Shaking Their Booties
Sizing Up Baby Shoes

by Elizabeth Roca

Parents love their babies' feet. We kiss them, smell them, wiggle their little toes, and spend hours gazing at their plump perfection. And since those little feet must be covered on all but the hottest days, it's only natural that we should want to adorn them with the finest footwear available.

But what qualifies as the finest footwear for the crawling-and-toddling crew? Are those miniature sports shoes emblazoned with the logo of your favorite team suitable for an infant, or should you opt for a pair of the precious - but pricey - leather slippers that have become popular in recent years? What about the stiff, high-topped, leather shoes standard in the 1960s and '70s, when it was thought that babies' feet needed special support?

Lisa Strong, a Belmont, Mass., mother of a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, defines the two schools of thought regarding shoes for babies. "I was at a birthday party for a 1-year-old boy who was only crawling. His grandmother, who was in the room, leaned over and said, 'If he had a pair of high shoes, he'd be walking by now!'" Strong's own feelings on the subject are less vehement. "I'm of the mind that babies don't need shoes. When my son started walking it was winter, so we bought him sneakers, but until then we kept him in socks."

Still, Strong admits, the leather slippers sold under brand names like Robeez and Bobux are a nice accessory for a tiny child. "My daughter had several pairs of Robeez handed down to her, and they looked really cute. When she started crawling, they kept her feet warm and kept them from scraping on the floor. And she can't pull them off as easily as socks."

"There is no suggestion that the American Academy of Pediatrics makes on footwear," says Dr. Reema Jalali, a family practitioner based in Laurel. Although some children placed in high, hard shoes in past decades had no trouble walking, Jalali says, others "were encumbered by them. The majority of children have more stability on their bare feet, so there is something to be said for the flexibility of the leather slippers, which are close to the feeling of bare feet."

Francina Brock, manager of Ramer's Shoes, a children's shoe store in Washington, D.C., concurs. "If babies are not walking, they should wear Robeez or go barefoot," she says. For crawling babies, Brock also recommends a type of shoe called a pre-walker, which is lightweight and has rubber at the toe and on the sides for traction. "We don't let parents buy a baby [heavier] shoes unless the baby can take a few steps in a row," she says.

Joanna Slaney, a Silver Spring mother of two, patronizes Ramer's and was informed firsthand when her baby daughter was not yet ready for shoes. Undaunted, she stuck with sweat socks - "They're nice and thick," she says - and leather slippers until her daughter was walking. She praises the Ramer's salespeople for their diligence in finding the perfect fit for her children's shoes.

Correct measurement, once a child is ready for heavier shoes, is crucial, says Brock. "If the shoe is too big, he'll trip. Most babies have wide feet; we measure and check for the width. If the shoe is too tight, the baby will get blisters. Shoes with laces are better for babies just starting to walk," Brock adds. "You can secure the foot better. Mothers [often] like Velcro fasteners, and that's all right when the child is older."

Rachel Panetta, marketing manager for children's shoe manufacturer Stride Rite, agrees about the importance of careful measuring. "Shoes that do not fit can contribute to improper foot development that leads to bone, back and even muscle problems later in life," she says. "We recommend that babies wear shoes that are flexible, provide comfort, and have room for the natural movement of the foot. With the right shoe, babies' feet are protected, yet they can still flex their feet and grip with their toes."

So, will a heavy, hard-soled sneaker harm a 3-month-old infant whose parent chose the shoe for its appearance more than for its practicality? Not really, says Jalali. "If the baby is really uncomfortable, it will be fussy and irritable. But it's important not to put heavy shoes on them at the early walking phase. Shoes are a hindrance if they're very heavy and very big. The child is essentially dragging its foot if the shoe is too heavy." For that reason, Jalali recommends that parents buy their children heavier, more formal shoes "when they're stable on their feet - at that run/walking phase rather than the crawl/walking phase."

As for Crocs, the rubber slip-on shoes that have been popular for the last two summers, the reviews are mixed. Slaney found they worked well as a second pair of shoes for her daughter (now 20 months old). "They were so light, and also she could get them on and off herself at an early age," Slaney says.

Brock, Ramer's manager, agrees that Crocs "are comfortable but don't provide the support [younger] babies need." And Panetta, of Stride Rite, points out a little-known but important fact: "Babies' feet sweat more than adults'. Natural, breathable materials, like leather, allow your baby's feet to breathe, keeping them dry and more comfortable. Leather also protects against extremes in temperature, keeping your baby's foot cool in the summer and warm in the winter."

So it's probably best to hold off on those cute rubber shoes until your little one is older. But don't worry; there are plenty of other attractive choices out there, whether your baby is a newborn, a crawler or a beginning walker. And as she moves up the ranks of mobility, you can try them all.

Elizabeth Roca lives with her family in Silver Spring.