What Do We Recommend
One of the big milestones we all look forward to as parents is our little one starting to move around, explore their world and learn to walk.
We generally recommend that children are only fitted for their first shoes when they are confidently walking, by this we mean able to walk short distances outside. Before children reach this milestone learning to move and walk barefoot is the ideal, however this isn’t always practical and we are often asked to recommend a pre-walker option.
A pre-walker is designed for little feet before they start confidently walking and we only recommend these in circumstances where they are really needed. This might include to keep feet warm and dry and to protect them when out and about in unfamiliar environments. They can also be useful to give some grip and traction when learning to move and walk and can be better than a slippy sock if something warmer is required!
So, if you need a pre-walker shoe for your little one, what should you look for? The should be the lightest and softest footwear with the thinnest possible soles. They should have a none-slip sole for traction and offer a good fit around the ankle to keep them secure on the foot. At its most basic, when it is mainly warmth that is required, a simple slipper sock, like the Moccis or the MP Denmark Booties with fabric soles with non-slip dots, can work really well.
MP Denmark Velvet Booties Navy
With a pre-walker even more care must be taken to ensure that the shoe doesn’t interfere with the natural movement of the foot and that the fit is right. It is also harder to measure and fit when a child isn’t confidently standing so we always recommend trying lots of options and finding one that gives maximum space around the toes whilst being nice and secure on the foot.
The Pediped Originals with their grippy leather sole unit is a great option for pre-walkers. This sole offers a bit more grip and protection than a suede leather sole whilst still being nice and soft and flexible.
1. Pediped Originals Dani Dusty Rose 2. Pediped Originals Dani Navy 3. Pediped Originals Sleepy Sheep 4. Pediped Originals Art Dino
The Tikki Pouf and Ziggy Shoes are another lovely soft option and move into the rubber sole options which offer a lot more in the way of grip and protection.
Their amazing soft rubber sole is only 1mm thick and is the thinnest rubber sole unit we have found.
1. Tikki Kids Pouf Shoes Granola 2. Tikki Kids Pouf Shoes Almond Suede 3. Tikki Kids Ziggy Shoes Butterfly 4. Tikki Kids Shoes Black Leather
One of our favourite pre-walkers for very active children is the Bobux Xplorer which has a really robust but still thin and flexible rubber sole unit along with a protective toe cap to resist those scuffs. This is a great hard wearing transitional option for indoor and outdoor use and can work well as they progress into more confident walking.
Also great for outdoor use are the Stonz Booties, they are completely unstructured and fit over thick socks and slippers to provide an extra warm and weather-proof layer for outdoor adventures. They are an excellent option to transition to outdoor walking in colder and wetter weather.
Stonz Puffer Booties Haze Pine
One of our newer brands, Old Soles, do a great range of pre-walkers and first shoes with their criss-cross sole offering a super thin and soft rubber option and their Pave sole unit offering one of the most robust and hard-wearing pre-walkers whilst still being soft, thin and flexible in the sole unit.
Another great brand for the transition from first steps to walking confidently is Poco Nido. They are a lovely range of rubber soled soft leather shoes designed with barefoot principles. They are beautifully foot shaped, with a thin and flexible TPU rubber sole suitable for outdoor adventures. They come in a range of styles with some unique patterns and designs to add a fun dimension to those first shoes.
Poco Nido Chameleon Strap Shoes
We have lots of options on the website and have carefully chosen a range of pre-walkers to meet all requirements and fit all foot types.
If you need any help choosing the right shoes for your little one don't hesitate to get in touch with our helpful Customer Service Team and we will be able to advise on the best option.
