I think you've got to be aware of your own limitations first. Especially wading solo.
If you know you can wade across, try and find the point where the current is weakest. Even a strong person, who is wading properly, can be knocked off their feet, in water below knee height, if the current is strong, and they are wading properly.
Every river goes from a riffle, to a run, to a pool, then repeats that. Riffle,run,pool.
The flow might be weakest toward the back end of the pool, before its channelled into a riffle again, but can you see the bottom? No? Maybe not the best lace to cross then? What kind of river is it? Freestone? Are there big boulders? Dangerous to cross, sudden drop offs, ankle grabbers? Is it peaty, acidic, is visibility low? Dont get out halfway, then lose sight of the bottom. Wear polarised lenses, so the light is not reflected off the top of the water and you can see the bottom
Even in very shallow water, If the current is strong, youre feet will start to be sucked into the gravel, into a little indentation, as you cross and you'll have rocks lodged upstream of your foot, coming down at your ankles.
So boots are best generally, then dry your feet, and put on waterproof socks on the other side, and put your boot back on, so your feet remain dry. The army surplus waterproof socks were made by sealskinz and are cheap.
I would cut a wading staff, heavy strong wood, shoulder height, or above and lean into it, against it upstream, into the current, and always have your staff firmly planted into the current at an angle before you sidestep across. But eve then, it'll get pushed back very easily by the flow.
Is it a spate river? Ive been stood in a river which has come up ten inches in a few minutes. The first sign of a river rising is normally debris, leaves, sticks twigs etc coming down. If you see that the general advice is to get out fast. If you do get knocked off your feet, your rucksack should not be on your back, and you should be swept downstream feet first, so your heels contact the bottom first. [Although some say keep your rucksack on now]
I wade cross all sorts rivers hundreds of times a year, a fly fishers wading staff has a heavy lead roof tile wrapped around the bottom, covered in heatshrink, with a rubber ferule so the fish dont hear you! The weight of the staff makes a heck of a lot of difference. Its very difficult to stick a staff into the water at an angle upstream of you, in a current, without it being weighted. You hav to have it firmly on your shoulder and lean into it with your entire body weight.
Its dangerous, and all of the rivers I go on, see people drown ever year. Always think safety. Its one one of the most dangerous things you can do outdoors.
Theres a couple of good links here:
http://frontierbushcraft.com/2012/08/28/how-to-wade-across-a-river/
http://frontierbushcraft.com/2012/08/07/how-to-assess-a-water-crossing/
And here:
http://www.equipped.com/21-76/ch17.pdf
