Baby shoes. Oy oy oy!

I think I would be as excited about baby shoes whether LilO was a boy or a girl. I just love to window shop and look at baby shoes online!

Yet, the choice of shoes is not an easy task. I'm not talking about having to decide which ones are cuter than others, but about picking the appropriate shoe for the foot development. So at least I know one thing: barefoot is best.

But when we need to buy shoes because I'm a germophobe and when we go out I don't want LilO to be walking on who-knows-what kind of floors... what shoes do I get for her?

For the typical French parent, it's easy: the shoe has to be comfortable, high top, and provide a good stiff support on the ankle, like the one below. These are the ones I was recommended by a children's shoe store specialist, for LiLO's FIRST steps. Agh. Could she even move her feet?

Catimini Celeste - 69€ - Spartoo.com

However, it's a very different point of view than the one overseas. You see, for the American Podiatric Medical Association, babies need a soft pliable shoe, such as Pediped, Smaller (by See Kai Run) or Robeez, etc. And that excludes the high top stiff ones you find in all baby shoe stores here.

Pediped's Originals Mimi - $32

So I'm going to take a big step here and say that I'm going to follow the APMA's advice and have LilO wear soft shoes. She's not walking yet, but as she learns to take steps and walk this year we'll be changing models and types of shoes. I need to get some shoes though, since I don't like her cute feet cleaning the floors wherever we go.  I know I'll receive a lot of looks and maybe some criticism from other parents because of my non high top shoe choice, but oh well. I'm getting used to that! ;-)

There are a lot of brands to choose from and I guess it all depends on your baby - large ankles, chubby feet, slim feet, etc. :) Here are the ones I decided to get for LilO.

Smaller, by See Kai Run - "Mira" - 40€

Petits Pas de Geants is an online store that sells a good variety of this kind of shoes for babies. Ordering them online directly from the US is possible (and the selling price is a bit cheaper), but the taxes and duties can be tricky at times and make you pay even more before you can receive the package here.

Lutin Botté has some Robeez models and the good thing about them is that there is no return cost if you want to exchange or return the shoes, compared to Petits Pas de Geant. Too bad Lutin Botté doesn't have the low heel and soft shoes variety and focuses on high tops (well, that's the French maket!)

What kind of shoes did you get for your baby's first steps?