It is wonderful to see your baby slowly growing up to be a healthy and active child. With this, you effectively reminisce about the time when they were born, their growing phase, and their slow transitioning as they grow bigger and bigger. Here you would remember the pains of changing your child and other laborious tasks that you must partake in. Also, as they grow bigger, you need to change their clothes’ sizes and change them into something more comfortable to use. However, having said all of this, there is an important question that is quite a mystery to some parents even as they have children growing amongst them, which is, “How do baby shoe sizes work?”
Surely you must have experienced buying your shoes, slippers, and any footwear possible. You will notice as you find your way in the store that there are specific ranges of sizes for shoes and other footwear. However, being aware of all the standard shoe sizes does not absolve you on the question of how it works for babies. Of course, this would be a different case, and to learn more about this, you must first dig deeper into what should be known about baby footwear.
Things You Should Know About Picking Baby Shoes
There are things you should know about baby’s shoes other than learning about how baby shoe sizes work. The first thing you should know is that babies do not need shoes up to start walking. So technically, you should not be buying your baby any shoes until they can walk. Babies who can walk need shoes for protection as they walk on the flat surface. It serves as protection from rough ground and the unhygienic environment. So, if your baby is about a month old, you should not be thinking about buying them shoes just yet.
Another thing that should be known in buying shoes is the materials used. Your baby’s shoes should be lightweight and breathable. This will ensure that they would be comfortable and would not drag their feet as they walk. It is better to choose an easily adjustable shoe for your baby like Velcro shoes in terms of comfort. This type of baby shoes is easily adjustable and would fit your child’s foot perfectly. You would not want your baby’s shoes to be too tight or too loose, so this shoe type is just perfect. Lastly, if you train your child to walk, then make them do it barefooted when doing indoors and, if outdoors, use shoes. Being barefoot makes them practice balance a bit more, and when outdoors, it is important to let them use shoes with grip to hold on to friction on the ground.
How to Choose the Right Size for Your Baby’s Shoes
Now that you know what should be known for picking baby shoes, the next thing you should do is learn how you size baby shoes. Since it has already established that the style and other specification of adult shoes do not apply with the baby shoes, you should also recognize that the baby’s concept of size is also the same. To know the right size for your baby, you need to measure their size accurately, and to do that, you must prepare some items to help you measure it as accurately as possible. For the measurement, you would need a pencil or pen, and tape measure.
The first thing you should do it to get your baby to lie down on the bed to make them comfortable. Then take a foot and place it on your palm that will act as a flat surface. A baby’s feet are different from an adult because it is rounded and soft, so measurements and the shape are not similar. Take the measuring tape and measure it from the top of the highest toe down to the sole’s bottom. Also, measure the widest part of the feet below the padding of the upper part of the feet. Once measured, you could also measure the foot’s width, which will give you an idea of whether to go up a size or not. Anyway, this is optional. If you manage to get the measurements, you may visit your chosen baby store and ask about the size of the gathered measurements. Always remember to go up a size in measurement because babies, especially from 3-5 months, change sizes quickly, and having a bigger size shoe will help in adapting to the change of sizes.
If you cannot take measurements because your baby is fussy, you can take your baby’s foot and place it on paper. Then draw it by tracing the outline of the foot. With the drawing at hand, you could use it to measure your child’s foot without disturbing your child.
When to Stop Using a Baby Swing
So, how long can a baby use a swing? While there is no set time limit, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you only allow your baby to spend 30 minutes on the swing at one time. What’s more, you should only use your baby swing twice a day. The AAP further notes that allowing your baby to swing in a prone position for extended periods can lead your baby to develop a flat spot on the back of their head.
Always make sure that your baby is within the weight limit of a certain baby swing. Many parents neglect to take their baby’s growth into account and make the mistake of using the same baby swing for years. If your baby is too heavy for the swing, the arms might bend or break, or the whole swing might topple over and injure your baby.
Finally, you should never leave your baby to sleep in their baby swing unattended. Once they have fallen asleep, you should take them out and place them in a safer sleeping area, such as their crib. Your baby’s prone position while on a baby swing can lead your baby to slump forward or slouch down and cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Why Should I Be Learning All of This?
Learning how baby shoe sizes work, what to remember when picking shoes, and when to buy them shoes are crucial questions for your growing child. Shoes for babies are different from an adult in a way that specific features and conditions must be met to provide comfort and be used properly for the child’s use. Do not make the mistake of thinking that since they are just mere shoes, you would be able to go into a store, buy a pair, and make your child use it. This doesn’t seem right and could cause problems with your child’s walking. A specific age range requires specific foot support. For example, a baby from below six months still unable to walk would require soft shoes that are not too tight and flexible enough to provide the baby’s soft and rounded feet. However, once they began to walk, they would need shoes with a hard sole since they would be walking on real surfaces. Learning these simple things would make it easier for your child to walk without any worries. As a parent, it is your responsibility to provide them with the best product to help them do the things they should do. Get more tips on baby shoes.
Conclusion
Learning how to do baby shoe sizes work is something you should not hold against yourself. It is an important aspect of your child’s development, especially when they start to walk and slowly get more and more active. Learning about the tips and reminders regarding your child’s footwear is important when you are starting to teach them the habit of wearing shoes or any footwear. If you made their experience uncomfortable and difficult with you choosing the wrong sizes and wrong shoes, then it would be a lot harder for you to instill the habit because all they will remember are the bad stuff that comes along with it. Therefore, as early as possible, educate yourself on the do’s and don’ts because it would surely save you a lot of time in the future.