* Never use previously worn shoes. The previous child will have left its imprint and will have inevitably deformed them to suit its own characteristics. * Never buy shoes that are too big. They may be uncomfortable or even painful (rubbing). * Remember that a baby's shoe size corresponds to the foot measurement + a margin of 1 to 1.5cm. * A Shoe should have leather uppers and lining in order to allow the skin to "breathe", which does not occur with synthetic materials * The shoe should have sufficiently high upper (the part of the shoe that covers the foot)in order to prevent the foot from coming out of the shoe. *Experts recommend Young children should have their feet measured every two months, if not more often. * Footwear may not be the first thing you think about with a newborn baby, but foot health is still important. From birth, children's feet start growing and developing, so it's natural to start thinking about what's best to put on their feet. Socks and tights are fine, but make sure they are not too tight. However barefoot is best at this stage. * As a parent, it is important to always choose stable, properly fitted shoes of appropriate width, made of leather or canvass uppers.Shoes should have flexible soles with plenty of cushioning and room for toes. Finally, don't forget that well fitting socks are also important to avoid toes being scrunched up in the shoes. CRAWLING When a baby is just sitting, crawling and toddling, some foot protection is required if the foot is exposed to the cold or outside. It is important to stree here that where possible , you should allow feet to be left barefoot. FIRST STEPS For a child who has started walking, they need to have shoes fitted by an expert to allow for growth and movement, and styles with a strap or a buckle are ideal. Be careful - a child's foot is so flexible in the early stages, it can easily be squeezed into an ill- fitting shoe. At this stage it is not appropriate to have scaled down versions of adults shoes just for fashion statements. ALWAYS REMEMBER;- "YOU ONLY GET ONE PAIR OF FEET SO MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AFTER THEM."