Purchasing infant shoes: attitudes of parents, pediatricians, and store managers.
Questionnaires designed to collect data about the purchase of shoes for normal infants were completed by 104 parents in a university ambulatory unit, 127 practicing pediatricians, and 36 shoe store managers. Infants received their first pair of walking shoes at an average age of 8.1 months (range: 4 to 12 months) and at an average cost of $14.56 (range: $2 to $43). Most of these shoes had laces (95%), high tops (87%), hard soles (74%), and special arch supports (50%). Of the 104 children, 73 had shoes before they were walking (average cost: $13.21) and 35 wore walking shoes before they were even standing (average cost: $12.68). Parents obtained much more information about shoes from friends and relatives than from physicians. Those parents who obtained most of their information from salespersons spent the most for shoes. The average cost of shoes recommended by store managers was $18.74. Although 77% of pediatricians felt that inexpensive canvas sneakers are adequate, only 28% of the salespersons and 37% of the parents believed that wearing sneakers is healthy.
D001290:Attitude; D003132:Commerce; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012775:Shoes / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors