Walking in barefoot shoes encourages the muscles in the foot to become stronger. For toddlers, this means that they learn to move in harmony with the way their body was designed to walk. Here are our six favourites.
WILDLING SHOES
Set up by husband and wife team, this German company makes all their shoes by hand. “Our shoes interfere with the foot as little as possible protecting feet from injury and weather without impacting their natural functions in any way,” says founder, Anna. This ‘Honeybee’ design is made from 100% organic twill with temperature and moisture regulating properties. Sizes start at 18 (around six months). wildling.shoes
INCH BLUE
Rhiannon Owen, mum of four, set up this shoe company 20 years ago. “I made the first pair at my kitchen table heavily pregnant and with very limited sewing skills,” she laughs. Recommended as the next best thing to bare feet, the shoes are made from soft leather and are light and flexible. Wide range of designs with elasticated ankle to ensure they stay on. Sizes start at small for birth to six months. inchblue.com
BE LENKA
Company co-founder, mother of three and Paralympian, Lenka Cenigova is an an avid babywearing mother and barefoot shoe wearer. The Slovakian company makes gorgeous bright barefoot shoes for adults and kids starting at size 25 (around 2.5 years). These insulated leather barefoot shoes have an ergonomic foot-shaped design, wide toe box and a flexible 6 mm sole, designed especially for kids’ growing feet. belenka.com
TIKKI SHOES
Tikki are a fun colourful range of shoes handmade by a family company from Romania. The husband and wife team started crafting shoes shortly before their eldest child took his first steps. Soles are zero drop and range from a 2mm – 4mm in thickness, offering a true barefoot experience for little ones. These Harlequin Triangle Shoes are vegan and come with organic cotton lining. Sizes start at 18 (around six months). tikki.ro
POCO NIDO
Founded ten years ago in Sheffield by Catherine Lobley, footwear designer and mother of two, Poco Nido produces barefoot friendly shoes that are simple and functional. They have a hard wearing soles suitable for occasional outdoor use. The shoes come in a wide range of fun, colourful designs. We love that sizes start really small and can be used to keep the tiniest of feet cosy - sizes starts at 17 (around 3 months). poconido.com
HEDLEY FIELD
Alice Hedley launched her small UK based business eight years ago, handcrafting baby and toddler soft soled footwear. Each pair of shoes is handmade and personalised to order using vegetable tanned and chrome-free eco-leathers. Sizes range from around 3 months to four years. As well as these gorgeous moccasin, we love the high tops, both of which can be designed to suit you. hedleyfield.com
