do you let your kids go barefoot???

[atomic sagebrush]

DH and I go around and around about this - I let all our kids play outside barefoot and he thinks it's too dangerous because they might step on something. Weirdly, he says I'm totally overprotective about everything (esp. with our first two) and is always criticizing me over it but this one thing that I've allowed them all to do, he is SO uptight about. It seems totally harmless to me to go barefoot outside in the summer, esp. compared with some of the crazy stuff he lets them do. He's starting up again with our little boys too even though I thought we had agreed not to overprotect these guys!!! Drives me crazy!!!

Do you guys allow your kids to play barefoot outside and why or why not??

[nuthinbutpink]

I don't mind if they do but depending on what they are doing- running and just playing or riding a bike, I might yell at them to put their shoes on. Barefoot walking in the grass is wonderful! I love it when I get to put my babies' feet in the grass for the first time!

[pastelpicnic]

I also feel the same as NBP, but I always let them play in our backyard with their shoes off. However, when they play out in the front yard with the other kids and there are bikes, scooters and other toys going on, they have to wear shoes. DS2 couldn't get all his immunizations due to having a bad reaction with his first set, so I'm always more frantic about him having his shoes on since he isn't that protected from things like Tetnaus.

[lindi]

I was told going barefoot is best for developing feet, but maybe that's just when they are really small toddlers- I have always let DS go barefoot when it's not like, the sidewalk or something. I'll take his shoes off at the playground so he can walk in the sand barefoot if he asks. Always at the beach. (we go several times a week). In our grass. Maybe there is going to be something dirty or maybe even sharp in the sand at the playground, but I guess it seems pretty rare to me?

[Glittergirl]

I let mine go in sand or grass barefoot. DS1 has very sensitive feet like DH and hates being barefoot. I don't let them walk around outside barefoot, although, they have never really asked to be barefoot. I think it hurts too much so they really don't take their shoes off outside.

[DoulaMama]

Yup, pretty much always except for when we're in town My middle child hates shoes and it's nearly impossible to keep them on him. I prefer if they're barefoot as much as possible because I believe it's much better for developing feet, as well as ours. I go barefoot quite a bit too...and wear "barefoot" shoes when around town.

[My Fabulous Children]

I don't mind if they do but depending on what they are doing- running and just playing or riding a bike, I might yell at them to put their shoes on. Barefoot walking in the grass is wonderful! I love it when I get to put my babies' feet in the grass for the first time!

[Flava]

No not really, only sometimes. first all we live in FL and there is damn ants all over here and it hurts a lot when they bite you.
Second I just can't stand when they run in and out like that making the floor dirty...I hate mess and dirty floor i clean it all the time and we all walk inside barefoot or in socks only. (I even clean off the dog feets lol)
But they can walk like that on the beach in the sand.

[mmsgirlie22]

Depends on the situation. If it's grass or sand I don't have a problem. It grosses me out when I see kids running around places like Chuck E Cheese or something like that barefoot. We just had fun field day at school for the kids this past week, and I was seeing kids all over the place with their socks and shoes off inside the gym and bouncy houses.

[Cinss]

Ours never really wear shoes around the home or yard. Only when we leave the house.