Nike has faced a backlash from experts for selling “unnecessary” £45 trainers that, they claim, help infants learn to walk.
The sports giant says its Swoosh 1 shoes can “help support our earliest walkers as they take their first baby steps”.
They add that the trainer is “the first Nike kids shoe ever to receive the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, a mark signaling how the shoe can help promote natural foot development”.
However, experts say the Swoosh 1 - released on October 31 for £44.95 - is a waste of cash as it’s best for infants to learn to walk barefoot or in socks so they can feel the ground.
Rob Payne, a leading podiatrist who has worked with Olympic athletes, said “the necessity of wearing trainers is questionable“ for babies.
He told The Daily Telegraph: “Walking barefoot or in socks offers the advantage of enhancing a baby’s proprioception and refining their gait.
“Introducing firm-soled trainers at this early stage may hinder proprioception due to the increased rigidity of the shoe, potentially affecting balance.”
Mr Payne, from the London Podiatry Centre, added: “Given it is generally recommended for babies to learn to walk in safe indoor environments, reducing the likelihood of prolonged exposure to hard surfaces like concrete, such trainers do not seem necessary”.
NHS guidance says: "The bones in a baby's toes are soft at birth. If cramped by tight shoes or socks, they can't straighten out and grow properly. Your child won't need proper shoes until they're walking on their own. Even then, shoes can be kept for outside walking. It's important shoes and socks are the right size."
Nike has been contacted for comment.
