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I know, I'm really curious! LO isn't walking yet, but before I buy her shoes, I want to know!

Minimalist styles are better for development but "firm sole" doesn't mean hard as a rock, either. These are second level walking shoes for kids who have been walking for months and they are still quite flexible while providing good support, protecting her feet, and allowing her to walk on grass and concrete and stumble around. We just let her go barefoot inside. They struggle to walk when their shoes are heavy and flexible

Eta: if you watch your LO walk when really young, they curl their toes like monkeys! It's really fun to see. Also watch the toenails-we had a few curl inwards and were tough to trim

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.

@mrs sketchbook, maybe my shoes are what's holding me back on rope climbs. Hahahaha no....

Another SKR Smaller fan!

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.

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.

@Smurfette: SKR needs to have another awesome sale soon! I love the ones I bought for M during the last sale.

@lawbee11: Right? I bet they will this summer before the fall line comes out.

@redsmarties: do it! They are great for when K starts walking.

@jetsa: wow! We're in size 2 still- hoarding the 3s and 4s as I see them.

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.

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.

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.

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 & 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?

@Arden: just making sure. lol thanks!

@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).

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.

@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

@Foodnerd81: @LittleFox: @blackbird: @Silva: @Smurfette: thanks guys! I won't worry about getting her fitted until she starts walking!