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 Ask Dr. Jana
Shoes for a 9½-Month-Old | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
My 9½-month-old daughter is cruising slowly now along the furniture, and my mother insists that she needs to wear shoes daily to get used to them. She also insists that these shoes be Stride Rites. I have tried to tell her what our pediatrician says about being barefoot indoors, but she refuses to listen. Do you have any other ideas? She keeps telling me that my 19-month-old nephew's parents followed her advice and that I should, too.— Help! in NC, USA | | | ANSWER |
August 1, 2001 | | | Dear Help,
You are right on target when it comes to the most current recommendations regarding shoes for children who are learning to walk--that is, they are not necessary and it is easiest for a child to learn to walk barefoot.
I get the sense, however, that the real question at hand is how to deal with your mother and her advice. Given that you've already told her what your pediatrician recommends, I'm not sure whether arming yourself with proof straight from drSpock.com will change your mother's mind either. Every mother has a unique relationship (and issues) with her own mother, and it's up to you to decide if it's really important to stand up to your mother or to give in on issues that are not going to put your child in any real danger. You may need to pick your battles wisely, and this may not be one worth fighting over. Although it is not necessary to put your daughter in shoes, allowing your mother to outfit her with a little pair of Stride Rites, or any other type of comfortable (and preferably soft-soled) shoes, shouldn't pose her any real problem. At the same time, this may be a nice opportunity to get a pair of shoes to protect your daughters feet from rough, sharp, or outdoor surfaces and to keep her feet warm in the winter time.
I'll leave the decision up to you, and given that your daughter is about to be a full-fledged "toddler," you might be interested in checking out our large section of information on childproofing your home.— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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