Does Your Child Need Soft Sole Shoes?
Many moms and dads are now opting to use soft sole shoes when they purchase shoes for their small children. Well, what makes soft soles shoes so different than the regular baby shoes you will find at your local department stores?
Soft sole shoes often contain a layer of padding to cushion baby's first steps and an outer fabric layer of soft and breathable cloth and wool or pliable leather that keeps feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The soles are most commonly made from soft suede and the ankles are usually lightly elasticized. When a child's foot flexes and moves so does the soft sole shoe. They do not interfere with the foot's natural range of motion, yet they still provide slip resistant, shock absorbing protection.
In addition to their many benefits, soft sole shoes have gained such mainstream popularity that there are dozens of brands to choose from and many styles to satisfy even the most fashion conscious parent. There are soft sole Mary Janes, moccasins, sandals, and boots. The shoes can be emblazoned with flowers, fruit, animals, and crossbones. For herbivore parents there are even several vegan options. Online patterns and instructions are also widely available for parents that wish to sew their own. There is a soft sole shoe sure to please every style preference and budget.
Shoes pictured above: Momo Baby Soft Sole Baby Shoes - Panda Green/Blue
Soft sole shoes often contain a layer of padding to cushion baby's first steps and an outer fabric layer of soft and breathable cloth and wool or pliable leather that keeps feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The soles are most commonly made from soft suede and the ankles are usually lightly elasticized. When a child's foot flexes and moves so does the soft sole shoe. They do not interfere with the foot's natural range of motion, yet they still provide slip resistant, shock absorbing protection.
In addition to their many benefits, soft sole shoes have gained such mainstream popularity that there are dozens of brands to choose from and many styles to satisfy even the most fashion conscious parent. There are soft sole Mary Janes, moccasins, sandals, and boots. The shoes can be emblazoned with flowers, fruit, animals, and crossbones. For herbivore parents there are even several vegan options. Online patterns and instructions are also widely available for parents that wish to sew their own. There is a soft sole shoe sure to please every style preference and budget.
Shoes pictured above: Momo Baby Soft Sole Baby Shoes - Panda Green/Blue
Why I Love Soft Shoes Shoes
I am a big fan of sole shoes and my little ones have several pairs. When wearing these super soft shoes, baby’s feet are better able to grip and this helps little feet develop foot strength. Soft soles allow freedom of movement and allow the foot to flex. They are the next best thing to walking barefoot, offering a protective and comfortable layer over tender baby feet.My babies have worn many different brands of soft sole shoes and one of the best is Robeez. They have adorned on baby feet for over 12 years and they are the standard for excellence. Easy to slip-on, they stay-on with an elasticized ankle band. Skid-resistant textured suede soles, these slip-ons are washable by hand or machine and are made with durable, quality leather and lined uppers, and soft and comfortable leather that cushions and protects. They come in a large variety of sizes and can be worn by babies from infancy all the way to 3-4 years.
The above shoes are Robeez Infants & Peas In A Pod Slip On Shoes. For your little sweet pea, three green peas are cozy in their little lime pods. These lovable legumes feature sleepy eyes, stitched green vines and scalloped ankle bands. Adorable!
If you are looking for more design options you won't be dissapointed. A few other options include Monkeys, Dinosaurs, Geckos, and Dragonflies.
Robeez Shoes Rock!
Why Soft Shoes Are Better...
As parents we may have been taught that hard sole shoes offer the best support for growing feet but new research shows that this may not actually be true. A child's foot is soft and pliable and pressure from the wrong shoe may actually impede proper foot development. In fact many pediatricians, including the renowned Dr. Sears, are now recommending that children under two not wear shoes at all. Going barefoot helps their feet to grow naturally and helps them to gain musculature and strength. Soft sole shoes provide an excellent alternative for those times when going barefoot might not be so practical. They still allow for feet to grow and develop with confinement.Unlike regular children's shoes with their stiff body and hard soles, soft sole shoes are extremely flexible and as the name suggests, they have soft, pliable soles. This gives children a greater range of movement and comfort. Whereas they might not enjoy the adjustment to the confinement of regular shoes, they are often very comfortable in soft sole shoes with plenty of room to allow their little toes to wiggle and spread.
Shoes pictured above: Robeez Infant/Toddler Funky Monsters Slip-On
Isabooties Vegan Soft Sole Shoes
IsaBooties Eco-friendly Baby Shoes Candy Dots (3-6 months)
Amazon Price: $29.00 (as of 12/22/2009) 
Isabooties Tulip Toes - Lilac, 3 - 6 Months
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Isabooties Slate Blue Sporties - Blue Jean 6-12M
Amazon Price: $29.00 (as of 12/22/2009)
Benefits of Soft Sole Shoes
1. A child's feet are better able to develop in soft soles.2. Wearing soft soles helps toes get a better grip and develops foot strength.
3. Soft soles allow freedom of movement and allow the foot to flex.
4. Soft sole shoes are more breathable and comfortable.
5. Soft soles shoes are the next best option to walking barefoot, as they offer a flexible yet protective shoe for tender feet.
Nowali Moccasins
Good for older Kids!
Kids are always pulling off or kicking off shoes and slippers that are uncomfortable and no fun to wear. To solve the problem, savvy moms around the world turn to Sweden for classic moccasins by Nowali (rhymes with grow-a-tree).
Nowali moccasins are a cozy sock-in-a-soft-shoe that stay on kids' feet. The one piece design makes them super easy to put on, and the double elastic at the top helps to keep them on. Because they are soft and have fun designs, kids want to wear them all the time.
Nowali moccasins are especially popular with children who are starting to walk and run around the house. The non-skid soles really help prevent slips and falls on hardwood and tile floors. As parents know, pediatricians generally recommend footwear with flexible soles to help the foot muscles and arches develop naturally.
Winner of The New Parents Guide Seal of Approval, Nowali slipper socks have been keeping little feet happy for over 50 years. This year, Nowali introduces adult versions of their cozy footwear. The company also sells fashion cotton tights.
"Our feature product is our famous Swedish moccasin," explains Diane Reznik, Nowali's Sales Manager and co-designer. "This item is a unique combination of a sock and a shoe: knit sock upper with a leather sole and color coordinated foxing. The moccasins are still stitched together by hand in the traditional Swedish way."
Nowali moccasins are a cozy sock-in-a-soft-shoe that stay on kids' feet. The one piece design makes them super easy to put on, and the double elastic at the top helps to keep them on. Because they are soft and have fun designs, kids want to wear them all the time.
Nowali moccasins are especially popular with children who are starting to walk and run around the house. The non-skid soles really help prevent slips and falls on hardwood and tile floors. As parents know, pediatricians generally recommend footwear with flexible soles to help the foot muscles and arches develop naturally.
Winner of The New Parents Guide Seal of Approval, Nowali slipper socks have been keeping little feet happy for over 50 years. This year, Nowali introduces adult versions of their cozy footwear. The company also sells fashion cotton tights.
"Our feature product is our famous Swedish moccasin," explains Diane Reznik, Nowali's Sales Manager and co-designer. "This item is a unique combination of a sock and a shoe: knit sock upper with a leather sole and color coordinated foxing. The moccasins are still stitched together by hand in the traditional Swedish way."
More Baby Articles from my Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMore of My Lenses
-
Unique & Funky Leg Warmers & Socks for Girls
-
As the mom of a little girl who loves to dress up I am always on the lookout for fun and funky girl’s clothes and accessories. I don't much like character clothes from Hannah Montana or High School Musical because I feel kids are a...
-
gDiapers Flushable Diapers
-
Did you think your only options were disposable or cloth? G Diapers are the world's first flushable diapers. Environmentally friendly, G Diapers do not contribute to landfills and the landfill issue is the biggest argument against disposabel diapers....
-
Diaper Free Baby
-
It is generally believed that little babies have no control over the muscles used in elimination functions. The truth is that a newborn baby does have control over those muscles. Whether baby pees or poops in a diaper or in a container, the baby ofte...
-
Vaccines - Danergous or Helpful?
-
Just about everyone is familiar with vaccinations or immunization shots. They are the routine injections given to children and adults to immunize them against a variety of diseases. Most vaccination are done when you are relatively young, staring at...
-
Spanking Is NOT an Effective Parenting Tool
-
A child misbehaves by poking, kicking or similarly assaulting another child. The parent grabs him by the arm and slaps him for hitting that child. Hmm... what's wrong with this picture? Is this effective parenting? Or maybe a child runs into the str...
by Tiffany
I am a natural parenting advocate.
Nature Moms is a natural parenting resource site with hundreds of informative articles about all aspects of n... (more)
Nature Moms is a natural parenting resource site with hundreds of informative articles about all aspects of n... (more)
Explore related pages
Baby Toddler Shoes- These baby shoes are value for money for it is cute, lovely and best of all thes...
Baby Sandals Free Crochet Pattern- Crochet a pair of toeless summer sandals for infants.See your Baby Sandals Croch...
Otroski cevlji- Trg otroskih copatov ter otroskih cevljev je poln najrazlicnejsih modelov. Se bo...
Cute-Ugly Fashion: Betsey Johnson, Robeez and Juicy Couture
- Cute-Ugly is that gorgeous, funky Betsey bag that you love... and your husband/b...
