From galoshes to hand-knit booties, baby shoes come in as many shapes and sizes as any other shoe, with the added bonus of being absolutely adorable. Because babies often have little to no need to actually utilize their shoes for anything more than protection from the elements, there are even more options available to match any outfit when use of the shoe itself is not an issue. Baby slippers are ideal, offering maximum comfort for your baby in addition to being cute and functional.
Many patterns exist to knit or crochet your own booties for your little one, but just as many come pre-made as well, with all of the homemade charm of a pair you would make yourself. The material should be taken into consideration as some wools are scratchier than others and you want your baby's feet to be as comfortable as can be no matter what they wear. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of softer than soft wools, allowing for booties that feel just like a security blanket.
While there are in fact many heavy duty baby shoes with hard soles designed for feet just ready to meet the ground on their own, comfort can again be an issue. Your baby cannot easily tell you whether or not they like wearing a shoe, and in fact, many babies do not like having anything on their feet at all. For this reason, softer booties and socks are a very viable option if you do not expect your child to be doing a lot of walking or standing on their own.
Babies lose their socks and shoes easily, so it is important to be sure that the shoes you have put on your child are very secure, or at least unimportant enough that you do not mind if one is lost. Baby slippers can come in a variety of styles, many of which are designed to be tied gently around your baby's foot, making it much less likely to be lost. Always consider your baby's comfort above all else when shopping for the perfect shoes, but keep in mind that babies are in fact easier to buy shoes for than an older child or adult due to the fact that they are not spending as much time on their little feet.
