Your baby needs to feel the ground he/she is walking on to learn how to walk properly. While walking barefoot is the best option for your baby, a flexible, soft-sole shoe is the next best choice. Soft-sole shoes allow your baby to move his feet freely and to feel the ground as he walks. According to Lisa C. Moore, doctor of chiropractic medicine in Auburn, California, “Soft-soled baby shoes allow the beginning walker to grip the floor, developing strong ankles and flexible foot bones. This creates a solid foundation for bone and muscle formation in the rest of the body, especially the spinal column. A level pelvis and straight spine depend upon healthy feet throughout our entire lives, beginning in infancy."