Unfortunately, yes. Hand-me-down clothes, toys and other items are great, but when it comes to shoes, podiatrists say it's a safety issue. The insoles of shoes, especially those for early walkers, are meant to form to the unique foot of the wearer. So inheriting a worn pair of shoes could force a toddler's feet into ones that don't fit them correctly, and that could negatively impact foot health in the future. And as gross and unpleasant it is to think about, sharing shoes can spread fungi like athlete's foot and nail fungus. If you do receive a pair of hand-me-down sneakers, check to see they are gently used. Otherwise, politely say, "no thank you!"