Child walks independently

Which shoe is suitable?

My child is taking his first steps independently.

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?

Twist, bend and squeeze.

Waaraan herken ik de juiste schoen?

1. Turn

In children's shoes it is important that there is no torsion (twisting) in the lengthwise direction of the shoe, as this can contribute to good support for growing feet.

Children's feet are still developing, and having shoes that are too flexible lengthwise can have negative effects on their posture, gait and foot structure.

2. Bend

The toe of the shoe, the front part, should be quite flexible and pliable, it may fold 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.

3. Pinch

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 tilting too much inward or outward while walking, reducing the risk of tripping and falling. A firm heel also promotes correct posture and growth posture.

Leather or plastic shoes?

Leather is the best material, we'd love to tell you why.

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, which we also have in our range.

Lace-up or velcro shoes?

Lace-up shoes

We have a heart for a lace-up closure .

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

Laces and zipper on the side

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.

It is advisable to tighten the laces regularly.

Velcro shoes

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.

As a second shoe that can also be used as a sports shoe, you can choose a Velcro shoe .