How to choose the first pair of shoes?
The first steps of a child are unforgettable and elevating moments for all parents. These first little moves are a bit uncertain, but more the brave, taking a long time for the little one to bring them to perfection. The shoes in which they set out exploring the world are of utmost importance, for these are the shoes in which they will be able to develop their sense of balance and their proper posture, which is essential.
A good pair of shoes help the babies develop a healthy instep, and through this, also a healthy posture. The wrong choice of shoes can hinder these, they can even deform their feet. The 'zero mile' feet of the babies are covered with soft fat-pads, therefore they have almost no instep arch at all. Training and moving their sole muscles and ligaments have an unevadable role in developing their insteps. The most intensive period of developing the sole muscles and the muscles around the ankles is the toddler age, when children learn to walk. That is why it is essential for them to walk barefoot as much as possible, or in soft soled shoes providing the advantages of barefoot experience.
In Liliputi shoes, kids walk more confidently than in stiff soled shoes. They can easily rise to tiptoe, get a hold on the ground with their toes, this way they learn to balance more quickly. The backside muscles of the leg are doing a job only when tiptoeing, kids cannot even work them in stiff soled shoes. The soles of the babies are constructed of cartilage, the ossification only ends at the age of 2 or 3, whereas the insteps develop all the way until the age of 10 or 12. To find the right shoes for them, in which they can develop healthily and adequately, is important even after the first toddler years. Liliputi shoues are the best you can give to your child to support the healthy development of his sole, but they can't replace rubber sole shoes completly. It is recomended to have rubber sole shoes as well, for wet and scratchy surfaces and for activities that would harm the soft leather.
What should a pair of good and healthy baby shoes be like?
A pair of good baby shoes:
- help in developing the muscles around the ankles and the sole muscles
- assist the development of the sense of balance with soft/flexible soles
- let the child’s sole explore the challenges of an uneven terrain
- have an appropriate, shock-bluntig facility, in accordance with the wearer’s age and
the circumstances of the shoe use (in many cases, soft sole shoes are made without a soft midsole) - have appropriately spacey toe-caps allowing the toes to spread comfortably
- are made of a breathable material
- and of course, are not too big or too small for the wearer
Liliputi shoes in use
Liliputi shoes are perfectly suitable for babies to be carried around in and also suitable for indoor activities, especially when learning to walk. However, Liliputi shoes are best used for babies who already move around mostly on their feet. The soft leather helps adjust to the movements of the feet, ensuring this way the advantages of barefoot walking.
Nevertheless, it is unable to resist such strong mechanical impacts as their synthetic or rubber counterparts might. Our shoes are not suitable for any use that exposes the soft leather to heavy physical impact (such as crawling, ballance bike, or use on any coarse, scratchy surfaces). They are engineered mainly for indoor use, or dry outdoors, first and foremost on natural ground.
Liliputi soft sole boots can be used in dry wintertime too, for their woollen lining keeps the little ones' feet cosy and warm.
Nevertheless, it is unable to resist such strong mechanical impacts as their synthetic or rubber counterparts might. Our shoes are not suitable for any use that exposes the soft leather to heavy physical impact (such as crawling, ballance bike, or use on any coarse, scratchy surfaces). They are engineered mainly for indoor use, or dry outdoors, first and foremost on natural ground.
Liliputi soft sole boots can be used in dry wintertime too, for their woollen lining keeps the little ones' feet cosy and warm.
We all heard the saying: 'a dirty child is a happy child'. This is somewhat true for shoes too. If you choose soft sole shoes for your child, you make a decision that the healthy development of your kid's feet are more important in the long run than having immaculate clean shoes. The soft, baby-friendly, untreated leather does not have the same abrasion-resistance indicators as the stiff soled ones, or synthetic shoes with arch support. However, one thing is for sure: the little one's feet have a better time in these shoes then in any other kind of footwear. And even like this, most Liliputi shoes have rarely only one master. They are most of the time inherited to one or even two younger siblings.
Soft sole shoes are widely favoured by kids in day care or kindergardens as indoors shoes. It is really easy for them to recognize their own shoe on the shelves due to the unique patterns. If you are lucky, you can even pick a pair of shoes with your child's dearest toy or animal on them.
Liliputi shoes built with care
- Our shoes are easy to put on, and they stay on thanks to their flexible ankle straps. You might be surprised, nevertheless, how much your kid will not even try to take them off. On the contrary, they will be nagging you to help them put them on….
You do not have to tie laces even with the Urban models, for the flexible lace is fixed on the sides by two firm knots. If the original tightness doesn't fit well, you only have to readjust it only once, and from then on, the shoe will be easy to put on, and will stay on for sure. - The vamp of the shoe is made of soft, quality napa leather. The leather is toxic free, therefore you don't have to be worried if your child takes her favourite shoe into her mouth. The natural leather based footwear is breathable, so the child's feet sweat less, or do not sweat at all.
- The sole of the soft sole baby shoes has three layers, a 3mm flexible-fibre midsole ensuring thermic insulation and shock relief for the joints when running about on hard ground. The insole is made of breathable vegan leather, or in some cases soft cow-skin.
- Our shoes are manufactured with two kinds of outsoles.
The classic soft sole shoes are made of baby-friendly napa leather. This is usually the counterside of the leather that we use for the vamp.
The soles of our paws models are made of a special two-layered material. The slip-proof, hexagon patterned outsole is matched by a breathable vegan leather. The paw icon on the pics can help you find them easier in our web shop.
Paws or classic soft?
This depends mostly on where and how you are planning to use your Liliputis.
- Both types can be used indoors and - in dry weather - outdoors too.
- Both models are equally soft and provide a good alternative to barefoot walking. They ensure the development of ligaments and sole muscles, as well as provide free movement for the child's feet.
- The difference lies within their degree of abrasion- and slipping-resistance, the way they should be cared for, and their price.
- The leather soles should be kept away from humidity and it is recommended to lightly rub them over with light sandpaper, so they keep their fluffiness, therefore maintain their adherence qualities. The abrasion-resistance of leather is lower than that of the paws sole. Therefore it is good to have a picture where (on what surface) you are planning to use the shoes. If you plan to use them as indoor shoes and/or dry weather outdoor shoes (mostly natural ground), you can choose either of them. If you are planning to use them more in outdoors environment, perhaps sometimes on a humid surface or asphalt, or you have slippery floor at home, choose the paws models.
Water resistance
Liliputi shoes are not water resistant. In rainy, humid weather switch over to rubber soles.
If your Liliputi shoes get in touch with water, simply leave them to dry in room temperature, do not put them on radiators, and do not use hairdryers.
If your Liliputi shoes get in touch with water, simply leave them to dry in room temperature, do not put them on radiators, and do not use hairdryers.
Shoe care
The vamp side of the shoes can be cleaned with wet wipes, and can be treated with uncoloured leather-care cream. In the case of the leather sole soft classics, check the fluffiness of the soles from time to time, and rub them lightly with sandpaper if needed. The soles of the paws models can be cleaned with moist wipes or soft-bristle shoe brushes.
How to choose the size
Kids' feet grow really quickly at toddler age. They can grow 2 or 3 sizes within a year. Liliputi shoes embrace a bigger range of sizes than normal shoes, therefore can be used for longer periods. In the case of Liliputi shoes, it is not really a problem if the shoes are a bit bigger. We manufacture our soft sole shoues from S size to XXXXL, which covers the age range from 6 months to 4-6 years. Before your purchase, you should definitely measure the feet of your child. Having done that, finding the right size will not be a problem. Just follow the simple instructions in this video: click here!
- Have your kid stand on a sheet of paper, and make a round drawing of both their feet.
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Measure the distance between the two farthest points of both feet.
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If the two feet are not the same length, choose size based on the bigger one.
Look at the size table (always check the size chart on the selected product page) and choose a size that is a little bit, (5mm, but not more than 10mm) bigger than what you measured. If the child's foot is the exact same size az the shoe, the soft skin will be exposed to a constant rub from the inside, and can therefore wear off more easily, getting a hole at the toe-cap.
Click on the size that suits you and choose from the available models:
Our raw materials
Liliputi® shoes are only made of certified, baby-friendly materials (not fixed with any toxic chemicals). All of them produced in the European Union.
- Leather: the leathers we use are coloured with natural dyes that are ree of any heavy metal ingredient, that is why in exceptional cases, such as humidity, sweaty feet, they can discolour slightly.
- Breathable vegan leather (lining and sole): it is leather-like material that manifests many favourable characteristics. It is 100% breathable, ensuring constant ventilation for the inside of the shoe. It is odourless, antimicrobial (resists bacteria and fungi). Due to its thermic quality, it keeps the tiny feet comfortable. It has Oeko-tex certificate, it is environment-friendly and does not contain chrome(VI) chemicals. It is, moreover a recyclable raw material.
- Wool: we use natural wool for the lining of the boots.
Sustainability
We live up to, and many times even surpass all EU norms concerning harmful substances and enviroment protection.
We pack our shoes in recycled paper boxes and we use exclusively reciycling packing materials for our shipments as well. In the course of our manufacturing and purchasing processes, we pay special attention to sustainability. If need be, we repair our products in warranty rather than replace them. We do so because of a strong sense of responsibility for a liveable and sustainable environment for the upcoming generations.
We pack our shoes in recycled paper boxes and we use exclusively reciycling packing materials for our shipments as well. In the course of our manufacturing and purchasing processes, we pay special attention to sustainability. If need be, we repair our products in warranty rather than replace them. We do so because of a strong sense of responsibility for a liveable and sustainable environment for the upcoming generations.
Orthopaedist opinion
'As our children are learning to walk, it is essential that we give them the kind a footwear that is closest to being barefoot'.
Liliputi soft sole shoes, as an alternative to barefoot, is an opportunity for developing efficient muscle activity and the formation of a good instep arch later.
Liliputi qualities
- soft sole, flexible and crumplable in every way
- the shoe-part embracing the bridge and the toes is rounded, well spaced and extremely soft
- it is not reinforced in any direction
- easy to put on with the help of the flexible ankle straps, not squeezing the child's feet and adjusts to the thickness of the child's ankles
Evaluation and opinion
Liliputi soft sole shoes give a perfect opportunity for the child to move around as if barefooted. They do not hinder the movement of the child's feet. This way the child can sense the unevenness of the terrain, and is able to balance well, which is very important for her later development. They give a chance for the child, through ensuring a proper muscle activity, to develop a proper instep arch. While learning to walk, this footwear is suitable for preventing harmful deformations of the child's feet, which sometimes can occur in this period if he/she wears stiff sole footwear.
I heartily recommend Liliputi shoes for children learning to walk as well as for toddlers, these shoes being great alternatives for barefoot walking!'
Dr. Zsuzsanna Lengyel pediatric orthopaedist head physician
Opinions from our customers
We have received countless feedbacks from several parents, how their kids walk more easily and firmly in their soft sole shoes, as compared to other kids, or compared to how they themselves walked in other shoes. The ease of putting these shoes on is widely appreciated by many parents, and their kids never want to take these shoes off. However, the biggest reassurance to us is the fact that the kids - as dozens of parents have reported - are so far from wanting to get rid of these shoes that they even fetch their Liliputis to their parents, communicating without words how much they would like to put them on.
- "This is our first pair of shoes she never wants to take off. They are obviously comfy for her, and she makes brave and safe steps in them, unlike in her other shoes"
- "Ever since we have our Liliputi shoues, my boy doesn't want to take them off. He hardly ever lets me take them off at badtime, and he brings them to me to put them on first thing in the morning."
Let's see the Liliputi soft baby shoes!
