How to buy the best first walker shoes

I'm always on the hunt to get some  good information about what to look for when buying good quality shoes. 

One of my customers from Melbourne recently sent me the fact sheet published by Victorian Paediatric Orthopedic Network (VPON). VPON fosters collaboration among paediatric orthopaedic care providers in Victoria. It is supported by the four specialist providers: Barwon Health, Monash Children’s at Southern Health, the Royal Children’s Hospital and Western Health.

I would love to share this with you as one of the reasons to have this blog is to raise awareness about importance of 'good" shoes for young children. I would love all moms  to learn how to choose a footwear that is a child's friend, not an enemy, and the shoes which will shape their feet properly, not damage it. I feel like there isn't enough information out there, and the topic about shoes is very much missed. 

Here are some valuable information straight from that fact sheet and then at the bottom, you see the link to the website and the full facts sheet. 

Most children begin to walk from around 12 to 18 months of age. For babies learning to walk, bare foot are best, so babies  can feet what they touch with their feet. Soft-soled, non-slip bootees are good way to keep them warm in cold weather and for protection if walking or crawling on rough surfaces.

Young children do not need to wear shoes until they have been walking on their own for about six weeks, and will need shoes to protect their feet outside. Shoes should fit well, and allow a little room for growth.

What to look for when buying shoes?

it is helpful to take your child to an experienced shoe fitter (never heard of one but will do more research on it)

• The sole of the shoe should be firm but lightweight and flexible. Check that the sole can bend near the toe (see figure 2 on the bottom of the post).​
• The front part of the shoes should be wider than the heel. This matches the natural shape of the foot  (see figure 3 on the bottom of the post).
• Shoes should have a firm heel cup. This means that the shoe or sandal should have a solid back. You should not be able to squeeze the sides of the back of the shoe together.
• Buckles and laces may provide more support than Velcro and elastic fasteners, especially for children with very narrow feet.

I'm very pleased and proud to say that our shoes tick all the boxes. We are 100% meeting the criteria of the paediatric association.   

I hope this post helped you at least a  bit to make an informative decision about  good shoes for your son, daughter, grandchild, nice, nephew, etc.

If you have read it, please leave a comment. It will mean a lot to me and encourage me to write more.

Thank you for sharing your valuable time to read my post.
​
Iwona (Vonnie)

Here is the link to view the factsheet (scroll all the way down to see the pdf) 
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/Shoes

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