| Have you given much thought to the type of shoes | | | | Medical Center also found that baby ankles are much |
| you purchase for your baby? The reality is that | | | | stronger than once believed. In the past, shoe |
| things have changed dramatically since the time you | | | | manufacturer's assumed baby ankles were weak and |
| were an infant. In fact, it was only about 20 years | | | | wobbly. Therefore, they need high top shoes that |
| ago that experts believed it was best for children to | | | | would provide them with extra support. Researchers |
| wear stiff shoes that provided a great deal of | | | | found, however, that baby ankles are actually quite |
| support while learning to walk. As a result, babies had | | | | strong and stable from the beginning. Ultimately, the |
| their feet routinely stuffed into high top, stiff shoes | | | | researchers concluded that walking barefooted is |
| that restricted their feet greatly. | | | | actually best when it comes to the development of a |
| It's All About the Rocking Motion | | | | baby's foot. |
| More recent research, however, has demonstrated | | | | Getting the Best of Both Worlds |
| that strong, high top shoes may not be as beneficial | | | | Of course, most parents are not interested in letting |
| as we once thought. In a recent study conducted by | | | | their children walk around barefooted all the time. |
| the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, researchers | | | | After all, walking around barefooted leaves your |
| concluded that babies learn to walk by using the | | | | baby's feet exposed to germs, dirt and grime. |
| same rocking heel-toe motion used by adults when | | | | Therefore, when purchasing shoes for your baby, be |
| walking. This was contrary to the previous belief that | | | | certain to look for those that are made of quality |
| babies walked in a flat-footed stomping motion. | | | | leather in order to provide protection while also |
| Therefore, shoes with stiff, flat bottoms certainly | | | | having a soft, flexible sole that allows your baby's |
| are not in the best interest of a baby's developing | | | | feet to grow and develop properly. |
| foot. | | | | Shooshoos baby shoes are the best for little growing |
| The Ankles Have It All | | | | feet! |
| The research conducted at the Connecticut Children's | | | | |