First steps ‑ what to look out for when buying the first shoes.

Which shoes support your child best when it's learning to walk?
We asked our Swiss label for children's shoes this question. Christian Bagnoud, one of the fathers behind Benjie of Switzerland, gives us interesting insights into this important development of toddlers and reveals what to look out for when buying your first shoes.

- When does an infant usually take its first steps?

- First steps" is a generic term that refers to several phases between 12 and 18 months. After about 12 months, the child can get up without support. In this way, both hands are free, which offers him many new possibilities. Some children can walk alone, others only need to hold a single finger of their parents to walk.

With an average of 14 months, the child can walk alone, but his walk is not very safe yet. In order to ensure stability and balance, the legs and arms are far apart and stretched out like aircraft wings. Then it gradually begins to swing its arms. Once started, it sometimes has difficulty slowing down or stopping to avoid an obstacle.

At about 18 months of age they are confident. His legs are slightly less spread and the toddler is less dependent on his arms to keep his balance. The pace accelerates: he walks faster and jogs with fast, jerky steps at the brink of running."

(Note: these ages are theoretical to give an idea of the progress but are individual for each child).

- What needs must be taken into account in the manufacture of children's shoes during this phase of learning to walk?

"In this first phase, the child must achieve stability and balance. At the same time, flexibility is needed to speed up the pace and start independently.

- Which shoe is suitable for my child to learn to walk?

"Shoes for learning to walk provide stability and balance. That's why our Benjie First-Step shoes have a real first insole. Very flat, it provides good stability for the child. At the heel there is a semi-rigid support that allows the foot to be held in its main shaft. At the same time, the shoes must be flexible. Our First-Step shoes are soft and flexible so that the foot can unfold perfectly. This flexibility "forces" the child to find its own balance. In addition, our soles are very thin for the first step, which makes the shoe soft and very light".