The Stride Rite Children’s Group launched a new collection of baby shoes with patent-pending Sensory Response Technology (SRT). The technology is designed to improve the way a child learns to walk via a sensory feedback system. The company said its flexible design allows for more freedom of movement and
a unique construction that reduces the number of stumbles and falls.

Representatives from Stride Rite will be at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, D.C. Oct. 17-20, to discuss the many benefits of the SRT Collection. The collection was developed in conjunction with the Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Stride Rite's research team learned that babies’ first steps help shape their walking gait into adulthood. Stride Rite commissioned a multiphase biomechanics study at the Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery to better understand the effects of footwear at the important learning-to-walk stage of a child's development. This study is the most in-depth research conducted on children’s footwear by Stride Rite and within the industry to date.

The first phase of the study analyzed qualitative and quantitative measurements of babies’ gait, plantar pressure and the ability to negotiate different obstacles. Early findings indicate that in order to develop a healthy walking pattern, first walkers need shoes that allow them to feel and grip the surface beneath them, as well as distribute their weight properly to keep their balance.

“Stride Rite’s investment in the continual pursuit of enhanced knowledge about growing feet is unparalleled in the industry. We are excited to be the only children's footwear company to commission a study to analyze children's movement patterns and stability on a variety of terrains,” said Pamela Salkovitz, President of Stride Rite Children’s Group. “Key learnings of the study have enabled us to develop the SRT collection. Its technology, comfort and style make it the ideal shoe for new walkers.”

Highlights include:

    * Greater feel of terrain: Sensory pods in the forefoot of the outsole move independently of each other offering multiple reaction points, increasing a baby’s feel of the ground beneath them. This allows a baby to stabilize their gait and better respond to their environment.
    * More natural support: Unique “hourglass” construction in the midfoot mirrors a baby’s foot structure to help supporting bones and muscles that are not yet fully developed. A smooth, rounded transition from outsole to upper prevents catching an edge, reducing the number of stumbles and falls.
    * Freedom of movement: Ultra-flexible design allows the foot to move in many directions to help baby learn how to adapt to uneven surfaces.

“Many people do not realize how important it is for a baby to wear proper shoes while learning to walk,” said Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician and best-selling author of Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents’ Top 101 Questions About Babies and Toddlers. “A baby's foot can provide a rich array of sensory information from which a reliable walking program may be developed if their shoes are flexible enough to permit such feedback.”

The fall SRT collection is comprised of four boys’ styles and seven girls’ styles in baby sizes 3 to 8 in various widths.