Choosing the best baby shoes for your baby

 Today's guest author has lots to tell us about the most adorable feet around...

and the shoes they need... baby's shoes! Take a moment to read this post! 

Baby feet are possibly one of the most adorable things on the planet. Closely followed by baby shoes. After your baby arrives, it won't be long before you find yourself in a baby shoe shop trying hard to resist the urge to buy up the whole stock, because modern baby shoes are always appealing.

The range in styles, colors and designs of baby shoes is huge. Entering a baby shoe shop is like walking into a sweetshop full of twinkling jewel-like goodies so delicious you couldn't possibly choose just one.

  

Images courtesy of Vertbaudet

Your best option is to shop online for baby shoes. This means you can browse at leisure with the added bonus of not having to take a wriggling baby along to the shops with you.

The range at Vertbaudet is extensive and you will find clear sizing information to help with your selection. Shoes are divided into three categories.

Shoes for Crawling Babies cover the 0-10 month age range. Baby shoes at this age do not serve any real purpose other than to keep little toes warm, offer protection and look cute.

The Baby First Step category features shoes in all sorts of designs and brands such as Kickers and Chipie are available. Find trendy colorful designs for baby boys and girls, many in practical slip on styles. As these will be the first shoes your baby walks in, make sure they offer adequate support and that there is flexibility in the sole. Leather or soft rubber soles are best.

The final Vertbaudet category is Baby Walking, and this is where the choice and variety really begins to open up. Choose from sturdier shoes that offer ideal support to little feet. For the girls you will find anything from Ballerina Pumps, Ankle Boots and Mary Janes in metallic pinks, soft suedes and shiny patent leathers. The boys are kept happy with colourful trainers and boots, rugged sandals and smart slip ons. A range of wellies and slippers adds to the choice on offer.

Consider practicality when buying baby shoes. Avoid laces and difficult fastenings, velcro and slip on designs are ideal. That said, it won't take long for the average baby to work out how to remove a simple velcro fastening. It's your choice. Vertbaudet host a range of styles that have specific features to help putting shoes on your baby a much easier task. Buy shoes in fabrics that are breathable such as leather, canvas or cloth as this prevents your baby's feet from overheating.

Images courtesy of Vertbaudet

For active babies on the go, make sure the soles on their shoes are textured and offer enough grip. You don't want to risk them slipping over.

Be sure to regularly check your baby's shoes fit correctly. Up to the age of two and a half babies feet grow really quickly. A check every four-six weeks is recommended to ensure the comfort and healthy development of your baby's feet. Never buy baby shoes bigger than you need in the hope of getting more wear out of them. It is essential that shoes are exactly the correct size or they will not offer the right support and problems with gait and walking development can occur.

Barrie Smith is a an author from Vertbaudet, which offers a range of baby clothes, children’s clothes, maternity wear and home collections for you and your little one’s and with their Mid Season Sale is now on, there’s various items reduced by up to 50% off. Visit Vertbaudet now at www.vertbaudet.co.uk.

Finding the perfect pregnancy shoes

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life, 

but sometimes she needs a little help finding shoes

that will keep her feet feeling fabulous. Today's guest blogger Olivia

 will help us find the right shoes for this special time of our lives!

Once you've got your positive pregnancy test, the chances are that you will be running to the lady's room every five minutes because of the onset of pregnancy signs  like morning sickness and a magically re-filling bladder. Later on, as your baby bump grows, your center of gravity will decidedly shift. All that extra weight will also put some strain on your lower body, especially the ankles and feet. And then there are swollen ankles! But where do find the perfect pregnancy shoes?

It's obvious that stiletos are out. In fact, women wondering how to get pregnant  can start with ditching killer heels, along with taking their folic acid! They put pressure on all the wrong places, make most pregnant women look and feel really clumsy, and definitely encourage falls and slips.  Pregnant women should also stay away from shoes that make them scrunch up their feet because they are too small, or the back keeps popping off. 

Flip-flops make some women tense up their feet constantly, though others are used to them and find them comfy. Tense feet may cause cramps, and will affect the way you walk, and your body's posture. Shoelaces are a nightmare for moms to-be who can't even see their own feet. I was stubborn and stuck to my lace-up Timberland boots, but surrendered in my seventh month of pregnancy... after I had to ask a shop-assistant at a maternity store to help me get them back on! Boy, that was embarrassing. 

Finding the right shoes is clearly not as easy as it sounds! Ballet pumps may seem like the ideal shoe to pregnant women who like to look fashionable or have a dress code to adhere to at work. But beware — those shoes with a very thin sole and no heel at all won't offer an expectant mom the kind of support she needs. Shoes with a sole that's completely smooth underneath are risky, because it's easy to slip up on them, particularly while you are expecting a baby.

What does that leave? Trainers are probably the most comfy and they keep the wearer's health in mind, but they are hardly suitable for every situation. In hotter weather, pump-style shoes with a tiny heel can be a great choice for pregnant ladies who like something more elegant. Pick good, flexible leather or fabric for those swollen ankle days — and make sure that they either offer good support themselves, or that you add orthopedic insoles. During the winter, boots with the same qualities are probably the best choice. Do make sure you can get them on unassisted before you buy! 

Olivia, a mom of two, is passionate about female health and fertility. Visit her blog,  Trying To Conceive , for everything from how to get pregnant to weight loss after pregnancy.

---

Party in Style and Stay Smiling

 Today we are excited to have a guest post
from Amy Fowler that can help us make sure our feet
not only look good but feel that way too! Enjoy!

It is hard enough coping with blisters when you hit the town in a new pair of heels, let alone suffering from backache the next morning. However more and more women are believed to be suffering from back problems due to the height of their heels.

And this backache doesn’t discriminate against age either. 18, 26 or 40… wearing too high a heel can cause existing back pain to worsen.

So what can you do? Ditch the heels for good?

No. All you need to do is learn how to adapt, and more importantly understand how heels can worsen your back pain.

How can heels cause back pain?

You might be reading this and thinking, if heels caused backache then surely no one would wear them, but the reality is some people are more susceptible to back pain than others, and this is partially due to how you wear your heels.

For instance, did you know that wearing high heels all day long can lead to a shortening in your calf muscles, resulting in pressure over the front of your ankles and the flattening of the arch across the bridge of your foot? It is hard to imagine that wearing heels can do so much, but long term they can cause problems to your posture.

Another problem with wearing heels all day is the fact that your hip and bum muscles have to work overtime in order to help you stand up straight and resist the pull of gravity which is pushing your body forward. Work these muscles too much and this can cause you to trap the sciatic nerve in your spine, resulting in sciatica.

So I can never wear heels?

Of course we are not suggesting that you can never wear heels. But if you are interested in alleviating your back pain and benefiting for natural pain relief this holiday season, then it is best to try some of the following techniques when you next hit the town:

1. Carry a spare pair of shoes – this may not sound very practical, especially when you’ve only got a small purse, but carrying a pair of ballet pumps when you are out will make the walk back home a lot easier on your back.
   
   
2. Keep limber – and we are not talking about dancing. Before you embark on a night out, make sure you are stretched and limber. This will help to loosen your calf muscles and prevent any nerves getting trapped.
   
   Some good techniques for doing this include:
   
    - Straightening your leg and pushing your heel away before pulling your toes towards you. This will help to stretch the back of your calf. Alternatively,
    - Try to pick a pencil from off the floor with your toes. You might feel silly doing this, but practice this technique every night and you’ll have no problem hitting the town.
   
   
3. Wear a smaller heel – at the end of the day, wearing a 4 inch heel isn’t everything. If your back is suffering, it is important that you acknowledge this pain and opt for a smaller heel.
   
   Now we are not saying that you have to go completely flat, but instead try to find a smaller heel which feels comfortable and puts less strain on your back.
   
   
4. Remember to take a break – whenever you are not dancing or walking, try to take a break and sit down. Your heels will look equally as attractive when you are sitting down at the bar as they will when you are swaying away on the dance floor. We suggest, taking a break every 30 minutes if you can and slipping your heels off. At the same time, try to stretch your calves so they don’t go stiff.

As you can see, you don’t have to let backache spoil a night out. Simply remember to acknowledge your limits,  recognize what you are most comfortable in and showcase your heels in other ways. Bar or dance floor, with the right heels you can enjoy a night out free of pain.

This article was written by Amy Fowler, who is interested in methods of natural pain relief.