Watching your child find their feet is an amazing experience and one of the greatest moments as a parent. But you want to be sure that you’re providing them with everything they need to develop and grow, especially when it comes to footwear.
Choosing the right first walker shoes for your baby is vital in helping them learn to navigate the world independently and healthily, allowing for the proper development of the foot and gait.
We’re here to help you choose the right shoes for your baby, ensuring proper growth and development.
At what age should a baby get shoes?
It’s beneficial for babies to be barefoot as much as possible, and early walking shoes should only be worn when necessary. 
Shoes are suitable and helpful for babies even when they’re beginning to crawl and move around independently to any extent. Shoes should be designed to provide moderate grip for children learning to move, stand and walk. They should also contain toe and heel bumpers to protect the actual shoe whilst a child is crawling around.
Given that babies can begin to crawl and move within the first year of their life, we’d suggest that a baby can be in its first walker shoes from around 9 months. First walker shoes are appropriate for babies/children up to the age of around 2 years old.
Check out our range of baby boy’s shoes and baby girl’s shoes.
Note: There’s no need to worry if your child hasn’t started crawling in their first year; every child develops at their own pace!
Should baby shoes be hard or soft?
Baby shoes should be soft with flexible outsoles, to allow for fully natural range of motion, especially in these earlier years.
A common misconception is that harder shoes provide extra support and structure for little feet. In reality, whilst this is technically true, that ‘structure’ actually forces certain movement patterns and does not allow your child’s feet to grow in a natural and healthy way. In some cases, this can even result in gait issues and problems with flat feet in future.
Baby shoes should also feature sufficient toe space to ensure space to grow and move freely.
Check out our podiatrist-approved footwear design process to better understand how we carefully craft each section of our shoes with care, ensuring that little feet are protected and encouraged to grow in the healthiest way possible.
Best materials for baby first walker shoes
Here are some of the best materials for baby first walker shoes:
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Suede - Many of our uppers are made from suede, a soft, breathable and flexible material. Its lightweight nature makes the shoes feel natural, allowing for a ‘barefoot’ feel for young children.
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(Patent) leather - Shoes with patent leather uppers are great for their lightweight, breathable nature. Using materials like suede leather and patent leather for uppers allows footwear to be durable and flexible, softening over time for even more flexibility promoting proper development.
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EVA rubber - Soles made from EVA rubber are very lightweight.
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Latex foam - Insoles should be made from latex foam, or another similarly soft material. Again, this is to place the emphasis on softness and natural movement patterns.
Best styles for baby first walker shoes
Baby first walker shoes need to look cute as well as supporting development as much as possible; that’s why the following styles are ideal:
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T-bar shoes - T-bar shoes are those which have a partially open top but a connection between the fastening and the front of the shoe, forming the T shape. These shoes are stylish and cute, allowing for extra breathability also.
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Trainer shoes - Trainer shoes are absolutely adorable for young children just finding their feet. They combine fashion alongside podiatrist-approved features.
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Rip tape shoes - Rip tape (often referred to as ‘velcro’) shoes are easy to put on and take off, and they’re also exceptionally cute with our designs.
The best shoes for toddlers learning to walk
The Atlas Pink Metallic First Walker Shoes feature soft leather uppers and a T-bar design. The pink colour scheme is cute but not too vibrant, so these shoes have a casual look to them. The visible stitching really adds to the aesthetic too, showing the quality build of the footwear.
Next, check out the Rocket Charcoal Suede First Walker Trainer for low cut baby shoes with sumptuous leather uppers, soft and durable soles, and a trendy colour scheme. The suede material adds a matte finish to the subtle charcoal cover, meaning your child will be wearing podiatrist-approved footwear with comfort and style.
Your baby will stand out from the crowd in summery style with the Atlas Tan Leather First Walker Shoes. These shoes are perfect for daily wear or for a party outfit, and again feature a fashionable and breathable t-bar design. Soft soles allow for perfect flexibility, support foot development in style.