Socks & Shoes

Two words most of us love to hear? Shoe shopping! But it's quite a different story when you're buying footwear for your antsy 1-year-old. Most of the time you'll be hard-pressed to get her to try on a pair without wiggling out of your lap or having a kicking-and-screaming tantrum.

You can put off buying shoes until after your child starts to walk (usually between 10 and 18 months). They're only for show before then, and your kid will be able to practice taking steps better when he's barefoot. (Shoes make it harder to grip the ground and learn to balance.)