rcn@hou2d.UUCP (R.C.Newberry) (01/09/86)
The discussion of barefootedness has brought up a question in my mind.
What is the best way for infants to learn to walk; barefoot, with socks,
with sneakers or with the Stride Rites?? My major concern is saftey
for the child and physical development. I do not care about speed
of learning. Does anyone have any references that they can site?
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Rosemarie Newberry
AT&T-BL, Middletown, NJ
201-949-9104
{ihnp4!hou2d!rcn}co@cbsck.UUCP (Corinna Owens) (01/10/86)
I read from a book on baby care that it is preferable to let children learn to walk without hard shoes. Bare feet or socks will allow the child to use the muscles in his or her feet, strengthening them. I forgot which book I read this from. The book may have the original Dr. Spock baby care book which I stole from my mom. -- Corinna Owens [... cbosgd!] cbscc!co
ac4@pucc-j (Tom Putnam) (01/10/86)
In article <839@hou2d.UUCP> rcn@hou2d.UUCP (R.C.Newberry) writes: >What is the best way for infants to learn to walk; barefoot, with socks, >with sneakers or with the Stride Rites?? Speaking from recent experience with one toddler (doesn't that make me an expert?), we had really good luck with simple soft leather Indian moccasins. We were fortunate to receive a couple of pairs as baby gifts. They give the child better traction on tile and wood floors than socks (and we do wear socks in this climate to keep the feet warm). They also help keep the socks from wearing out and getting dirty, but I suppose that is an incidental advantage. From what we read and heard, you should avoid anything that is stiff or heavy (don't buy the moccasins with soles). Our daughter starting walking just before she was 9 months old and managed to wear out 2 different pairs, but she also outgrew them just as fast, so wearing them out doesn't much matter. She is now into her third pair at age 19 months. We finally bought her some soft sneakers to wear outside, but she loves to wear her moccasins around the house. One small problem: They may be hard to find in the stores. We were fortunate to have friends and relatives who live in New Mexico! -- Tom Putnam, Manager of User Services Purdue University Computing Center ARPANET: ac4@asc.Purdue.EDU or ac4@purdue-asc.ARPA BITNET: PUTNAMT@PURCCVM CSNET: ac4@purdue-asc-tn USENET: ac4@pucc-j.UUCP USMAIL: Mathematical Sciences Bldg. West Lafayette, IN 47907 PHONE: 317/494-1787