A great milestone.

Now that your little one is starting to walk independently, you'll want to find the right shoes to support and protect him or her on his or her big adventures.

How do you recognize a quality shoe?

1. A sturdy sole with a flexible toe is a must.

As your little one gets around, they need some extra traction and stability. A sturdy sole will keep them from slipping on smooth surfaces and provide some protection from bumps in the ground.

The toe of the shoe, the front part, should be quite flexible and pliable, it may bend at an angle of 20°. The rest of the sole should be stiff and firm.

Why?

Because your mini is still learning how to roll his feet while walking.

A sturdy heel is necessary because it keeps your little one’s feet in place and provides the necessary support. It helps prevent the feet from rolling too much inward or outward while walking, reducing the risk of tripping and falling. A sturdy heel also encourages correct posture and growth.

3. Leather inside and out

And then a little bit more about the material of the shoe. Leather is the best material, it's just fantastic.

Leather is super soft, durable, flexible and breathable and molds beautifully to your mini's feet.

Your little one sweats up to 2x more along their feet than an adult because they have not yet developed sweat glands elsewhere. You can avoid clammy or smelly feet thanks to this natural material.

And besides, leather shoes are also very stylish. You can certainly also opt for the leather sneaker, we also have that in our range.

Also perfectly suited for those first steps.

We also have a heart for a lace-up closure .

It helps keep the shoes secure on your feet and gives you the option to make them tighter or looser depending on what works best for your little one and the shape of their feet. It provides that extra stability and fit needed when they're taking those first steps.

Many of our shoes have a zipper in addition to a lace-up closure, so you don't have to keep opening and closing the laces. A matter of avoiding (morning) stress.

And velcro can but we will not encourage it so much, they are much more difficult to adapt to the shape of the feet. They are mainly developed for ease, less for the comfort that the first walkers have to offer.

So, when your little one is ready to explore the world with his own little feet, make sure he has those perfect shoes .

A sturdy sole with a flexible toe, sturdy heel, leather and lace-up closure, with or without a zipper, are the key to success!

Take a look at the stylish first steps we offer.

You can find them via the menu at the top “the first steps” in the category of independent steps.