Are Hand Me down Shoes for an Early Walker Ok?

I wouldn't put hand me down SHOES on my child at any age. I believe in good shoes, no plastic ones either.

I am big on hand-me-downs and the thrift store but I would draw the line at shoes for myself and my kid. Unless they look unworn I fear they would not conform well to the foot and cause problems especially for a little one. My feet are weird and I can't ever wear shoes someone else has worn. It's very different then clothes when you think about it.

A.-
It really depends on the wear pattern on the bottom of the shoes. Hold the shoes together. When you look at the back of the shoes do you notice excessive wear on one side of the sole compared to the other side? Then compare to the other shoe, are they the same? Flip the shoes over and do the same evaluation under where the ball of the foot would hit. Is the tread worn out? Are the left and right shoes the same? If they are worn out and not even, I would suggest buying new (or less used) shoes. A shoe repair shop may be able to even out the sole wear if it is not too progressed.
Hope that helps!

My sons are 26 months apart and Ryan has all of his older brothers old clothes. We drew the line at shoes when he was starting to walk. We went and had him fitted and as it turned out, he was an extra-wide. So, he couldn't have worn Jake's shoes anyway.

I don't have a problem with used items from family, but I wouldn't do the shoes. Just my opinion.

Hi A.,
I am a great supporter of reuse but I did purchase new shoes for all three of my kids as they learned how to walk so that they would be fitted (wide or narrow) and get the right size of shoe and be observed walking in the shoe to examine their gait. As my kids got bigger/older, I have learned from chiropractor that it is critical in resolution of unhappy back/hip/knee issues to be wearing shoe that is proper size. We've had success getting gait etc observed at Naperville Running Store and getting the right fit for older people (ie not the brand new walking children). I believe new shoes for a new walking child are a smart idea.

I will give you the advice my pediatrician gave me when my kids were little. He said the only reason to have shoes on a child is to keep them from injuring thier feet when they step on things ie nails, glass, etc. So I would definitly use the other shoes when thier feet NEED to be covered and the rest of the time, go barefoot.

I would never use hand me down shoes. There is a stride rite outlet in Pleasant Prairie , WI. Right over the border...whenever I am near there- I stock up!! The shoes are A TON cheaper. There is also an outlet in Aurora.

I would take her to the Stride Rite store have her foot fitted first.. if the shoes are the right size then go for it :)

both my girls did just fine in hand me down shoes and never had any foot issues. I think that whole "they mold to your feet" is a bunch of bologna, that the shoe makers started, and I have seen LOTS of kids in shoes throughtout my daycare years.

I know conventional wisdom is that you don't put someone elses shoes on a child, but personally I always have. I have two girls two years apart. My oldest has worn shoes her cousins have given her since the beginning. The second has always worn those shoes and her sister's shoes...that is if they are in good condition. I grew up wearing my cousins shoes and occasionally my mother will give me a pair of shoes she bought but couldn't wear. I've never had problems with either of my girls or myself. So as long as the shoes are in good condition, I don't see the big deal.

As far as shoes on a child that is just beginning to walk...my ped always said don't put shoes on a child until you absolutely have to (like when they are playing outside and you want to protect their soft little toes from the pavement). My ped said that some studies show that children develop better arches without shoes. He also explained that when a child is beginning to walk they are very unsure and off-balance...and shoes just make it more difficult and unsafe. I could see his point. So I don't put shoes on my kids until they need them for safety reasons or to look cute in a picture.

And though many of my neighbors and friends gasp, I let my kids play barefoot. We don't have a dog or cat that goes in the yard so I don't worry about worms. I have wood floors so they can come in and go clean up their feet before stomping around on the carpet. And I grew up barefoot. How sad to be a child and never stomp in a puddle barefoot or feel grass on your feet. Part of growing up is playing barefoot. But that's just me.

You shouldn't have a problem with the hand me down shoes. However, I usually don't use them simply because my son's feet are narrow. Someone else here said it as well, that the only reason we truly need shoes is to protect the feet from environmental hazards (nails, glass, temperature.) Actually the best kinds of shoes for early walkers are the leather bootie types like Robeez. There is a brand they sell at target just like Robeez and they are cheaper (Robeez are $30). You don't need Stride Rites or those high backed white shoes that the previous generation swore on.

Hope that helps!

I would strongly recommend buying your walker her own pair of new shoes. And I would also recommend going with a Striderite or equally quality brand specifically designed for little feet.

I have two boys and saved my older son's shoes as possible hand me downs for my second son. I asked our Ped about it and he strongly recommended each child wear new shoes that they would break in as their foot develops. (He too was a big fan of letting them go barefoot as long as possible as it is the best thing.) But with winters the way they are and having both kids in daycare, they do have to wear shoes.

We went with Striderite and I've never looked at anything else. There is a Striderite outlet in Aurora where you can find shoes for half price of what they are in regular stores. I've also had luck at Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack, Burlington Coat Factory and TJMaxx.

Bottom line, my husband has terrible feet. He was the fourth boy in his family so everything was hand me down. Toys and clothes - no problem. But the shoes that were already worn in by someone else (sometimes times three!) didn't allow his feet to grow and devlop and he ended up having problems that has also affected his knees, hips and back.

If you can afford new shoes, I strongly recommend doing that for your kids. There are definitely something you can skimp on in life (and certainly should) but I agree that shoes shouldn't be one of them - especially during this critical growth and devlopment phase.

Good luck with your little walker!! Wait until she starts running - the giggles that ensue are the best.

I actually think they are supposed to be barefoot when they first walk. I wouldn't worry too much about the shoes being worn, it's not like she will be putting miles on them right away.

I was always told new shoes for new walker. But I also come from a family of bad feet. Ask your pediatrician/family doc or a podiatrist. I am all about hand me downs for everything else. I agree it is pricey to pay a lot for shoes when they only wear them for a short time.

Our compromise was to buy new for their everyday shoes, but use hand me downs for party/dress type shoes that they didn't spend a lot of time in. Having problem feet myself, I know the difference a good pair of properly fitted shoes makes in how my whole body feels, so I've tended to buy new tennis shoes, etc. for my kids. I'll second the barefoot/Robeez advice that others have mentioned.

use the hand me downs--my daughter was in early interventions & I bought her first walkers for $65 with 3 neices worth of shoes at my house---she wore them 3 times before they were too small--since then she has worn all hand me downs & I can afford to buy whatever shoes I want--but for the short amount of time the kids at her age wear the shoes, is it really worth it??? Her bent knee issue & bow leggedness (all due to extreme prematurity) have all resolved thru time & physical therapy & I have her in all hand me down shoes & she grows out of them as fast as I get them from her cousins. All the clothes baby things, shoes etc are a God send---but if you are that worried, get her one pair of first walkers & use hand me downs after that & by all means keep her barefoot unless she is outside--that is where her gait & everything else is established....save your money for her college, it will be put to better use that way.

Maybe you could buy one good pair new to use most of the time, and use the others from time to time. I had two boys, so we didn't change shoes much, but I hear girls like lots of pretty stuff!

Select Item
TK55546 $19.50
Save 54% NOW $8.95 THESE SLIPPERS ARE LIKE THE Reebeez at llbean.com on sale right now. i'd keep the hand me downs for pictures or special occasions where those shoes match an outfit. my baby just starting walking and she wears llbean slippers at home and tennis shoes out. i only get one pair of each. a secure fit is important for our new little walkers but barefoot is best or i use 2 pairs of socks.

no - don't use the hand me down shoes - take a look at your shoes and notice the way you wear down the heel, perhaps your foot rolls in or out, notice the side wear. Whatever hip or leg alignment the child has who wore the shoes most likely is not the same as your child. While it is said you should walk in someone's shoes to understand them, it is not meant for children to actually take that on...

Go shopping and enjoy how your child looks in those beautiful shoes.

To say take a look at your own shoes is radiculous...you wear your shoes for sometimes years....kids go through shoes so fast....use the used shoes

One of my nieces is in early intervention and her parents were told by the therapist to get a first time walker his or her own shoes the first time so they can develop their own gait. Plus, if I had borrowed shoes for my now-19 mo old...I would not have known she needs wide shoes (she has short little pudgey feet still! ha!). After the first two pairs (like 6-8 months worth of shoes), I plan to use hand-me-downs as available. I also have a 3.5 mo old son -- who seems to have quite narrow feet (takes after me, I guess). Good luck with the walking!

I wouldn't pass them up considering all the shoes my daughter ever wore at that age have very few miles on them. I doubt the wear pattern is that significant that it would have that big of an effect on her feet or the way she walks. TAKE THE FREE SHOES!!! :)

I agree with the others. Unless the wear pattern is pronounced, use the shoes. Also, barefoot is best indoors. My babysitter kept insisting on shoes all the time but I finally got her to just put on an extra pair of socks if it seems cold inside or use the slippers. I have bought a few shoes but also have hand me downs that my daughter wears. She will outgrow them so quickly.

we use hand me down shoes ALL the time...as long as they are not shot beyond belief I think it is okay...

Hi A.,

Hand me downs are great, but never accept shoes unless they were never worn or worn only once. There are times a child will stretch the shoes out a little and like you said, all children walk and wear down shoes different.

My daughter has lived on hand-me-downs from day one...including 100% of her shoes. Some of the things have gone through 4 girls before getting to her. She did just fine using their old shoes. She's now 2.5 yrs old and still wearing hand-me-downs. I'd watch how she walks, but I think that you are probably fine. :)

I think you will be perfectly fine, since I can't imagine a child who wore 5 pairs of shoes in one size really did that much wear and tear on them anyway! My kids only had one pair of shoes at a time, so they wore them quite well through. But, when you have five, and she will outgrown them in six months, you should be fine. In the home though, if possible, I'd suggest barefoot play. There is no need to put on shoes unless outdoors or in the cold. Kids' arches develop from all that great pushing and rolling over their feet they do in floor play, so take off the shoes and let her figure out how to move and stand without support of a shoe. Unless there is a physical reason why shoe support is needed, such as a child with low muscle tone, let her go solo. And use the hand-me downs!