?Pre walking shoes provide warmth and protection as babies crawl and pull themselves up to stand. Toddlers who have not begun to walk, but who are cruising and standing, benefit from the flexibility and protection of a pre walking shoe that is non binding. Pre walking shoes should be shaped like the toddler’s foot and provide enough room for feet to move without restrictions. Pre walking shoes with soft soles made from nubuck or suede provide the benefit of protection and warmth with maximun flexibility.
Toddler shoes need to be more flexible than adult shoes. Stiff shoes make it more difficult for a toddler to walk and may cause him to trip and fall. Toddlers have flat feet until they are at least 16 months old, then an arch begins to form. The arch will be fully developed somewhere between the ages of six and eight. For this reason, arch support on the insole is not necessary. The insole should be lightly padded to absorb perspiration while still maintaining the shoe’s flexibility. The outer sole should be made of flexible leather and should be flat to assist early walkers. To test for flexibility, hold the shoe at the toe and heel and bend; the shoe should bend easily in the center.
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