Leave him barefoot as long as possible, his bones haven't hardened yet.
Anything you get, make sure it has a soft sole, leather is fine, as you won't be letting him walk on stones for ages!
I did buy Pip some cute dunlop volleys from target but they were horrid, didn't last long or give him any support. His ankle rolled and the foot slid around inside the shoe.
If you're really wanting shoes, then go to a specialist kids' shoe shop, and get their advice. Buy the best quality you can afford
The general rule is to wait till they've been walking about 6 to 8 weeks before you put them in "proper" shoes.
In the meantime, barefoot as much as possible. When you are out and about, to protect his feet put him in those soft soled leather slip on type of shoes (they're like Jiffies or ballet slippers). Leather is good...breathable.
Then when it is time to get proper shoes, go to a shoe shop specifically for kids to get him properly measured and fitted. Buy the best shoe you can afford. I am a big believer in spending more money on a good pair of shoes that will last the entire season and can be worn everyday than skimping and buying cheaper shoes which don't last as long and aren't as good for their feet. It actually works out to be more economical this way, I find. You wind up spending more if you buy more of the cheap shoes.
I live near a DFO that sells Clarks shoes for kids at about $20 off the regular retail price and they do proper fittings there and recommend what type of shoe is best for the foot.
Clarks have a fantastic soft-soled first walker shoe and they are great and are quite sturdy so if they are outside, they don't feel every stone and pebble. But yeah, wait a few weeks (besides when they are only just starting to walk shoes only makes it harder for them until they are confident walkers, which is usually abot the 6-8wks mark anyway)
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