When Should Babies Wear Shoes?
Understanding the Right Time for Footwear
As a parent, it’s natural to want the best for your baby, including their very first pair of shoes. But when is the right time to put them in proper footwear? After all, those tiny sneakers are adorable!
The short answer: not too soon.
Before your baby starts walking, there’s no need for structured shoes. Going barefoot helps their tiny feet grow and develop by strengthening muscles, improving balance, and building coordination naturally. Barefoot time is essential for early milestone development.
The ideal time to introduce their first shoes is when they begin walking confidently outdoors. Harder surfaces and uneven terrain call for more protection and support than your carpet or play mat at home. This is when flexible, well-fitting, supportive, and podiatrist recommended shoes for toddlers in Australia, like Bobux and Old Soles, come in. Lightweight materials with enough space for little toes to wiggle offer the right balance of protection and movement, helping babies and toddlers walk safely and comfortably.
Fit matters just as much as timing. Our babies and kids shoe size guide is a helpful starting point to estimate size, but every child is different. Booking a fit check with a trained shoe fitting expert ensures your baby gets the right support for their unique feet, along with tailored advice and peace of mind. Since baby feet grow quickly and come in all shapes and sizes, regular fittings are paramount (every 6–8 weeks) to help avoid discomfort, tight shoes and support healthy development.
Remember, baby shoes aren’t just about style (though we know how cute they are!). Let them crawl, stand and take those first steps barefoot when safe. The right time and the right fit determine when your baby is ready for footwear.
Ready for their first pair? Book your free fitting at your local Shoes & Sox today and find the perfect match for their little feet.
