Boutique guide · First steps
Baby's first shoes: pram shoes or first walkers? When they need them and how to choose
Booties, pram shoes and first-walker shoes are each meant for a different stage. Here you'll find when to put your baby in their first shoes, what a first walking shoe should be like and how to check the size still fits, with guidance from paediatricians.
By The Noi da piccoli boutiqueUpdated November 20266-minute read
When should you put shoes on your baby?
Once they walk on their own, not before. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in the early months feet develop best without shoes. KidsHealth, the parenting website from Nemours Children's Health, suggests waiting until your baby is walking before buying the first pair: going barefoot is still best for foot development.
Until then, all that matters is keeping their feet warm. The AAP points out that socks are enough for that; KidsHealth suggests socks or booties with a non-slip sole.
Shoes become useful once your child starts walking outdoors, where they protect the feet (AAP). Health for Under 5s, a website funded by the NHS in England, explains that shoes aren't needed until a child walks on their own, and that even then they can go without them at home.
Our article Your baby's first steps explains how balance and movement change over these months. If you have any concerns about how your child walks or places their feet, ask your paediatrician.
Our boutique stocks around 60 pairs of booties. If you'd like to know what the sole of a particular style is like, just ask us on WhatsApp.
Booties for the months before walking
Booties, pram shoes or first walkers: what's the difference?
In our catalogue, «da culla» or «Culla» in a product name marks pram shoes, for babies who aren't walking yet, while «primo passo» marks first-walker shoes, for children who have started walking on their own. Booties, often knitted, keep little feet warm in the months before walking.
| What | Who for | When | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootiesaround 60 in our boutique | Newborns and babies who aren't walking yet | At home or out and about, when it's chilly | For the cold, ideally with a non-slip sole (KidsHealth). No loops or loose threads inside that could wrap around the toes (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby). |
| Pram shoesaround 40 in our boutique | Babies who aren't walking yet | Christenings, weddings, a special family lunch, photos | Not made for walking. Same check for loops and threads inside (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby). Once the occasion is over, back to bare feet or socks. |
| First walkersaround 30 in our boutique | Children who walk on their own | Outdoors, to protect the feet (AAP). At home they can go without (Health for Under 5s). | Light and flexible, non-slip sole, a fastening that holds the heel in place, at least 1 cm of room in front of the toes. |
A starting point based on the sources listed at the end, not medical advice: if you have any concerns about your child, ask your paediatrician.
Which shoes for a christening, if your baby isn't walking yet?
Pram shoes are there to finish off a ceremony outfit. We have around 40 pairs in our boutique, mostly by Caminito, from about €16 to €54. Styles include Mary Janes, T-bars and eyelet designs, in leather or in soft shades such as white, ivory and pearl.
Before you put them on, run a finger around the inside. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, an information service funded by the Australian Government, recommends checking that bootees and socks have no loops or loose threads that could wrap around the toes. Once the celebrations are over, your baby can go back to bare feet or socks.
For ideas on matching the shoes to the rest of the outfit, take a look at our guide on how to choose a christening outfit for a baby boy.
Pram shoes for the ceremony
What should a first walking shoe be like?
Paediatric sources point to just a few things, which you can check with the shoe in your hand or on the product page:
- Light and flexible. According to KidsHealth, stiff shoes restrict the foot's movement.
- Non-slip sole, as both the AAP and KidsHealth advise.
- Adjustable fastening, Velcro or buckle, that holds the heel in place (Health for Under 5s).
- Natural materials, such as leather or canvas, worn with cotton socks (Health for Under 5s).
- Comfortable, with a good fit (AAP, KidsHealth).
The AAP adds that a well-made shoe doesn't have to be expensive.
We have around 30 first-walker styles in our boutique, mostly by Caminito, along with TNY and Magil, from about €25 to €86. Leather, nappa and suede are the most common materials, and sizes available are mostly EU 22 to 26. If the product page doesn't say what the fastening or sole of a style is like, ask us on WhatsApp before you order.
First-walker shoes for independent walkers
How can you tell if a shoe is the right size?
There needs to be room in front of the toes. Health for Under 5s recommends at least 1 cm between the tips of the toes and the end of the shoe; the AAP uses a similar measure, about a finger's width between the tip of the big toe and the inside edge. If a shoe is tight, the AAP is clear: no shoes are better than tight shoes.
Feet grow quickly at this age. The AAP recommends checking the size roughly once a month and notes that the first pair lasts 2–3 months at most. According to Health for Under 5s, until around two and a half, shoes need replacing every few months. That's why it makes sense to buy just a few pairs at a time and check again before the next pair.
What size should you choose when buying online?
The right size depends on how long your child's foot is right now, so start from that measurement. Message us on WhatsApp, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm, with your child's age, the length of their foot in centimetres and the style you like.
If you live nearby, you're welcome to visit our boutique in Frattamaggiore (Naples), at via Padre Mario Vergara 166, during the same hours. If you order online, in-store pickup is free and your order is usually ready in 2–4 days. If the size isn't right, returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery, with the shoes unworn and the tag still attached.
You'll find everything in our boutique collections:
The guidance on feet and shoes in this guide comes from the sources below and is no substitute for your paediatrician's advice: if you have any concerns about your child, they're the best person to ask.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, "Shoes for Active Toddlers", 2015
- KidsHealth (Nemours), "Is My Baby Ready for Shoes?", medically reviewed 2019
- Health for Under 5s, "Your toddler's first shoes", reviewed August 2026
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government), "Dressing a newborn", reviewed October 2025
From first socks to first shoes
Booties, pram shoes and first-walker shoes chosen by our boutique, with free shipping in Italy from €99 and returns within 14 days of delivery. For help with sizing, message us on WhatsApp with your child's foot measurement.
