Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes
by: Kirsten Hawkins
Baby's first Nike's may be absolutely adorable, but are they necessary? According to most experts - and not just modern ones but for at least the last thirty years - babies don't need shoes till they're up and walking around. Even at that point, it's good for the little tikes to get in lots of barefoot time so they get used to their balance and how their little toesies work.
Still, by the time they're spending more time on their feet than on their knees, it's time to get them into a pair of shoes, if for no other reason than to protect those feet from stubbed toes and other injuries. So, what sort of shoes should you wrap those precious feet in?
Certainly NOT the old-fashioned hard-soled leather lace-up shoes that were meant to 'train' baby feet to grow properly. Pediatricians recommend soft shoes that move with baby's feet. The soles should be non-skid to prevent falls, but flexible enough that they bend as baby steps out on his own. Skip the high-tops, unless they're flexible enough to bend with baby's ankles and feet. Choose natural materials that breathe to keep feet from sweating and becoming uncomfortable.
The proper fit for baby's first shoes is also important. They shouldn't bind or chafe anywhere, so shop when you've got plenty of time to let the little one walk around the store wearing the shoes you're thinking of buying. Slip a pinkie in at the heel while baby is standing - there should be enough room between the shoe and the munchkin's heel to allow your pinkie or a pencil to slip in easily. Also tie and untie the shoes a couple of times - if you choose lace-up shoes - to make sure that the laces are long enough to tie easily. Laces aren't a necessity, though. The experts are about evenly divided on whether tie shoes or Velcro are better, with no clear-cut 'best'. Choose whichever you like best. Laced shoes are a lot more likely to be left on - but Velcro encourages independence because it's so much easier to master.
Besides picking a time for your shopping trip when you have time to let your baby walk around a bit, time your visit to the shoe store for after a nap, when the little one is well-rested. Keep in mind, too, that baby's feet swell a little in the late afternoon, just like yours do. Shop later in the day to make sure that you get shoes that will fit at all times of the day.
As your baby grows and gets more active, check the fit of his shoes at least once a month. You can plan on buying new shoes about every three-to-six months just due to average growth, but also be prepared to replace shoes if they're worn, the soles are cracked or they have holes in them.
And if you have your heart set on Baby's First Nikes? Shop around - you're sure to find them.
About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.
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The Finer Points of Poverty
The Finer Points of Poverty
by: Timothy Ward
I'm poor. And I'm not ashamed of it. Actually, I'm kind of proud of myself for being poor. It's an accomplishment that many people will never attain. Some people will go through their whole life and never know what it's like to experience some of the finer points of poverty like eating ramon noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 5 days a week. My heart goes out to these types of people. The Fourtunate Ones. People who've always had electricity, nice cars, and proper clothing.
I wasn't always poor. I had to work hard at it. I had to quit several jobs without finding new ones. I had to spend 75% of my paycheck at the bar when I knew my bills would have easily taken 90%. I had to max out credit cards and never pay on them. I had to give money to females that I knew would never pay it back. And most importantly I had to move to a small town where $6.00 and hour is considered 'good money'.
I...
The Finer Points of Poverty
Shoes > The Finer Points of Poverty
Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
Nail Fungus
- No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
by: Richard Clement
Nail disorders are rarely disabling or even painful. But they are a nuisance. One of the most common problems is toenail fungus (medical name onychomysosis)-about 15% of people have it, including nearly half of those over 70.
This infection has received a great deal of press and advertisement time, as there are finally therapies that actually successfully eradicate these infections.
A fast overview of the disease can really help us to get rid of it.
The body normally hosts a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may multiply rapidly and form infections. Fungi can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. An infection of nail fungus (called-onychomycosis) occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. Onychomycosis usually begins as a white or yellow spot...
Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
Shoes > Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
What to Look For When Buying Athletic Shoes
What to Look For When Buying Athletic Shoes
by: Jeff Lakie
You've finally had to throw out those cross-trainers.
They've been your companions through miles of workouts and it breaks your heart to have to dump them.
It's been so long since you've had to purchase a new pair, you don't know where to begin.
Here's a short guide to help you decide which pair to buy next.
When shopping for athletic shoes, you should already know what sport you will be using them for.
Will you be using them to train for a marathon, or will you wearing them to basketball practice?
Running shoes are designed differently than, say, tennis or cross-training shoes, and choosing the right shoe can help your performance and help you to avoid injuries.
Athletic shoes fall into different categories.
For example, there are sneakers which are appropriate for running on a track or road, and they are those models...
Shoes > What to Look For When Buying Athletic Shoes
Packing For Adventure Travel
Packing For Adventure Travel
by: Rob Wood
There?s a funny scene in Romancing the Stone when Michael Douglas? character meets Kathleen Turner?s character and agrees to take her to a phone booth hundreds of miles away. He simply refuses to help her carry her completely impractical luggage and a few scenes later goes even further by chopping the heels off her shoes so she can actually walk in them. This little fiasco encompasses the essence of packing for adventure travel. Less is most definitely more!
When in a foreign country it is usually pretty easy to spot the experienced traveler from the novice. The novice is usually dragging a giant suitcase or trying to lug a brightly coloured backpack that is even bigger than they are. They are dressed in the latest ?must have? adventure gear from the most expensive adventure stores and have ?trekking? shoes worth hundreds of dollars. This is not the way to do it for several reasons. The first is comfort....
Packing For Adventure Travel
Shoes > Packing For Adventure Travel
Golf As It Was
Golf As It Was
by: Gabe Vanonte
Golf- Don't Get Carried Away
You only need to watch golf for a few tournaments where the pros sweep the course to get the golf bug. Suddenly you decide you want to learn to play. How hard can it be right?
But you shall be in for shock. How hard can it be after all, all you do is put the ball on a small tee and hit in down the fairway. Simple! You might want to play around a bit before you go and spend loads of money on clubs and balls.
Anyone can learn to play golf and when someone does they generally enjoy it. The are learn to play centers everywhere now and for the most part it doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming considering you can hire a cart if you don't want to walk the course.
Beginners though usually have a tougher time than advanced golfers though because they have a harder time controlling the ball. Beginners spend more time walking the course and traversing across wooded...
Golf As It Was
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