How Do You Keep Socks on the Little Ones?

Updated on June 02, 2008
C.M. asks from Salinas, CA
21 answers

My son is going to be turning 11 months old and has learned how to take off his socks. We lose them everywhere and his feet are always cold now. He doesn't walk yet, so I am hesitant to put shoes on him. I don't want to put tight socks on him that would cut off his circulation, but I would like to keep something on his feet. Does anyone have some creative ideas or tricks for keeping socks on? At this point I think my best bet is having him wear shoes, but I heard that wearing shoes isn't actually good utnil they start walking... ?

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So What Happened?

Well, the last few days we've been putting his Robeez on over his socks and that's helped. There's time when I "let it go" and don't stress over the bare feet but at other times, his feet are in places where I feel better with him wearing socks... Like tonight at church, he squirms his way into a standing position on the ground and I don't want him barefoot on the ground out in public. So I'm kind of going half and half with the Robeez. I appreciate all the great responses!!

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

You can always try getting one of those double clip things that you use on the back of shirts to gather them in (forgot the name.) Attach one part of the clip to pants and the other part of the clip to socks!

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V.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Put some soft shoes on over the socks. Most stores sell shoes without soles - just leather soles, so they don't restrict the foot muscles the way that traditional shoes do. Then he will be more interested in playing with those or chewing on the shoe laces - Hopefully he will leave his socks alone after that...

Other option would to put on a light pair of footed pajamas/sleepers on under his clothes instead of his undershirt - that way he cannot remove the feet.

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S.J.

answers from Hartford on

i suggest some of those soft leather shoes either over the socks, or just by themselves if it's a warm day. some good brands are robeez, bobux, and koala kids. the last you can find at babies r us and target, and are about half the price of the robeez and bobux. the robeez and bobux you can find online and in specialty childrens's stores. check em out because they are SOOOOO cute. these shoes are great for non-walkers and beginning walkers, because they are like slippers with no hard pieces, and allow the babies to spread their toes, develop their arches, and develop their sense of natural balance, all of which can be hampered by hard shoes. i have an almost 11-month-old who has been doing the same thing with her socks...of course now she's working on getting her shoes off too! but it'll work for a while and the weather's getting warmer anyway. :-)

good luck!

S.

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M.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

Buy Robeez. They are leather "shoes" with an elastic band that are made for children that aren't walking quite yet. The sole is just thick leather, not hard so perfect for children that are just starting to walk or haven't quite started. Plus, he'll have a hard time getting them off. You can find them at www.robeez.com.

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son has been taking of his socks since like 6 months old, as early as he could reach his feet. he has just never liked anything on his feet. Ive tried lace up sneakers and sandles and he figured out how to take them off too. he likes bare feet he is now almost 2 I gave up. and except for the funny glances from other moms and people saying do you know your son lost his shoes, I dont think it hurts anything. They also learn to walk best in bare feet.

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N.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter could never get off a pair of Robeeze. They are great soft leather shoes with elastic bands around the ankles. They are great for pre-walkers and those just getting their footing because they are easy on the soles.
N.

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

The only way I was able to keep socks on my son and daughter were to put Robeez slippers on them in addition to the socks. They are very well worth the investment and come in a variety of styles and colors. They are also lightweight so you don't really have to be concerned about about them feeling heavy on the foot.

Target even sells there own line of them now for really cheap and I've used those ever since I discovered them. If you aren't familiar with what I'm talking about check out their website:

www.robeez.com

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L.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

In spite of what the current trends are regarding shoes on little feet, i can guarantee that wearing them will NOT affect the babies walking abilities...i have 4 kids from 22 to 3 years old...went through all the different "trends" of the professionals, and all of them turned out complete healthy and normal "walkers". They all developed according to their uniqueness, not according to "shoes or no shoes". Just a note to releive your stress in this area. But IF shoes are still an issue for you, how about those little pants with built in feet? My kids lived in those, not cuz i was concerned so much about shoes, but merely for convenience. So much faster to put on when running out the door rather than putting on socks and shoes on wiggly feet! And they coulndn't pull them off! Hope this helps a bit.

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G.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try putting two pairs of them on. The second pair will stretch to hold them on!

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H.M.

answers from San Diego on

I put the soft shoes on my daughter to keep her socks on.. It doesnt hurt anything..

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T.

answers from Las Vegas on

C.,

I put "shoes" on my 6 month old. Check out www.jackandlily.com or www.robeez.com. They are shoes but not... LOL I don't know if yous son could take them off (probably!) but they are cute and they won't interfer with him learning to walk. For the most part, if he can pull his socks off, he can probably pull off any shoes you put over them.

Other than that, I just keep extra socks in the diaper bag and if it is cold, I'll leave him in some sort of outfit that has build in feet. He has just figured out that he can pull his socks off...

T.

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A.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi
We had this problem with our 12 month old and we bought him some robeez, they are the cutest around the house (some outdoors) slippers. Try Robeez.com.

A. Martignetti

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A.M.

answers from San Diego on

HI there! Robeez are the answer. They have them at many different places and have copycats at Target and other places too. They are GREAT. My daughter was the same and once I got these bootie/shoes...I won! They are made so little ones can't get them off but they do not cut off circulation. Maybe other mommies can tell you the other brand names. I got a few of my pairs on EBAY because they are pretty pricey. Hope it works for you! :)

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L.R.

answers from Sacramento on

If i were you i would put shoes on him... my son is only 10 months and he is wearing shoes it keeps his feet warmer and he has even started to take those off in the car.. shoes will take him longer to figure out how to take them off... Good luck with your sock issue....

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've never heard anything about shoes not being good on them (Not to say that it isnt so) But I've always had shoes on my little girl since she was about 2 weeks old, They were crib shoes of course. My daughter doesnt fuss with her socks, in fact the last time I remember her taking off her socks was when she was around 3 months. I know there are crawling socks, which are kind of like knee highs for babys but they go up to the thigh, they're ment for preventing rug burn on babys knees, but if you're that concerned about socks on him I think that would be the best idea. For walking bare foot is best since it helps them develop their foot arch and keep their balance better but when they're starting to walk they'll want to walk around EVERYWHERE by themselves, So its definatly a must to make sure they have shoes on when you're not at home. I check to make sure they're extra flexable and light when I buy her shoes so she can move around easily. I know my friend Cheryl's little girl has never worn shoes and screams when they're on til they're off, She puts them on her a couple minutes each day and gradually increases the time they're on every other day and she seems to be doing better with them. If you dont want to put shoes on him, I've never witnessed a tighter sock cutting off circulation, But when my daughter was taking off her socks the only ones she wouldnt take off were the ankle socks (We call them feet hats since they cut off right at the top of the foot) Good luck!

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K.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hey There,

I totally get it! My daughter is also 11 months old and is always pulling hers off.

I know they say not to do shoes until they start walking, but as far as I know, soft soled shoes are fine. Check out Robeez or Isabooties or ShooShoos. All of these have great "shoes" that kids can't pull off and might be a good alternative to socks.

Also, Trumpette socks are the only ones that stay on little feet. Of course, they can still pull them off, but they won't fall off on their own. They aren't very think, but at least will offer a little protection.

Good luck,
K.

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C.N.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Dear C.,

Yes, I know we had that problem with my great grand children too. We ended up with a basketfull of onesy socks. I just kept on putting them on, and then found a new type of baby shoe - it is made of leather, I guess, and is shaped like a bootie, but it is a shoe and they really can keep those on and walk comfortably at the same time. It doesn't have a separate sole, so they don't trip on the sole and it is like wearing more a comfortable sock. You can't find it in the regular stores, I found the ones I bought in a children's specialty store on the Embarcadero here in Morro Bay, you know how they have "really nice and really expensive" children's clothes in touristy places. They are sort of expensive, but they will last for a long time, and keep them for the next child, because at that age they likely will not mold the shoe into their own unique foot shape. Those baby feet look alike mostly, especially babies from the same family. Good Luck, I know how you feel about the cold feet on your baby. C. N.

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M.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

In all honesty, you will drive yourself nuts trying to keep socks on your sons feet. Its a fun control game for them. I know as parents we think "but their feet will get cold". I finally just had to "let it go". Now if its winter and really cold, I would use a sleeper with the attached feet that they CAN'T take off. But in the warmer weather, just let it be.

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M.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go ahead and try crib shoes. They are soft and flexible and won't hurt a bit.

Also, don't worry about their little feet getting cold so much. I know it's hard when they feel like icicles. My daughter hates her feet covered. HATES IT! I've learned to let her have her socks and feet the way she prefers. Daddy hates socks too so maybe it's genetic. LOL> When we leave the house, we do socks and shoes and she's okay with it then. There were times when she would take them off in her carseat but it was just a phase.

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C.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

You definetly should start introducing to your son the concept of shoes. He doesnt have to wear them all the time, but maybe put them on him when you take him out for a walk. We didnt use any shoes until he was ready to walk. It was hard for him to get used to the idea of shoes when he never wore any before. Make a little game out if, "mommy is putting on her shoes, now you have to put on your shoes"....

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