Soft sole shoes are great for early walkers. I put Robeez on Madeline for protection from the elemnts outside since she was small. I do it now because she is pulling up and cruising the furniture. I thin the soft sole is okay for outdoors in mild weather too. I think I read until age 2 they should have the softest sole possible, so if you need a rubber sole for outside walking it should be very flexible. I think shoos shoos are basically the same except the styles are different, and the sole is slightly different.