First shoes, and the weeks before them

Most babies do not need structured shoes until they are walking outside. Before that, a soft bootie is there to keep a foot warm and to survive being pulled off in the car.

Look for a tie or a fold, not a tight elastic. If you can see a mark when you take it off, it is too snug. Toes should still spread.

When outdoor shoes finally make sense, buy them for the foot that exists, not the one you hope arrives next month. A thumb’s width at the toe is the old rule because it is still right.