Soft Sole Shoes: Are They Good For Your Baby?

Experts recommend babies should learn to walk barefooted, because it allows their toes to grip the ground for balance, steady movement and coordination. However, when babies are outside, going barefoot means exposing their little feet to potential hazards. Thus, wearing shoes can help to protect their feet when our little ones are outdoors.

Soft sole shoes are a good option for your baby as they offer the needed protection and still allow freedom of movement and healthy foot development.

Read to discover some other benefits of soft sole shoes and where you can get a good quality pair for your baby.

What are soft sole shoes?

Soft sole shoes have soft flexible materials on the sole and the shoe's upper. They are made with thin non-skid, soft and breathable material that supports a baby's easy movement as they learn to walk.

Their flexibility helps the baby's feet to flex and grip the floor as they move. In addition, the soft upper part gives the baby's feet more freedom to move.

Benefits of soft sole baby shoes

If you’re wondering whether you should get a pair for your little one, here are several benefits a pair of soft sole shoes offers:

Comfort

Soft sole shoes are very comfortable. They are made of light, breathable materials like leather, suede, and textile that allow your baby's feet to breathe, stay cool without over sweating, and keep feet from skin irritations.

The flexible sole and edges enable the feet to have free movement even as they grip the ground. They are also spacious, giving the toes room to stretch freely.

Allows natural movement

Soft sole shoes are flexible to a baby's movement because they allow the feet bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints to grow and develop naturally without hindrances. They also help young children to increase their balance and coordination, which means that your little ones will be able to practise walking as they would barefooted.

Protection and safety

As your toddler ventures into walking and playing outdoors, they will need protection from different hazards like extreme weather temperatures, stones, rough surfaces, and sharp particles, among other risks. Soft-sole shoes are strong enough to offer sufficient protection to your baby’s feet.

Additionally, because they are flexible enough to allow natural movement, your baby would be less likely to trip or fall due to unsuitable footwear.

Baby shoes soft sole vs. firm sole

Soft-soled shoes are breathable and flexible which creates comfort for a child's feet. They are lightweight so they don't affect the child's ability to walk. In fact, the child walks pleasantly like one without shoes. The easy-to-bend thin soles allow your baby's toes to grip the ground as they develop their sense of steady walking. Also, because they are soft they are easy to put on and take off without hurting the baby.

On the other hand, firm-soled shoes are less flexible and slightly heavier, making them unsuitable for babies learning to walk. Firmer sole footwear will also have less flexibility than soft soles. However, for toddlers that have already walked confidently, firmer sole shoes can help strengthen their gait and provide more support for outdoor activities.

In short, soft sole shoes are the more preferred option for pre-walkers and for a child learning to walk.

How long should children wear soft sole shoes?

Until your child has learned to walk on their own skilfully and confidently, with good balance and coordination, it's not advisable to get them off soft-soled shoes. It’s likely they are not ready for hard-soled shoes yet.

That said, at 15 months, most children can walk on their own pretty well, so you can introduce firmer sole shoes. However, you should also keep in mind that children are different and some only gain confidence in walking later than 15 months.

So the best thing to do is monitor your child's walking progress and look out for when they are steadily walking independently. When your child is ready for more outdoor adventure, our pre walker shoes will provide the greatest support and protection for the active little feet.

When should I get soft sole shoes for my baby?

You should get soft sole or prewalker shoes for your baby when he or she starts learning to walk. While barefoot is best when you’re indoors, your baby’s feet need protection when you bring them out and about.

As such, start shopping for a pair as soon as your baby starts pulling him or herself up, or even sooner if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

How to measure baby feet for first shoes?

Although you can get your baby’s feet measured by a trained professional, it is something you can easily do at home. Follow these simple steps to measure baby feet:

Measure both feet in this way and if one foot is longer an the other, use the longer of the two measurements.
To get the shoe width, find and measure the widest part of the feet (around the ball of the foot).
When choosing the shoe size, make sure there is a little room on both sides of the feet.