Smart Shoes For Little Feet

I am an advocate for a “good children’s shoes” Good shoes does  not necessarily have to cost a lot but it should benefit your child’s foot.

If your child has overlapping toes observe if their toes overlap when barefoot a shoes with generous toe space is in order. If the toes lie flat without shoes, I recommend opting for a wide width shoe or going up a half size in their shoes. If they do not, go to a pediatric podiatrist.  A Chiropractor can even help to diagnose the issue by checking your child’s posture and stance.

Here a few options:

1. Smartfit by Payless these shoes run from $12.99-23.99. You can find them on sale and take advantage of BOGO offers. Smartfit makes all the necessary shoes from dress shoes and sneakers to sandals. They are designed to be generous in the toe area.

I usually buy Smartfit dress shoes because how often does my toddler actually wear dress shoes? Three times a year on average. I also buy Smartfit sneakers for school because shoes take a beating on the playground.

2. Buster Brown at Famous Footwear $29.99 + (but they are always on sale). Yes, they still make these and you can find them moderately priced at Famous Footwear. The bottom of the shoe is diagrammed to help parents find the correct shoe size. The “toe zone” area indicates that this is where the toes should be. If toes are above the toe zone, the shoe is too small. If toes are below the toe zone, the shoes are too big.

My daughter had a pair of  Buster Brown sandals last summer. They were great. The only problem was they create stinky piggies.

3. Polliwalks  $35.00. They are like Crocs in that they are water resistant clogs. But they are much cuter and character shaped. We have been through two pairs of Elmo Polliwalks. They are anti-microbial and well ventilated. Piggies stay clean, happy, and comfortable.

4. Stride Rite ($39.00 +) Good shoes and a good place to have your child’s shoes size measured. The shoes are divided by age groups (as most shoes are for kids).

My we had a pair of Stride Rite Oxfords that were adorable and held up for months. I don’t recommend the Twinkle Toes series because many of the sneakers are difficult to get on.  The tongue of the sneaker has elastic straps that are sewn into the shoes and they don’t seem to stretch enough. I felt like I was jamming my daughters foot into the sneaker. My favorite part of Stride Rite are the outlet stores that offer the same sizing services and a wide variety of footwear at a fraction of the price.

5. Pediped‘s come in as the most expensive on my list. Toddler shoes begin around $47.00 and some go up to $59.00.  However, the shoes are not only divided into categories based on age group but also the development of walking from infant shoes called Originals to Grip and Go for early walkers and Flex for children with a confident stride.  These shoes “go on and stay on” which is a big deal if your kid likes to remove shoes or if you have a baby who can kick a shoe off before you get the other one on.  Pediped’s are sold in many stores but usually it’s only the baby shoes. The website does have a store locator and sizing information in case you want to buy online.  And they offer information about pediatric podiatry.

I definitely recommend their sale section.  We are about to embark on our 3rd pair of Pediped’s for the summer, particularly in something that is water resistant and machine washable.

Remember, a good shoe may just be a shoe that gives your child’s foot extra wiggle room. Kids outgrow shoes like crazy; there is no way to know how long a pair may fit.  Smart shopping for quality shoes is definitely an art of parenting.