Babies' feet don't actually contain bones; they are made up of soft cartilage that will develop into dense bone throughout their childhood years. Because of this, babies' feet are extremely pliable, so pressure placed on them by tight shoes or even socks can be detrimental to proper development. When buying shoes for your child, it's a good idea to get them properly fitted at a shoe store to ensure that they are a good fit. Tight shoes will hinder the development of the bones in their feet, and loose shoes can cause problems such as blisters. If you are measuring their feet yourself, be sure to measure both the length and width of the feet. Your child should still be able to wiggle their toes at the ends of the shoes.

It's also important not to use shoes that have been handed down from other children, as the shoes will have changed shape slightly to fit the foot shape of the other individual child.  Since very few people have the same foot shape, this imprint of the other child can actually cause your child’s feet to not get the proper support that his or her feet need. The same rules apply to socks, one-piece outfits, and bedclothes. As babies' feet grow so fast, it can be tempting to buy footwear slightly larger than they need in order to let them grow into it; even though it will save you money, it is important to note that it could cause problems for your child's feet. Measure their feet regularly and replace their footwear with a larger size whenever they need it.