Finally, that long-awaited moment of seeing your baby take that first step.
Still wobbly, but surely, your baby is feeling his way around - toes and all. Now, he is ready for shoes.
But, make sure he can walk steadily first before putting on that first pair, said Ms Malia Ho, a principal podiatrist with The Foot Practice at Singapore Sports Medicine Centre.
For a start, let him wear soft leather shoes or socks with a non-slip base.
Your little tot needs to feel the sensation beneath his soles to place his feet on the ground. He might even claw with his toes to get better grip.
As he grows older with improved motor skills, his steps will become steadier and soon, he will be ready for the outdoors. At this time, his tiny feet will need more protection and support.
But do encourage him to walk barefoot on soft grounds such as sand or grass to encourage the development of the foot muscles.
To ensure that you have the right size of shoes, always buy them in the evening or late afternoon, Ms Ho said.
She said: "At home, get your child to step on a piece of paper and draw round the foot. This is the shape of the weight-bearing foot.
"Cut this out and use it as a template. At the shoe shop, place this template into the shoe. If the edges crumple, then the shoes are too small."
She added that it is always best to go shoe-shopping with the child to ensure that the fit is right. "After your child has put on the shoe, ensure that there is about 0.5 cm between the end of shoe and the longest toe.
"The width must be as wide as the broadest part of the forefoot. As your child is walking, the heel should not be slipping out of the heel counter."
Your kid may walk clumsily and trip often, if he or she is wearing shoes that are too big for him or her. Conversely, shoes that are too tight will cause blisters, calluses, in-grown toe nails and inhibit growth if worn for long hours, she added.
This week, we feature shoes for the crucial age groups - infant, toddler and young kids.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
