Baby's First Shoe Fitting
Your baby's first pair of shoes is a special milestone, but there's much more to choosing their first shoes than finding a cute pair in the right size.
At Naturally Baby, we offer professional first shoe fittings in Leamington Spa, taking the time to measure your child's feet, look at their individual foot shape and find shoes that are comfortable, flexible and appropriate for those important early steps.
We welcome families from Leamington Spa and surrounding areas including Warwick, Kenilworth, Southam, Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry.
When Does My Baby Actually Need Their First Shoes?
Probably later than you think!
Babies don't need shoes to learn to walk. In fact, the NHS recommends that children do not need proper shoes until they are walking independently and that, initially, shoes can be kept just for walking outside.
At home and in other safe environments, allowing little ones to spend time barefoot gives their feet freedom to move naturally.
So if your baby has just started pulling themselves up, cruising around the furniture or taking their first few steps across the living room, there's usually no need to rush out and buy their first pair of shoes.
Their first proper shoes become much more useful when they're confidently walking and need protection when they start exploring outdoors.
Why Does a Proper Shoe Fitting Matter?
Children's feet are still growing and developing, and finding the right fit involves much more than simply measuring their length.
We look at your child's foot length, width, depth, heel shape and toe space, as well as how the shoe fits when they're standing and walking. Different brands and styles can fit very differently, even when the size on the box is the same.
Research has also shown that footwear can affect the way young children walk, with flexible footwear allowing movement closer to barefoot walking. That's why we look for shoes that protect little feet without unnecessarily restricting their natural movement.
Did You Know?
Babies' feet aren't simply miniature adult feet. Their bones and soft tissues are still developing, which is one reason correctly fitting footwear is so important.
Young children can also appear to have flat feet, which is usually completely normal, and their feet can grow surprisingly quickly. Regular fit checks are therefore important, especially during growth spurts.
Your First Shoe Fitting
We'll measure your child's feet, look at their individual foot shape and help you find a suitable pair of first shoes. Once we've found the right style, we'll carefully check the fit and, where possible, watch your little one walking in them.
And if we think they're not quite ready for first shoes yet, we'll tell you. There's never any pressure to buy.
