How Many Pairs of Shoes Do Your Kids Have??

Updated on May 03, 2011
S.C. asks from Milwaukee, WI
46 answers

My daughter is going to wear a pretty dress tomorrow for easter. And she has no shoes to match. Which is scary as I look at all her shoes right now because she has a ton of shoes!

Hiking shoes, 2 pair tennis shoes (one nicer, one for outside and getting really grubby), rain boots, croc type, moccasins, 3 pair flip flops (I only bought one), 2 pair of sandles she can run and play in (2 cause last summer I washed her pink sandles all the time to try and keep them clean and get rid of the hot foot stink!), "suede" boots.

That is insane. What's worse.....no nice shoes to go w/ a nice dress. Summer dresses are normally just worn w/ her sandles or tennis shoes.

How many shoes does your kiddo have?

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So What Happened?

Now I feel better. :) I'm not the only mom whose kid has a ton of shoes. I have only a few pair. They all get worn and they all get worn out so I know I'm not wasting money there. It's just so bizarre for her to have more than me, an adult. But I suppose, I work steel toes all day so other than getting to and from work in jeans or shorts in the summer, I don't need that many pair.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Wow. That's a lotta shoes.

Most of their lives, my kids have had ONE pair of shoes. Some form of sneaker. Occasionally they had two -- a pair of boots or some dress up shoes for my daughter.

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

when my kids were little they generally only had one or two pairs (unless we were given more).

Now that they are older, involved in sports and we live where it snows now they have way more.

My oldest son has 3 pairs of shoes JUST for track. then a pair of boots and two pairs of tennis shoes.

My daughter has a pair of boots, and two pairs of tennis shoes (one for track), and a pair of slip on shoes that are kinda dressy.

My youngest son has a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of boots.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

My 3 year old probably has about 10 pairs of shoes at least. 2 pairs of sneakers, 4 or 5 pairs of sandals, brown mary janes, black mary janes, rain boots, suede boots, flip flops, dress shoes... I had to go buy her Easter shoes as well.
My 10 year old only has maybe 5 pairs but it's because we wear the same size and she just uses mine all the time. Lol.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

My son is 23 months and has 1 pair. When those are worn out, we'll get another.

3 moms found this helpful

A.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Four

Two pairs of sneakers (two because sometimes one pair gets wet)
One pair of sandals
One pair of rain boots
We dress up rarely so I just put the more presentable pair of sneakers on him if we do.

... but I guess it's different when you have a boy?

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

We always had a ton of shoes. I LOVE shoes. Our daughter loved shoes. She walked extremely early so it was a great excuse to purchase what we loved.

I actually have the very first pair she was given by her great aunt. I had them framed in a shadow box. They are tiny leather ballet type slippers with ribbons that wrapped around her legs. They were a size 0. Way to big for our baby, so precious.

Our daughter was only a few days old and was placed in the ICU, We had brought her home and she became very ill. We were devastated to have to leave her at the hospital. We came home and opened that tiny box with those tiny shoes and they made us feel so much better

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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

My daughter (18 months) has three: 1 pair of tennies, 1 pair of crocs, and 1 pair of sandals.
My son (3) has 3 as well, 2 pairs of tennies, and 1 pair of crocs.

This would be very different, but my husband has a shoe rule. When we started dating 15 years ago I has about 75-80 pairs of shoes. Before we bought a house together he said the only way he would is if I would cut down the number of shoes (he had to limit baseball caps in return). We agreed on the number 8: I have 8 pairs of shoes total at any given time, he has 8 baseball caps. A new one comes in, an old one goes out. I hated the "shoe rule" at first, but I LOVE it now.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

We always have 2 or 3, but the youngest is getting the hand me downs not too worn out by his brother plus new shoes of his own, so he has quite a collection!

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A.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Uhh.... to many & they're boys. All 3 combined, 12, not including 8 yr olds " sport shoes".

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

i have a 2 year old daughter and she has:

3 pairs total for summer - sandals, tennies, & dress shoes
2 pairs total for winter - tennies & dress shoes

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L.A.

answers from Lincoln on

Too many to count! Welcome to the world of girls! Two daughters, hubby, and I and we each have a shoe rack in our resprective closets full mostly of shoes that are out of season or the ones we don't wear that much. In our over-sized closet by the door going outside, I outfitted it with a 50 + shoe cubby and it's full! Hubby has the bottom 5 cubbies and us girls have all the rest! However, let me share a secret I have finally learned....buy your daughter silver or gold shoes - they go with anything! Just this Easter morning, my youngest did not have those white Easter shoes because I stopped buying her "dress shoes" because they are just too uncomfortable to her, so she wore her gold sandals with her yellow Easter dress and they looked fine.

1 mom found this helpful

V.S.

answers from Charlotte on

I generally had cowgirl boots, one pair of tennis shoes, one pair of dress shoes, two pairs of shoes for playing princess dress up, and one pair of sandals as a kid. I never had rain boots and later got a few pairs of flip flops (all of which got chewed up by the cat). I don't even want to know how many shoes Bella has and I swear she's going to be one of those women who's obsessed with shoes. She keeps getting more, too.

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

My daughter (6) has two pairs of sneakers, two pairs of slip ons, one pair of galoshes, one pair of fake uggs, and winter boots. My son (3) has 1 pair of light up sneakers, 1 pair of converse, 1 pair of galoshes, 1 pair of summer shoes, and winter boots. my son probably should have one other pair of "everday" shoes, but otherwise, they have enough, but not too much.

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K.A.

answers from San Diego on

My boys have 1 pair velcro sneakers, 1 pair tie sneakers(we're working on tie shoes), 1 pair sandles, 1 pair swim shoes, 1 pair winter/rain boots. I think that's it. My daughter..she's got several pairs of various sorts, sneakers, dressy, warm etc but a couple pair turned out to not fit her feet very well after she started wearing them. She's 22 months and she likes her shoes ;)

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Y.C.

answers from New York on

My baby just had one pair of shoes until she was almost 2, not the same pair of course but one at a time and a good one (most times was a Clarks one, I love those!)
In part was because we had the same weather almost all year around but also she had eczema so for her first year she never got to use dresses or shorts, or she would scratch no stop =0(
We move to NJ, and now that her eczema is much less and wears dresses, and her tiny feet doesn't grow as fast she has more.
-Rain boots
-Snow Boots
-Tennis shoes
-Black fancy shoes
-Her brown Clarks ones
-Sandals
-Fancy sandals
-And her get dirty with because it doesn't matter, shoes, lol.

Still not that many but I think as she grows more she would have more, specially when she start to want to pick her own.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Well gee, here in Hawaii, everyone wears slippers. ie: flip flops.
Besides that, kids wear sandals, covered shoes, sketchers, Crocs etc.

As for 'pretty' shoes, well it is so casual here. My kids have had dress shoes, but never wore them. So I don't buy them anymore. Unless it is a have to, for school maybe. But not usually.

My kids have so many shoes/slippers I can't even count. Maybe... my kids (I have 2), maybe they have like 8 shoes each, of slippers and covered type shoes. At least. Aunty and Grandma likes to buy them these. So that is nice. Their feet grow constantly and always.
They both just had growth-spurts too.

My Daughter now, can fit into Grandma's shoes and some of mine. Her feet has GROWN! For an 8 year old.

We don't have much use here for rain boots. Although my daughter had one but didn't use it. My son, he is 4, so he still likes those kiddie type rubber boots even just to play in the yard in.

In the house, we don't wear shoes, here.

For dress up, my daughter is out of the dress phase. But she'll wear skirts with leggings or a skirt over jeans kind of thing, or long flowy skirts.
No dress up dresses for her. She's not into that currently.

So, again, just slippers here. Tons of it.
Even with skirts or dresses. The norm here. Or slip on type sandals.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

My daughter is 2 and had 3 pairs (purple tennis, white tennis, and brown "dressy").

My boys are 4 and 6 and each have two pairs of tennis shoes.

Plus rain boots and snow boots for each.

J.

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

We have one pair of general tennis shoes, one pair of weather appropriate shoes for the season (putting up the snow boots and getting ready for sandals) ... and as needed dress shoes. We buy dress shoes as we need them for the outfit type thing. Oh and I have a boy so not much need for too many types of shoes

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A.K.

answers from Iowa City on

My girls each have 1 cheer tennis shoes, 1 regular tennis shoes, 2-3 flip flops in difff colors, 1 play sandals or slip ons, dressy shoes in black and in white, 1 heavy winter boots, 1 walking around town, nicer, winter boots. They'd probably have more if my husband didn't have such an aversion to seeing all their shoes. lol

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

My sons have a pair of tennies, a pair of dress shoes, and a pair of summer shoes (crocs or flip flops/sandals) each. My daughter has a couple pairs of tennies and a pair of dress shoes that match anything. She has cerebral palsy and wears AFO's so not much goes over them well, so she wears tennies with just about everything, but the dress shoes are cute and stretch well over her AFO's.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

DS has about as many pairs as I do. Snow boots (1 pair for home and 1 for school - they require they be left there), casual boots, sneakers (white, red, blue), casual shoes (brown, tan, blue, black), dressy shoes (2 pairs and yes he wears them), sandals (black, red, brown, blue), water shoes (two pairs, home and school) and one pair of crocs. There are probably more than that. I resell them on ebay and just about break even :)

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E.M.

answers from Honolulu on

my daughter has 3 sets tennis shoes, sandals and "nice" shoes only for church.

son only has tennis and sandal... so 2 per son...

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Both my daughters have the same number of shoes and the same type: one pair of tennis shoes, one pair of sandals, one pair of black dress shoes, one pair of white dress shoes, 1 pair of flip flops, and 1 pair of houseshoes. I can't keep up when any more than that really and some of the shoes I just picked up for the summer (white dress shoes, flip flops, and sandals) so they have even fewer pairs in the winter. I usually just put them in tennis shoes if I don't have the "right" shoes because they are inevitably going to play in them anyways.

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

Each of my daughters has:

sneakers
Keen sandals from last summer - still fit
Crocs from last summer - still fit
Pedipeds for this summer (like Crocs)
snow boots
rain boots
funky fake suede boots
jelly shoes for dress up
sparkly dress up shoes

And I still have trouble finding shoes that match with dresses!

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

My 6 year old daughter has 1 pair of shoes for school and just everyday wear (tennis shoes) and she has 1 pair of sandals that are too small (we are about to get her some new ones since it's starting to get a little warmer out. that's it! nothing else.
My son who is 3 has 1 pair of tennis shoes and that's it. I will also be buying him some new sandals soon too.
I don't see the need to spend money on shoes that you only wear once in a while (dressy), because they will only wear them once and then they will be too small the next time they need to wear them. I don't even have more than 2 or 3 pairs of shoes that is including flip flops, tennis shoes and 1 pair of dressy shoes (that I've had for about 5 years and only worn them 2 times). I would rather spend money on something my kids actually need rather than a bunch of shoes

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

I know that my girls have a lot, but I never added them up before.

My oldest has a pair of rain boots, snow boots, black dress boots, two pairs of Nike gym shoes (one for home and one for school), one dressier sneaker, brown mary janes, brown mary janes with pink polka dots, blue shoes, black dressy shoes, black casual shoes, pink shoes, pink sandals, white sandals, brown sandals, Keen shoes, water shoes, and crocs so 18!

My youngest has a pair of snow boots, casual boots, sneakers, brown shoes, black shoes, brown shoes with polka dots, pink shoes, Keen shoes, water shoes, white sandals, pink open toe sandals, pink criss cross sandals, and brown sandals so 13!

I do sell all of their outgrown shoes on Craigslist so I recoup some of the cost.

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

3 pairs each -- sneakers; dress shoes; and crocs or flip-flops (son and daughter). They are only 2.5 and almost 4 years old. I imagine as they get older, we will have cleats and other shoes too and for a while daughter also had ballet shoes but she gave that up in favor of swimming. I had WAY too many shoes as a kid but not until I hit about 10 years old :) and, lucky me that my feet stopped growing around 6th grade so I wore the same shoe size from then till now (at age 33) -- but mom still bought me new shoes 2 times a year....

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

When they were little-they had lots of shoes and always had party shoes/dress shoes-tah fit. I never skimped on them-especially when it came to education, medical care, activities and wardrobe.

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Son has - one pair tennis shoes, one pair sport type sandals, winter boots, rain boots, one pair dress loafers - not even sure if those still fit

Daughter - more than I could count! We like to clearance shop!! We're going to lunch at Grandma's tomorrow and she is wearing a pair of pink heals, size 5 even though she is 7 yrs old and wears a size 3!!!!

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C.V.

answers from Milwaukee on

Maybe this is because my kids are young (about 3.5 and 1) but I've really only ever had one pair of shoes for each. In the summer, however, I do get sandals for them. They outgrow them so fast (and, really, the shoes will go with anything they wear if I'm smart about which shoes I purchase) and I'm cheap to boot, so this is just the way it has happened. Good thing there's payless when you're not looking for good quality/wear all the time shoes (in reference to the wedding shoes)!

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K.T.

answers from Minneapolis on

My only son has 1 pair tennis shoes, 1 pair water shoes, 2 pair rain boots, 2 pair snow boots, 2 pair slippers, 1 pair dress shoes, and 2 pair sandals!!!
The extra boots are to have one at daycare and one at home, and I always get two pairs of sandals because his feet get so dirty and stinky in the summer- I'm always washing them. The slippers are just for fun... and the dress shoes are just in case. Each year as he needs bigger sizes, I get the same types of shoes because we DO use all of them.
Personally, I have tennis shoes, work shoes, dress shoes, sandals, flip flops, slippers, and boots. I don't wear rain boots or water shoes, otherwise I would have 9 or 10 pairs for different occasions as well.
[I should add...the only ones I buy new are tennis shoes, since he wears them the most...the rest I always buy used]

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K.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have boys, so they only have snow boots, rain boots and two pair of casual shoes. I decided today I should get them a pair of docksiders for dress up at least!

A.G.

answers from Houston on

wow, my oldest used to have like 20, but my kids grow like weeds, my 8 year old is a size 3 now! now she has 2 boots, 1 pair tennies, dress shoes and 2 flip flops.

my two year old has two pairs, she had four but lost two right shoes recently

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

Wow. She has more than me!!! LOL! My DD only has one pair.... but she has only been walking for about 1.5 months, so it's not a big deal. lol.

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J.A.

answers from Denver on

My oldest son has 1 pair of expensive sneakers, and equally expensive orthotics. He is a size 7 in mens (he will be 9 on friday) I used to get him sandals or crocs in the summer but he needs the orthotics so 1 pair at a time it is. Oh and his snow boots in the winter. My daughter has crocs, sandals, mary janes, snow boots, suede boots and sneakers. My youngest son has sneakers, sandals, and snow boots. Guess lots of shoes is how it goes with girls. :)

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

DD is 3.5 yo. Currently she has:

2 pairs of sneakers
1 pair of brown "suede" fuzzy-lined boots (from fall and winter)
1 pair of pink cowboy boots (gift from "designated auntie")
1 pair of snow boots
1 pair of rain boots
1 pair of beach sandals (for summer)

And nothing "dressy" or "fancy" - we just don't have to get dressed up that much.

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

My 4 year old son has one pair of tennis shoes, one pair of crocs (generic brand), and one pair of household slippers. When he outgrows one of the pairs, I get another. I do have a bunch of the crocs in bigger sizes since I found a huge stash on sale for a dollar each. When he was about a year old, a lady at work gave me a bunch of her son's shoes. It was four pairs of tennis shoes, one pair of dress up shoes, and five pairs of sandals. I think he only wore a couple of pairs of the tennis shoes and one pair of the sandals. It was too much, especially when all of the shoes are the same color scheme. That's why I keep it simple for him now with the basics especially since he outgrows them so fast!

For me, it's a different story. I think I have flip flops in every color, not to mention my dress shoes and tennis shoes. At least my feet are done growing, so I can use them a long time.

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

My son had one pair until size 8 (kids, not boys), then two. Now at size 12 (the size before 13-1, still kids), he has three plus one pair of rain boots/mud playing boots that he has nearly outgrown.

One pair of light-up Cars tennis shoes
One pair of "crocks" style sandals
One pair of nice sandals (to be worn with Easter suit - that nice)

The rubber sandals will replace the boots for the ones he can go to the park and get all muddy. They will easily hose off and be clean again.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

My youngest is 11. He's got 3 pairs of sneakers (everyday ones, ones for gym and an old pair for yucky activities), snow boots, hiking boots, a pair of dress shoes and a couple of pairs of summer flipflops.

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B.B.

answers from New York on

Do house slippers count? I think girls in general have more. My son wears the same nicer/fancier looking sneakers for about 6 months. In the winter he has snow boots that he rarely wears and he also has galloshes for the spring/summer/fall which he also rarely wears. Oh, and house slippers, if that counts.

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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

I love this about boys, they are cheap to dress. My boys each have one pair of tennies, one pair of hiking boots and a pair of flip flops. No dress shoes because they refuse to dress up.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

spring/summer/fall - 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of rain boots
summer - 1 pair of sandals & 2 pair of water shoes (one to leave at daycare)
winter - + 1 pair of winter boots with two sets of liners

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A.C.

answers from Savannah on

My 4 year old has 4: soccer cleats (does that count?), tennis shoes, swim shoes for the pool and beach, and cowboy boots.
My 17 month old has 2: tennis shoes and sandals.

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

My six year old daughter has about four pairs of shoes for church...and that's my biggest deal, is that I want her to have shoes to match her dresses, etc. So, one gold, two brown, and one black. Yeesh. She has one pair of "jogging" sneakers, one "skateboard" style, and a pair of Sketchers flashy light ups that her grandma sent her for Christmas. Also, two pairs of flip flops, two pairs of white dressy sandals, a pair of red/black plaid "grandpa style slipper" shoes, snowboots, rainboats, and slippers for in the house. Out of all of those, I only bought three pairs...my mom likes to shoe shop. So do I, if I find a bargain...I've got about five pairs of shoes besides those for her to grow into, that I bought on clearance for just a few dollars each. That's what I love!!

My baby (who turned one today!!) has one pair of tennies for going out, one pair of church shoes, and one pair of white baby crocs because I couldn't resist!

Of course, I love shoes. :) Who doesn't?

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

- 1 pair of Adidas slip on sandals
- 1 pair of skate shoes
- 1 pair of converse
- 1 pair of hiking boots

(except for weddings, we just put the converse with the suits)
________
Sports shoes:
- soccer/baseball cleats
- snowboard boots

D.M.

answers from Rapid City on

I have bought some bigger sizes for her to grow into so I'd say four (including dress, tennis shoes, and sandals.) that fit her right now and two pairs of size toddler's fives, and two size toddler six's. so in all, eight pairs. I see no problem with her wearing nice sandals with a Easter dress. :)

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