Awww...their first shoes

The guys are both finally walking so they need shoes (which I've never bothered with before). Which ones should I get? My Mom is on me about getting good quality shoes so I guess Crocs are out. What did you start with, what do you recommend?

 

We are not there yet but I have heard Robeez are good first shoes. I guess the soft sole is good for walking.

 

I actually really like getting them a hard shoe, so they can learn about weight. You can get Robeez so they get the hang of wearing something but they remind me more of socks. I like Stride Rite the best. They will measure their feet and make sure they are in the right size. Have fun.

 

I am almost an expert on shoes for babies. I added up the shoes each of my girls have had since birth and it is 12 pairs each. they are only 19 months old. hehe. I love shoes. I have had the robeez, loved them but for walking outdoors you will need more support on the bottom of foot. I have had crocs loved them for the summer they were great. i already have ones for next summer bought. i have had cheaper ones from Payless and Walmart. They work for what you pay for them. I have had Nike's, Etnie's, Puma. I do love the more expensive ones best, I found they walked better in them I think it is better quality too. Do watch when you buy the more expensive ones. I know Puma have the proper fit on the insole of the shoes, you slide it out and let your little one put their foot on it to see. Nike stores usually have something similar. I hope I helped you a bit if you have any questions PM me.
Tania

 

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Robeez and so did my kids. They wore them all thru the winter (they began walking in Sept. of last year). They'd still be wearing them but DH wasn't a huge fan of the way they looked. I definitely recommend them for new walkers! Crocs are great too, that's all my two have worn all summer!

 

My boys wore crocs all summer. Their feet were so small (size 2) when they started walking that I had a really difficult time finding shoes that weren't pre-walker foo-foo stuff. The crocs were actually great for their feet and I just ordered a second pair online since their feet had a huge growth spurt. They now hate their other shoes and i'm afraid I'll be sending my kids out in the dead of winter in a pair of crocs...better find some toddler-sized camping socks! :lol:

My favorite thing about the crocs...easy on, easy off. They could go in the mud, water, sand, whatever, and after 30-seconds under the faucet were as good as new and dried quickly for the next use. If your kids feet are bigger than size 6, you can get the "Endeavour" model of Crocs which is a closed toe clog, but we're so not there yet.

I agree with Sarah about the Robeez...comfortable, but not sturdy for outdoor activities. Stride Rite is a good brand, but my kids didn't tolerate wearing them once they got a taste of the crocs.

 

My personal favorite - so far - are the Pediped Shoes . I have them for my girl, but not my son. Which is funny b/c he's the one walking. Anyway, they're soft like the Robeez, but they breathe better (DS's feet would sweat so bad in Robeez!) and they look more like real shoes. They're very flexible, so I don't know how well they'd work for outside.....apparently my DS has tough feet, b/c he would rather just be barefoot all the time!

I had a pair of Stride Rite sandals for him that were great! Loved those, but he outgrew them quickly.

The next pair I'm thinking of getting him, probably for the fall, will be a pair of See Kai Run's . They're supposed to be really good & also flexible for baby feet. The one thing I hate about most of the kids shoes I see is that they're stiff as a board! It'd be hard enough for me to walk around in them, let alone someone who's just learning.

 

We are Stride Rite fans here. My kids have incredibly sweaty feet so the leather soles are an important feature, especially when we go sockless in the summer (like with sandals). Plus Ben has an XW foot, so our options are limited. The quality is excellent and can certainly withstand rigorous play!

 

Their first shoes were Stride Rite. I wanted them to get sized professionally. Their shoes lasted a long time. They have different categories there including one for new walkers. So, I recommend Stride Rite.

 

we got them Stride Rite's in April which they wore until it got too hot and then they got some sandals from WalMart that had plenty of support and then we got them Crocs (the knockoffs as their feet are still too small for the real ones)....they CRY until I put their Crocs on them in the morning...I just bought them sneakers at WalMart - mostly they go barefoot in the house and yard and I really only put shoes on them if they cry or we're out in public...

 

Ditto on the Pedipeds--they rock. My only concern with them is that DS slips on our hardwoods with them so I think we are going to start getting more Stride Rites.

 

QUOTE(AmynTony @ Aug 14 2007, 03:15 PM) [snapback]368025[/snapback]
we got them Stride Rite's in April which they wore until it got too hot and then they got some sandals from WalMart that had plenty of support and then we got them Crocs (the knockoffs as their feet are still too small for the real ones)....they CRY until I put their Crocs on them in the morning...I just bought them sneakers at WalMart - mostly they go barefoot in the house and yard and I really only put shoes on them if they cry or we're out in public...



Just wondering where you can get the Crocs knockoffs in the smaller sizes? Mine also have feet still too small for the real ones.
Thanks.

 

QUOTE(Sarah© @ Aug 14 2007, 03:20 AM) [snapback]367673[/snapback]
I actually really like getting them a hard shoe, so they can learn about weight. You can get Robeez so they get the hang of wearing something but they remind me more of socks. I like Stride Rite the best. They will measure their feet and make sure they are in the right size. Have fun.



We have stride rites too.

 

QUOTE(twoin2005 @ Aug 14 2007, 07:52 AM) [snapback]367986[/snapback]
We are Stride Rite fans here. My kids have incredibly sweaty feet so the leather soles are an important feature, especially when we go sockless in the summer (like with sandals). Plus Ben has an XW foot, so our options are limited. The quality is excellent and can certainly withstand rigorous play!


We LOVE Stride Rite's as well. We started with their First Mate shoes I believe.

 

We got stride rites as our first real shoes (robeez are still used alot). The problem is we got velcro. Our girls are obsessed with shoes (theirs, mine, anyones). So they take them off and I'm loosing shoes all over the place. too stressful.

A friend recommend pedoodles and let us try them out. they have a shoe with elastic pull string w/ pressure clip. They are only $30, which is actually cheap for kids shoes. The sole is very flexible, and better than robeez as we approach the colder/wetter months. I ordered them a little big, so they aren't practical yet, but the girls have tried them on and LOVE em.

http://www.pedoodles.com/product.php/14/11/ there are other colors/designs.

 

I love shoes - for me & for the girls! I absolutely adore the girls in Preschoolians Party Shoes - every 3-4 months I order new pink ones, white ones & black patent leather ones. They fit so well, are as soft as butter & cute as can be. I constantly get compliments on them. For sneakers, my girls wear Lelli Kellys- just because they are so darn cute! My girls wore Jack & Lily shoes before they walked & in the house until they were about 18 months - they are like Robeez.

No offense to anyone - it is just my lowly opinion - but what the heck is up with the Crocs craze? Those are the ugliest, clunkiest, most hideous, rubber things I have ever seen - but people are nuts for them! Go figure!