Letting your baby go barefoot in the house and outside in the summer about half the time is excellent for your baby's feet. There is no need for shoes before your baby takes his/her first steps. It's best to take your baby to the store with you when buying him/her shoes. The shoes should fit properly at the heel and be about 1.25 cm (1/2 inch) longer than your baby's feet. Have your child stand up so that you can measure the space between his longest toe and the tip of the shoe. You can also measure the inside of the shoe with a measuring tape and compare this measurement with the length of your baby's foot when he's standing.