Your child's first shoes

Buying your child's first pair of shoes is exciting and magical. And there's millions of cute small shoes that aren't difficult to fall head over heels for. But children's feet are different and, for this reason, their little feet also have different needs.

So now what? When are your tiny tot ready for his or her first pair of shoes? And what happens when your child begins to move around a bit more? 

1. A GREAT FIT

Your child's first shoe should have a fit that matches your child's foot. The shoes shouldn't pinch their toes, nor have too loose a fit. A good rule of thumb is that there should be space for a little finger between the tongue and the top of the foot.

2. REMEMBER SPACE FOR GROWTH

The first pair of shoes (and actually all future kids shoes) should be bought with 0.5-1cm of growing space. In fact, this space is for both movement and growth, as well as just general space at the front of the shoe. This wriggle room ensures that there is plenty of space for your child's feet to expand and slide slightly forward in the shoe when they start exploring the world.

3. FLEXIBLE OUTSOLES

The soles must be flexible, so your little one's feet can move freely and naturally.

4. ADJUSTABALE

The shoes should be equipped with an adjustable fastening, so you easily can adjust the shoe to fit your child's foot perfectly.

5. CHECK THE HEEL

The first baby shoes needs to feature a a firm and stabilizing heel tab in order to support the ankle in the best possible way. 

6. ROOM FOR LITTLE TOES

The shoes should be wide enough to make sure there's air between all of your child's wee toes.

7. HIGH BREATHABILITY

Last, but by no means least, your child's feet should be able to breathe in the shoes. Feet that are too closed-in can become cold and clammy in the middle of play time.

All hummel infant shoes have removable, washable insoles. We recommend that the insoles are aired and washed regularly to ensure healthy little feet and hygienic shoes. Especially when it comes to winter boots

SOFT, SMALL FEET

Did you know that small, chubby baby feet aren't just soft on the outside, but actually also on the inside? When your child has just been born, their skeleton mainly consists of cartilage. It is completely natural and actually a great benefit for both pregnancy and childbirth. But it also means that your child's feet can easily take the shape of footwear. This makes it extremely important to choose the right footwear for your little rascal and wait as long as possible to buy their first pair. This reduces pressure and gives the feet space to develop naturally.

BARE TOES

Another reason to wait a little longer for the first pair of shoes is that small adventurers need to feel firm ground under their feet when they are starting to learn how to balance and walk. Babies use their toes to grip the floor, and therefore just bare toes, a pair of non-slip tights or a pre-walker style are more ideal choices than a pair of 'proper' shoes in the beginning.