Tiny baby shoes are very cute.

But your baby does not need proper shoes just because they have started crawling, pulling themselves up or taking a few wobbly steps across the lounge room.

For most babies, shoes become useful when they are walking outside and need protection from the surface underneath them.

Until then, bare feet are generally fine indoors where the environment is safe. Healthdirect Australia recommends letting babies crawl and walk barefoot and says shoes are mainly needed once children start walking outside the home.

So when exactly should you buy that first proper pair?

Here is the practical version.

So, when should babies start wearing shoes?

A baby generally needs proper shoes once they are walking outdoors regularly.

Before that, shoes are usually not necessary simply to help them learn to stand or walk.

Raising Children Network recommends allowing babies who are learning to walk to be barefoot as often as possible, with proper first shoes becoming useful once they begin going for walks outside.

Think of first shoes primarily as protection.

They can help protect little feet from:

• rough paths
• hot surfaces
• stones
• playground debris
• cold ground
• outdoor surfaces that are not suitable for bare feet

Shoes are not there to teach your baby how to walk.

What about crawling, pulling up and cruising?

Here is a simple guide.

Babies also grow quickly, so socks and booties need checking too. Healthdirect recommends making sure they are not becoming too tight.

Is barefoot better when babies are learning to walk?

For a typically developing baby in a safe indoor environment, there is usually no need to put shoes on simply because they have started standing or walking.

Being barefoot allows the foot to contact the floor directly and avoids adding unnecessary footwear when protection is not needed.

That does not mean children need to be barefoot all the time.

Real life includes footpaths, daycare, playgrounds, hot concrete and plenty of things you probably do not want a toddler stepping on.

Once protection is needed, the more useful question becomes:

What kind of shoe fits well without being unnecessarily restrictive?

Research confirms that footwear can change aspects of children’s walking compared with being barefoot. However, the long-term effects of particular shoe features are still an active area of research, so we would not treat any one shoe type as a guarantee of better development.

You can read a systematic review of children’s footwear and gait here.

What should a baby’s first shoes look like?

Start with fit and practicality.

A useful first walking shoe should provide enough protection for outside while still being comfortable for a child who is only just getting used to walking in shoes.

1. Enough room around the toes

The front of the shoe should follow the shape of the foot rather than squeezing the toes together.

Healthdirect Australia recommends shoes that fit the natural shape of a child’s foot, particularly around the toes, and that allow the toes to move freely.

That is why we pay attention to the toe box, not just the size number.

For a deeper explanation, see our guide to Wide Toe Box Shoes for Kids.

2. A flexible sole

A first shoe does not need to feel like a tiny work boot.

The sole should provide protection while still allowing comfortable movement.

Research reviews have found that footwear flexibility and sole properties can affect children’s gait, although there is not enough evidence to prescribe one exact level of flexibility for every child.

So flexibility is worth considering, but it is still only one part of the overall fit.

3. A secure fit

A roomy toe box should not mean the whole shoe slides around.

The shoe should stay comfortably on the foot without:

• excessive heel slipping
• the foot sliding forward
• squeezing around the toes
• needing the fastening pulled extremely tight

4. Lightweight construction

For a child who has only recently started walking, an unnecessarily bulky shoe can feel like a lot.

A lighter shoe can be easier to move around in, provided it still gives enough protection for the environment.

5. An adjustable fastening

Velcro or another adjustable closure can make it easier to get the shoe securely around different foot shapes.

It also makes life considerably easier when your toddler has decided getting dressed is suddenly a competitive sport.

Do babies need ankle support when they start walking?

Most typically developing babies do not automatically need rigid ankle support just because they are learning to walk.

The important distinction is between a shoe that stays securely on the foot and a shoe that is deliberately stiff or heavily structured.

A secure heel and fastening can help keep the shoe in place without making the entire shoe rigid.

If your child has a diagnosed condition, significant instability, ongoing pain or a health professional has recommended specific footwear, that is different. Individual medical advice should take priority.

What size should first walking shoes be?

Do not choose first shoes based only on your baby’s age.

Two children of exactly the same age can have very different foot lengths, widths and shapes.

Instead:

1. Measure both feet while your child is standing, if they can stand comfortably.
2. Use the longer foot when choosing a size.
3. Compare the measurement with the individual brand’s sizing guide.
4. Check the fit again once the shoe is actually on.

Healthdirect recommends choosing shoes with the correct length, width and depth, not simply relying on the number printed on the shoe.

For Rafferty’s sizing, use our Kids’ Shoe Size Guide.

How much growing room should baby shoes have?

You want some room for growth, but that does not mean buying shoes several sizes too big.

Too much extra space can mean the foot slides around and the shoe no longer fits securely.

For children’s shoes generally, around 1 cm in front of the longest toe is a useful Australian fitting guide.

But check the whole shoe too:

• Are the toes comfortable?
• Is there enough width?
• Is there enough room over the instep?
• Does the heel stay reasonably secure?
• Can the fastening be adjusted comfortably?

Growing room is only useful if the rest of the shoe still fits.

If you are unsure what a good overall fit should look like, see our guide to how kids’ shoes should fit.

How often should you check baby and toddler shoe size?

Frequently.

Healthdirect recommends checking footwear every 1 to 3 months for children under 3, because little feet can change quickly.

That does not mean your child needs new shoes every three months.

It simply means it is worth checking.

Look for things such as:

• less room in front of the toes
• pressure marks
• difficulty getting the shoe on
• fastening that suddenly barely reaches
• toes looking crowded
• your child repeatedly trying to remove a particular pair

We cover those signs in more detail in 7 Signs Kids’ Shoes Are Too Small.

What if my toddler has wide or chunky feet?

Do not automatically go up several sizes.

If the shoe has enough length but still feels tight, the problem could be:

• forefoot width
• toe-box shape
• depth over the instep
• the overall volume of the shoe

Sizing up gives more length, but it does not necessarily fix the shape.

You may simply end up with a shoe that is too long and still uncomfortable in the wrong place.

Look at the actual shape and fit rather than the number alone.

Are barefoot shoes good first walking shoes?

A barefoot-style shoe can be an option for a first walking shoe if it fits the child properly and provides enough protection for where they will wear it.

Common barefoot-style features include:

• a wide, foot-shaped toe box
• flexible construction
• a flat or zero-drop sole
• lightweight materials
• minimal rigid structure

But the word “barefoot” is not a guarantee of good fit.

A barefoot shoe can still be too long, too short, too wide, too narrow or simply the wrong shape for your child.

That is why we always come back to measurement and actual fit.

If barefoot footwear is new to you, our Beginner’s Guide to Kids’ Barefoot Shoes explains the terminology in more detail.

What about daycare?

This depends on the daycare and what your child does there.

Some centres may require shoes for outdoor areas, while others may allow children to be barefoot indoors.

For a toddler who needs shoes throughout the day, practicality matters.

Look for something that:

• fits securely
• gives the toes enough room
• is easy to put on and remove
• is suitable for outdoor play
• does not require complicated fastening

It is also worth labelling them.

Because somehow every daycare manages to contain at least three children with nearly identical shoes.

What makes Rafferty’s suitable for little walkers?

Rafferty’s barefoot sneakers are designed for toddlers, preschoolers and younger children who need an everyday shoe for being out and about.

They include:

• a wide, foot-shaped toe box
• flexible construction
• a zero-drop sole
• lightweight materials
• adjustable Velcro fastening
• a built-in growth guide

We do not think a shoe needs to “teach” a child how to walk.

The goal is much simpler: give them an everyday shoe that fits properly, protects their feet and is easy to wear.

If your child is ready for their first outdoor pair, you can explore our current kids’ barefoot shoes.

When should you seek professional advice?

Most shoe fitting questions are simply that, fitting questions.

But speak with a health professional if your child:

• regularly appears to be in pain when walking
• develops an ongoing limp
• repeatedly refuses to put weight on one foot
• has persistent concerns with walking
• has a diagnosed condition that might affect footwear needs

Healthdirect Australia also recommends having a child’s feet checked if they appear to experience pain whenever they walk.

The bottom line

Babies do not need proper shoes simply because they have started crawling, standing or taking their first indoor steps.

Shoes become useful when your child is walking outside and needs protection from the ground.

When that happens, focus on:

• correct length
• enough toe room
• appropriate width and depth
• a secure fit
• comfortable flexibility
• enough protection for the environment

And keep checking the fit, because baby feet do not stay the same size for very long.

If your little one is ready for their first outdoor shoes, start by measuring both feet with our Kids’ Shoe Size Guide.

Then explore the current range of Rafferty’s kids’ barefoot shoes.