Newborn Crochet Booties – Protect Your Baby’s Feet From the Cold!
Your baby’s toes are constantly in action, wiggling and grasping, inside or outside the shoe, which is nature’s way of developing strength for their feet through exercise. Therefore, parents must never allow shoes or socks to interfere with this toe-wiggling. Until the child begins to walk, that toe action is virtually the only exercise the foot will get. Let’s take a look at a list of newborn crochet booties that won’t constrict your baby’s toe movement.
Protect Your Baby’s Feet From the Cold
Some parents believe that until children learn how to walk, shoes mostly serve a decorative purpose and are merely a fashion choice. I have heard several times parents say:
“Why would you put shoes on a child that is not even walking yet?!”
I always tell them to keep in mind that newborns aren’t moving around too much and this leads to their feet getting cold easily. However, a pair of newborn crochet booties will do much more than that! A pair of crochet booties will keep your child warm during the cold season and cool during the summer season. It is important to understand that if you decide to put booties on your baby, they must not be too tight!
Soft-Soled or Hard-Soled Shoes for Babies?
Did you know that hard-soled shoes might actually impair the proper development of your baby’s feet? Your child will not need shoes until he is starting to stand and take a couple of steps at a time.
I want to clarify one thing: Wearing newborn booties is not the same as wearing shoes! Please don’t confuse them! In this article, I will describe the best newborn crochet booties. However, I wrote a post where I describe the best robeez baby shoes for toddlers who are learning how to walk.
What is the Main Purpose of Crochet Booties?
The main reason to put booties on a newborn baby is protection from cold and warm weather. Newborn booties serve as a covering of the foot, as they provide protection from the elements and extreme weather. They should be fitted to allow for full movement of the foot since the booties should not touch either the side or the top of the baby’s foot. The foot should be unrestricted to function properly inside the shoe.
A lot of parents have raised the question as to whether their infant’s feet should be protected from the cold. The answer is yes! A good rule is: if the hands need to be covered, so do the feet. Newborn booties can be useful during the cold weather season. However, the foot of an infant is best left uncovered when possible.
How to Allow Your Baby’s Feet to Develop Naturally?
Parents should leave their babies’ feet without shoes until the child can stand independently and take a few steps around the house. Wool booties are usually used for activities inside the house due to their breathable and comfortable nature, and they also keep children warm during the colder seasons.
As soon as your baby is old enough for some outdoor play, then you will need baby shoes that are still soft and flexible, but with a more protective and thicker sole. I created a post where I describe the best first walking shoes for a baby who is learning how to walk.
Do You Live in an Area with Cold Weather? Get Booties for Your Baby!
Newborn booties can be made out of any material, however, a natural fabric will always be better than a synthetic fabric since it will allow the foot to breathe better. Wool booties are very flexible and will fit on your baby’s feet just like a pair of socks.
Wool is a great insulator, and during the winter season, newborn baby booties made out of wool will keep your baby’s feet warm and active. Wool can also absorb a high amount of moisture and wool fibers naturally have anti-bacterial properties that make them odor resistant.
Parents should allow themselves some time when researching newborn baby booties. Avoid booties made out of low-quality materials since they can create a myriad of problems such as skin allergies or rashes.
Newborn Booties or Socks for Your Baby?
You can’t go wrong with either. However, please take into consideration that if you are going to provide your baby with a pair of socks, they must be seamless! Remember how I explained the importance of babies to have enough room in their shoes or socks to be able to wiggle their toes? That is their only way of exercising their feet. Certain socks that are not seamless can constrict the free movement of the toes inside the socks.
Remember that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies don’t actually need to wear shoes until they start to walk independently. Booties for newborns and babies’ first walking shoes are for protection from the weather and the elements.
Below you can find a selection of the best newborn crochet booties for babies. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Newborn Crochet Booties
- Order the boot style Bixbee by UGG on Zappos
- 100% Terry cloth
- Adjustable hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- Boot opening measures approximately 7″ around
- Machine washable
- Order the boot style Winter Boots by Zutano on Amazon
- Genuine leather
- Adjustable hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- High-density foam insole to give babies added cushion while moving around on hard surface
- Order the boot style Bixbee by UGG on Zappos
- 100% Terry cloth
- Adjustable hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- Boot opening measures approximately 7″ around
- Machine washable
- Order the boot style Booties Newborn by Bufims on Amazon
- 100% polyester fleece material
- Hook-and-loop closure and gentle elastic at the ankle
- Non-slip sole
- Order the boot style Winter Boots by Zutano on Amazon
- Genuine leather
- Adjustable hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- High-density foam insole to give babies added cushion while moving around on hard surface
- Order the boot style Furry Baby Booties by Zutano on Amazon
- 100% polyester fleece material
- Hook-and-loop closure and gentle elastic at the ankle
- Non-slip sole
Do you have a newborn baby and are thinking of providing some protection to his/her feet? Have you tried a pair of newborn booties before? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below so we can all benefit from them!
I will continue to post informative articles penned by me that address important topics such as this one.
If this is not the cutest site I ever did see!! My sister just had a baby boy and I wanted to get him a present for his homecoming. These little booties are just to cute! I will definitely come back and check it out. The idea of crocheting did not cross my mind until now.
Alexsis,
These booties will make a great present I believe! Thank you for stopping by.
Those are really cute! I have a 6-week old and I’m constantly worry about his feet getting cold. Right now we put him in one of those pants that come with an in-built sock, or just plain socks. We had a pair of crocheted socks and those are the most comfortable. Unfortunately, he outgrew it by week 4. He’s a big baby. I would so recommend parents to get these to protect your babies’s feet.
Eddy,
I am curios to know if you liked your pair of crocheted socks? Most parents I have spoken to seem very happy with them.
Well I know I’m not a baby anymore but I must say those do look pretty warm. I wonder if babies can talk at the age of 2 because I’m not sure at what age really they can start telling you things like their feet being cold or their food being too hot. Hopefully the parent would be careful enough to watch out for things like that though as they would be more intimate with the child than anyone else.
Chris,
Once children reach age 2, kids might start to combine two words to make simple sentences. They most likely will be able to express themselves and let the parents know if they feel any sort of shoe discomfort.However, when it comes to these type of booties, the parents need to make the decision whether the babies feet might need the protection from the colder weather.
My grandson is always wearing socks, does this restrict his movement as well? I never really thought about the movement aspect of little Williams feet until I read your article. I will talk to my son and enlighten him. Although I think he is getting tired of Grand Paw advise I will just send him to your site.
Thanks,
Grandpaw Mike
Mike,
There is nothing wrong with wearing socks, as long as they are the right size. I tend to see a lot of children in the store that are wearing socks that are too small, and that WILL constrict the child’s toes. I explain what a negative impact this can have, specially for babies who exercise their feet by moving their toes. Make sure you provide William with a sock that is seamless, so he can freely move his toes. You can read more about this here:
Seamless Socks for Kids – Stop the Struggle of Putting Socks On!
This is good to know. I’m sure many parents don’t understand child development. I remember seeing my old baby shoes and they had rigid bottoms. I’m not even sure I had booties. Nothing like what I see here. You’re right though, newborns need to be as “free” as possible. And I might add, that’s totally cute!
Jason,
A lot of parents do not provide their babies with booties because they feel like the child does not need them, and that is okay. Booties only serve as protection from the cold or extreme warm temperatures. I am glad that you found the website informative.
Hi Elvalen… don’t the booties look ever so cute!
I agree that it’s good for baby to wear little booties such as these because as you say, all that wriggling around their feet do is so important for their development.
And why wouldn’t their feet get cold? If the weather is cold, there’s a good chance their feet are cold unless they are wearing something like this.
I can remember my mother used to knit slippers for us all to wear… I don’t mean as children, but later in life she seemed to really enjoy doing it… and we enjoyed wearing them.
Good information.
Marilyn
Marilyn,
I am glad that you found the information helpful. If the baby is taken outside the house during a cold weather season there is a high chance that his/her feet will get cold. These booties will protect their feet from the cold! Thank you for stopping by.