Baby shoes are a big business these days! A miniature
version of Dad’s favorite sneakers may be adorable, but research shows that
it’s best for babies (and older kids, too) to be barefoot as much as possible.
Kids need shoes, of course. City sidewalks and snowy grounds
aren’t barefoot-friendly, but warm homes, playgrounds and mud puddles are!
Why are Bare Feet Good for My Baby?
Unless you notice problems with your child’s foot
development (more on this below), being barefoot is ideal. Here are some of the
reasons why:
It allows for optimal foot development. At birth, the bones in your baby’s
feet are soft. As he grows, the bones harden and the joints, ligaments and
muscles in his feet develop. Studies suggest that children’s shoes (especially
if they’re stiff, narrow, tight, or have an inflexible sole) can interfere with
foot development because the foot conforms to the shoe instead of forming
naturally.
It improves agility. When toddlers walk barefoot they tend to look up
because the information they receive through their feet orients them and makes
them feel secure. Shoes block that intake of information, so toddlers wearing
them tend to look down and are more apt to topple over. Shoes can also restrict
toe spread, which helps tots stay balanced.
Barefoot steps also boost coordination because they send
messages to a child’s brain about how to organize his movement patterns and
effectively navigate his body through space.
It promotes awareness. Being barefoot not only frees children to look up and
around rather than at the floor, but also helps them learn to safely traverse
different surfaces. Walking and running barefoot on hard floors, sand, grass,
mud and the like gives children confidence to maneuver their bodies in
different settings. Research has even suggested that being barefoot correlates
with being less prone to injury.
It optimizes sensory motor development. There are as many as 200,000 nerve
endings in the sole of one foot! Even before learning to stand and walk, being
barefoot teaches babies about their bodies and their surroundings. Bare feet
against swaddles, laps, beds, carseats, strollers and the ground exposes babies
to different textures, temperatures, and opportunities to push with their feet
and toes. Barefoot tummy time and crawling allows full freedom to use feet and
toes for movement.
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