Baby Shoes: Your Questions Answered

You want to know the facts, so we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions about baby shoes. See below.

1. What are the best first shoes for babies?

Attipas shoes are the best first shoes for babies. Their unique design allows babies to learn to walk in the most natural way possible. Attipas baby shoes mimic barefoot walking and have been developed based on 7 years of research at the Seoul University in South Korea. Attipas are also the most economical baby shoes, and can be passed down to siblings or friends once babies grow out of them.

2. When should you start putting shoes on a baby?

Babies should stay barefoot as long as possible when learning to walk, however this is not always practical. Generally, when a baby is standing or cruising you can introduce a soft-soled pre-walking shoe such as Attipas to help them learn to walk and get their balance. 

3. Should babies wear shoes to learn to walk?

Barefoot is always best for babies when they are learning to walk. However, when you are ready to take your baby outside to walk, you will find that a pair of shoes is needed to protect their feet. Soft-soled prewalkers such as Attipas protect babies' feet but allow them to learn to walk in the most natural way possible.

4. Are hard soled shoes bad for baby?

Hard soled shoes are not recommended for babies when learning to walk. Studies show that shoes of a heavy nature prevent one of the most nerve-rich parts of our body - our feet - from sending important messages from the environment to our brains, which may delay walking. As a result babies should be barefoot as much as possible, and when this isn't possible, babies should wear lightweight and flexible pre-walking shoes such as Attipas.

5. What are the best shoes to help babies walk?

Babies should learn to walk without shoes as much as possible, such as in the house or outdoors on soft surfaces such as grass or sand. When walking outdoors on rough or dangerous surfaces, babies should wear suitable prewalking shoes such as Attipas to protect their feet and help them learn to walk.

6. How do I encourage my baby to walk?

Babies will learn to walk at their own pace, with some toddlers starting at 8 months and others starting at 18 months! You can encourage your baby to learn to walk by helping them move while holding your fingers or encouraging them to walk around furniture such as coffee tables, chairs or lounges. 

7. Are Robeez good for walking babies?

While we can't comment on other brands of prewalking shoes, we can confirm that Attipas baby shoes are the most superior baby shoes on the market as they have been developed based on 7 years of research at the Seoul University and have been proven to mimic barefoot walking. Attipas help babies learn to walk in the most natural way possible, while still providing protection on their feet. 

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.