StarChild shoes are ideal for babies up to 24 months. The soft leather soles cushion and protect tiny toes and minimize slipping, the leather-lined uppers breathe to keep little feet cool, and the elasticised ankle bands let the shoes fit on easily and stay on. Although they're pretty and comfy, they'll survive the busiest of toddlers.

Cherry Heaven TV has made a series of short on-line programmes featuring some of the new designs. To play or pause the StarChild fashion show, just click the Cherry Heaven TV player.

Whilst walking barefoot helps new toes get a better grip, makes feet stronger, and improves balance, often it just isn’t practical: baby feet need protection from rough or sharp surfaces, scattered toys, furniture legs, and cold floors.

The shoes are hand made in the UK from fine Italian leather. They come in a white box, making them ideal as easy-wrap gifts or for organised storage at home.

Cherry Heaven has chosen these Star Child shoes for baby girls and boys up to 24 months. Generally, above 24 months, children wear fewer soft shoes and start wearing firmer shoes and boots made for walkers, runners, skippers, hoppers, and jumpers: such as Kavat kids' shoes.

Equivalent shoe sizes are approximate, so it's better to buy shoes to grow into rather than shoes exactly the right size, especially as, between the ages of one and three, children's feet can grown up to 1.5mm a month.

It's important to choose the right size: put on the shoe, stand the child up, make sure the foot is flat, and check that the toes aren't curled. And don't put you finger in the back of the shoe. Remember that your child's feet can grow quickly and erratically so check often that the shoes are still comfortable: on both feet.

To look at a larger photo, hold your mouse over the zoom button below. The photos are 480px x 360px and about 65KB each so, if you're not on a fast internet connection, they'll take a short while to download.

Zoom: Lacey White.

Zoom: Ballerina Baby Blue.

Zoom: Ballerina Baby Pink.

Zoom: Retro Khaki:Blue.

Zoom: Sports Blue:White.

Zoom: Milky Stars Blue.

Zoom: Summer Punch Pink.

Zoom: Twinkle White.

Contrary to popular belief, baby shoes and boots don't have to provide ankle support: the foot’s nerves and muscles will soon learn to sense pressure and movement and maintain balance.

If the soles start to wear smooth in places, rough them up carefully with coarse sandpaper or a suede brush to regain some surface texture.

Although many modern shoes and booties are machine washable at a low temperature, I suggest that you hand wash them using mild detergent and cold water. Dry them naturally, not in a tumble drier or on a hot radiator. The shoes use non-toxic dyes and are fully tested to meet EU safety standards.