HOW TO SELECT BABY SHOES

New shoes, new shoes,

Red and pink and blue shoes

Tell me which would you choose

If you were to buy ......

So runs the jingle.

Shoes are not just window dressing, they are absolutely essential to protect ones feet from the vagaries of weather and literally the ups and downs as we traverse the path of life. No man lives within the precincts of his four walls and since traipsing around the country side is a basic need of Man, shoes, and comfortable, sturdy ones at that, are almost essential for people of all ages. Therefore, choosing shoes is a task to be done with great care from babyhood to old age.

Babies - they are the cynosure of all eyes and the pride and joy of their parents.

Dressing children up is an important pastime of any dating parent and so shoes play a very important role to compete any ensemble.

However when choosing shoes for babies, parents should be careful to control their urge to buy showy footwear. Instead they should concentrate on what is most suitable for their baby. Perhaps these few tips would be helpful guidelines in choosing shoes for your baby.

1. Concentrate on comfortable soft shoes. With thinner, lighter soles are more appropriate for babies before the walking stage.
2. Make sure that shoes are not tight - a larger size even would do.
3. If you insist that your baby wears socks and with shoes, do not select shoes that fit perfectly.
4. Baby shoes should not have cumbersome buckets that may bruise or chafe baby tender skin.
5. Shoes with snap buttons or Velcro fasteners may be more convenient for your baby.
6. Do not constrict baby's feet in boots and heavy soled shoes.
7. Choose shoes that have soft leather uppers or have a lining of soft fabric.
8. If your baby is a little bigger, a pair of light sandals are more advisable for every day wear, particularly in summer.
9. For your toddler, great care should be taken for to select shoes that would help and not hinder walking.
10. For the runaway toddler you have the choice of buying shoes that squeak or light up to track down juniors.
11. Slip-ons are not advisable at the toddler stage. The shoes you choose should have a firm grip about the ankle to prevent them from slipping off the foot.
12. Concentrate on comfort and utility rather than style when choose shoes for your baby.
13. Colourful, fussy shoes may look better on a baby girl. Red, pink and blue shoes may give the finishing touch to girls outfit but for your boys, choose colours that are not too bright and showy to give them that touch of class.

So, all you mums and dads - if it is shopping time again and shoes for your shopping agenda, choose shoes for your babe that would put everyone else's in the shade !