in shoes unless it is absolutely necessary for her safety.
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But SHOULD your baby wear shoes?
It is very common to see babies in shoes well before they even start walking; however, shoes are unnecessary for babies and really do more harm than good.
I’m not sure why any baby would NEED shoes before they are walking, but I suppose most of the time it’s because, again, tiny baby shoes are one of the cutest things on the planet.
When it is time for your baby’s first pair of shoes, it’s best to start them in soft-soled leather shoes like these ones so they can still experience the benefits of being barefoot. But experts agree that the longer babies can go without shoes, the better!
Here are the benefits of keeping your baby barefoot, and why our baby never wears shoes.
Supports proper muscle development
Just like loose-hanging clothes can interfere with a baby learning to crawl, shoes inhibit freedom of movement in their feet and prevents them from engaging all the necessary ligaments and muscles for developing strength and flexibility. They need to learn how to use their muscles properly when learning how to walk, and being barefoot is the best way to do that. Shoes interfere with their natural stride and can stunt the growth of the developing foot.
They have even linked shoes in early childhood to flat-footedness later in life, since shoes can hinder the proper development of a natural arch.
Improves brain function
Imagine a baby exploring the world with gloves on and how much that would interfere with the information going to their brain.
The same goes for babies wearing shoes. Exploring the world around them is a very rich sensory experience for babies. Everything they touch, taste, and hear is sending tons of signals to the brain to help them understand the world around them.
When a toddler learning to walk is barefoot, it stimulates their nervous system, and their brain makes more neuro connections than a baby who is wearing shoes all the time.
It grounds them
Grounding is what happens when we are barefoot on the earth and have an exchange with earth’s electrons. There has been a lot of research showing the health benefits of grounding for adults, but the same is true for babies!
They will receive the most benefits when they are barefoot directly on earth’s surface like gravel, grass, or sand.
Grounding helps keep our nervous system in balance, lower cortisol levels, and improve sleep.
Helps them develop better coordination and balance
A baby who is barefoot is able to have a better understanding of what they are and are not capable of. When they are able to feel whether a surface is smooth, rough, slippery, or sharp, they are better able to make appropriate adjustments with the information their brain receives.
A baby who is able to test their climbing and and walking skills with complete freedom of movement will develop better coordination and balance and will be less likely to injure themselves.
Builds their confidence
Babies that are learning to get around while barefoot can feel more connected to what they are doing. Have you ever been hiking in stiff boots and your foot suddenly slips out from under you? That can really shake your confidence as you continue your hike.
When toddlers can feel connected to every surface they are navigating through bare feet, they can feel more in control of their movements and explore the world around them with more confidence.
When should your baby wears shoes?
Shoes are not needed to improve your baby’s ability to walk or for their foot development. Shoes are mostly necessary to protect your baby’s foot from harm. So if you do ditch the shoes, make sure it is safe for baby to be barefoot. Don’t let them be barefoot if there is
- broken glass
- hot pavement
- an area with known hazards like nails or screws
And when they do wear shoes, find a pair that is soft-soled and offers their foot protection but still allows a lot of flexibility. These shoes are great because they are all leather, soft-soled, and very reasonably priced. Oh, and they’re adorable! =)
You may not always be able to let your baby go without shoes while out and about, but you can create safe environments for your baby to be barefoot in your home and in your yard. Create safe areas where they can play barefoot in the dirt, mud, grass, sand, and have safe things for them to climb on as well, like a Pikler triangle! Your baby’s health will benefit in the long run, and it’s WAY more fun to be barefoot anyways. =)
So whenever you can, let them be barefoot!
Read More: Earthing: How It Works and Why You Should Do It
