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DIY Anti-Slip Socks for a Baby
by Contributing Writer
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Overview
The last thing your baby needs when just learning to walk is slippery socks. Soft, comfortable fabrics in socks are gentle to your baby's skin but can be slippery on smooth floors. Give your baby the edge with customized anti-slip socks. Apply skin-safe textured fabric paints or silicone-based materials to give your baby extra traction.
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Well-Fitting Socks
If you are going to make your baby's socks anti-slip, they have to fit well or they will come off or bunch when your baby starts using them. Start off with a well-fitting pair of socks. Used socks should be cleaned and dried thoroughly before applying anti-slip materials. New socks made of natural fibers should be washed and dried, according to manufacturer's instructions so they are pre-shrunk before applying anti-slip materials.
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Make an Outline
Trace an outline of your child's foot. Have your child stand on a piece of corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is the brown cardboard used in boxes for shipping. Trace the outline of the child's foot onto the cardboard and then cut out the footprint. You do not have to be precise--a rough outline will work. Put the cardboard cutout of your child's foot inside the sock so the cutout stretches the fabric flat over the natural footprint of your child's foot when it is in the sock. Next, you can apply the non-stick material to the bottom of the sock.
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Apply the Anti-Slip Material
Use a textured "soft" fabric paint or silicone-based material to apply a gripping pattern to the bottom or sole of the socks. Check the MSDS (material safety data sheet) of the product to determine safety for skin contact and instruction on how to apply and dry the product safely. Apply small, thin dots of the material about 1/4 inch apart across the soles of the sock only on the outside surface of the sock. You can press the sock against a piece of wax paper to smooth out the bumps, but do not squeeze the material through the inside of the sock--the bumps might irritate your baby. You can also make patterns or characters, according to your fancy. Leave open fabric between lines and patterns to keep the sock flexible.
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Anti-Slip and Non-Trip
If your baby is already used to walking around in slippery socks, do not overdo applying anti-slip materials to the socks. Keep the designs well inside the borders of his foot so he does not catch the edges and trip.
