What the experts are saying about babies & shoes...     

Pediatricians and podiatrists recommend that children's early shoes allow for natural movement and development of the feet. They should be as close as possible to walking barefoot, while still allowing for protection from the external environment (such as cold temperature, hard floors, outside surfaces, etc). To achieve this they should be as soft and flexible as possible and also allow the child's feet to breathe.

There is no need for shoes with arch support for children up to 3 years old. The arches of the feet are still developing at this age and need to develop naturally without additional support - arch support can in fact be harmful at this age.

What to look for when buying baby's first shoes:

1) A very flexible sole - Bend the shoe in your hand, checking it for flexibility. Ideally, you should be able to fold the shoe in half. For outside, the sole should be thick enough (ie rubber) to protect baby's feet from sharp or rough objects. The flexiblity of the sole is critical in allowing your childs tiny bones and muscles of the arches and feet to develop naturally without being artificially restricted.

2) Breathable Uppers & Lining - preferably leather or canvas (not synthetic). Note that many cheap shoes imported from China are stamped as leather when in fact they are synthetic (fake) leather which does not breathe. Often a pig skin lining is used to give the smell of leather, and the shoes may be stamped with ?leather uppers and lining?. Look at where the leather is cut and feel the leather with your fingers. The synthetic leather is smoother and has a synthetic (usually black) material backing. Using shoes that do not breathe can cause bacterial problems with your child's feet at an early age.

3) No high-tops and definitely No Heels. High-top shoes or boots can restrict the movement of a baby's ankles, possibly leading to developmental problems. And heels can drastically effect the development of your child's feet.

4) Plenty of toe room. Toe room is not only important in making sure that baby's feet have room to grow, but also baby needs to be able to wiggle his/her toes freely. It's best to have about 1 cm of space (or one finger width) in the toe area.

5) A comfortable interior. Put your fingers inside of the shoe and check for any hard seams or ridges that might irritate your baby's foot. 

6) No arch support should be built into shoes for children under the age of 3. The arches, bones, and ligaments of the feet are still developing, and the feet need to grow and develop naturally without being artificially supported. As the child progresses from 3 yrs of age upwards good arch support becomes more important.

Little Squeaky Shoes provide quality 100% genuine leather shoes for babies and toddlers that meet all of the above criteria.

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