There is no clear consensus. Some parents buy shoes as soon as their baby pulls herself into a first tentative stand; others wait as long as possible, preferring not to constrict their children’s feet.

“As a general rule, kids will need shoes when they are ready to start walking around outdoors,” says Peggy Wells, who is both a mother and president of Pip Squeakers, a children’s shoe company. “You will want something that protects your baby’s feet but still allows for some flexibility,” she explains.

For parents contemplating purchasing their baby’s first shoes, here are some suggestions for things to consider from experts at parentsplace.com and pipsqueakers.com:

* Make sure you get proper fit. Shoes that are too tight or too loose could be painful or cause blisters, and may even hamper walking. Have your pediatrician measure your child’s feet, during regular check-ups. This will provide you with an accurate measurement when you refer to a shoe company’s sizing chart.

* Avoid stiff, high-top leather shoes; there is no evidence that they help babies walk. Instead, look for something soft and flexible that allows your baby to use movement of his feet to maintain balance and to walk. They should be made from canvas or some other breathable material, and have flat, flexible, non-slip soles.

One way to decorate with wall clocks is to hang several different ones in a row, as if they were an art gallery. Wall clocks are generally fairly inexpensive and it wouldn’t be too difficult to start a clock museum in your own home.