https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:12:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1654198 Fri, 23 May 2014 06:50:09 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1654198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: @LittleFox: @blackbird: @Silva: @Smurfette: thanks guys! I won't worry about getting her fitted until she starts walking! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1654141 Fri, 23 May 2014 06:01:33 +0000 Smurfette 1654141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: I didn't put shoes on R regularly until she was walking for a couple weeks. Socks at day care abs barefoot at home. Shoes were rare, mostly for pictures. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1654138 Fri, 23 May 2014 05:57:24 +0000 Silva 1654138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: I only started putting her in them regular when she wanted to practice walking outside (and after all the snow melted....). Indoors (or wherever we can (like in the park on the grass) she is still barefoot. We used robeez or zutano booties for warmth during the winter pre cruising </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1654127 Fri, 23 May 2014 05:48:48 +0000 blackbird 1654127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You guys might be surprised how big your kids' feets are. At a year, E wears size 5's (i had her fitted at Stride Rite). I had no idea her feet were that big! But she explained that when they step down, the foot stretches, and the insoles pop out and tell you when to get them new shoes. </p> <p>@mrs sunshine, i didn't even bother until she was walking around the house and wanted to walk in public places. We took her to dinner one evening (sans shoes) and realized we couldn't set her down and it pissed her off. E was full on walking at 10 months, though, but it was winter, so it wasn't an issue until April </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1654117 Fri, 23 May 2014 05:34:37 +0000 LittleFox 1654117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: LO didn't start wearing shoes consistently until about a year, when he was walking outside more. He'd been cruising for months, but we were mostly inside (cold weather), so he didn't need them. He still never wears shoes in the house, and has only needed two pairs at 1.5 years (one of those being sandals).</p> <p>We started with moccasins (Minnetonka), then recently got a pair of soft-soled, closed-toe sandals for summer. They're just BRU brand, but they're cute and durable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1653878 Thu, 22 May 2014 22:10:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 1653878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: I have just started putting shoes (soft sole robeez) on c when we go out, at almost ten months. He is cruising at home but she is always barefoot inside. Otherwise she tries to eat the shoes anyway. I don't always even put then on when we got out, only f she might be standing up somewhere or if I want her to look "dressed". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1653732 Thu, 22 May 2014 21:17:09 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1653732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: just making sure. lol thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1653718 Thu, 22 May 2014 21:10:26 +0000 Arden 1653718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: I didn't start putting her in shoes until she was cruising, around 11 months? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1653713 Thu, 22 May 2014 21:09:31 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1653713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay so, when did you start consistently putting shoes in your LO? DD is 8 months, I usually just put socks on her when we go out but she is barefoot at home. She can pull up but doesn't do it often &amp; doesn't "cruise". I have a few pair of shoes that were given to us but they are all hard sole. When did buying your LO a "proper" pair of shoes become a necessity? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1653695 Thu, 22 May 2014 21:02:54 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1653695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: lol, I have never been able to do a rope climb! Come to think of it, the chain grid ladders used to freak me out too, lol! I guess he got that gene from someone else, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651212 Thu, 22 May 2014 09:09:59 +0000 looch 1651212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used my common sense on this one, and took my son to a shoe store to have him properly fitted and measured. They suggested a flexible soled shoe, IRCC the brand was Stride Rite. It was important to me that he be able to wear the shoes indoors and outdoors and in weather conditions, so we opted for a rubber sole with velcro closures. The shoe was the lightest I could find and he did absolutely great. My son is three now and he wears athletic sneakers almost exclusively because they stay on his feet and he can wear them with socks.</p> <p>We had to skip the Robeez soft soled shoes because they did not fit his thick feet, he'd get red marks from the elastics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651170 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:58:41 +0000 rachiecakes 1651170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was an early walker and takes after his dad wearing through shoes, hitting the ground hard. I started him in soft soles when he started walking indoors (cruising) at 8 months. When he was walking unassisted at 11 months I started to get a more structured shoe that would keep his feet warm &amp; protected, it was December in Boston. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651077 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:42:15 +0000 Cole 1651077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Others have pointed out some good research, I thought I would share my experience. I have worked with several toddlers who were just learning to walk. With the hard/inflexible soles they seem to lack the strength to flex the shoe enough to navigate anything other than flat footed walking. When you walk up stairs your foot bends, when you catch your balance your foot bends etc. If you don't have the strength to bend the sole then it will be hard to handle those situations, especially as a new walker without life skills to fall back on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651071 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:40:18 +0000 jetsa 1651071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: my child is giant, He's 23 pounds, the first thing everyone told us at birth was look at those giant hands and feet lol. If we were in 2's they might get used i've got 4-8 already, oops! Surely some of them will get used! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651066 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:38:21 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1651066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: wow! We're in size 2 still- hoarding the 3s and 4s as I see them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651047 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:34:18 +0000 jetsa 1651047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: my child has a giant foot (size 4 at 8 months) but it looks like I'll have several hard soles pairs that won't get used. :bummed: I'll be on the lookout for a sale on the smaller shoes as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1651002 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:24:44 +0000 Smurfette 1651002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: do it! They are great for when K starts walking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650949 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:13:20 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1650949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: When I said I hadn't bought *any* shoes, that's not true, haha. She has a pair of Toms from the HB classifieds, and a pair of adorable lace slip ons from Target.<br /> @blackbird: Look at how flexible those are!<br /> @winniebee: I've been looking at the Smaller shoes - after seeing so many recs, I might have to pick up a pair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650894 Thu, 22 May 2014 08:02:10 +0000 Smurfette 1650894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Right? I bet they will this summer before the fall line comes out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650882 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:56:18 +0000 heartonastring 1650882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: &lt;-- WSS </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650874 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:54:10 +0000 lawbee11 1650874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: SKR needs to have another awesome sale soon! I love the ones I bought for M during the last sale. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650868 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:51:27 +0000 littlebug 1650868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went through this debate (in my head). We took D to Stride Rite to get him fitted for his first shoes (not walking). The girl there told us to just get hard-soled. Even though my gut was telling me he needed soft-soled, I went with her advice. But I kept feeling like he needed soft-soled. So I just ordered some Pedipeds Originals onsale. Already I can see he's more confident in them. But now I have 2 pairs of hard-soled shoes that he'll probably outgrow before he can wear them. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650859 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:47:01 +0000 Smurfette 1650859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved the smaller by SKR when she was first learning to walk. I feel more comfortable now that she is walking and running in a harder sole, but still flexible. Esp. for at day care when kids are walking all over each other and are on the playground twice a day.</p> <p>I still love SKR shoes for R! She has no issues with them and they are so cute. She goes barefoot when at home and even on the deck. I put shoes on her if she goes in the grass in case of ants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650844 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:43:47 +0000 winniebee 1650844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved smaller by see kai run (with soft soles) until he was a confident walker. I've seen kids try to walk in hard soles shoes and they trip a lot more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650824 Thu, 22 May 2014 07:39:05 +0000 mrsjyw 1650824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another SKR Smaller fan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650676 Thu, 22 May 2014 06:03:30 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1650676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/video/the-best-shoes-for-older-babies.aspx#" rel="nofollow">http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/video/the-best-shoes-for-older-babies.aspx#</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/09/barefoot-best-for-children" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/09/barefoot-best-for-children</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-35/baby-first-shoes.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-35/baby-first-shoes.aspx</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.drgangemi.com/kids/childs-shoe/" rel="nofollow">http://www.drgangemi.com/kids/childs-shoe/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650665 Thu, 22 May 2014 05:44:50 +0000 blackbird 1650665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs sketchbook, maybe my shoes are what's holding me back on rope climbs. Hahahaha no.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650479 Wed, 21 May 2014 21:25:05 +0000 jetsa 1650479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: I've already bought a bunch of shoes used and on the zullily toms sale :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650477 Wed, 21 May 2014 21:23:55 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1650477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The link above is obviously more useful to you, but I wanted to give an anecdote. We went to the park Tuesday and I forgot LO's shoes. So I let him walk around barefoot. I turned my head for a second and see him-- 20 months old!-- climbing up one of those chain rope grid ladder things. I move over that way to supervise more closely, and he climbed up to the very top! I was shocked. But I think being barefoot helped him to feel what he was climbing on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/soft-vs-hard-soles#post-1650473 Wed, 21 May 2014 21:20:19 +0000 MsLipGloss 1650473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: we also loved Smaller by See Kai Run! </p>