Need Shoe Suggestion for 15 Month Old Not Used to Them...

I've gotta agree with the few I've read, Robeez are amazing and they are good for growing feet--keeps their feet muscles strong.

They can be a little on the expensive side, but the shoe store in the mall usually had the sales buy one get one 1/2 off.

Target also has some that are like them, but not quite as pricey.

I think in my area they were like $25-30.

Best of luck and grats on the new walker!

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When my kids were starting to walk, for the first few pairs of shoes I took them to Stride Rite to get really good shoes. They have shoes that move really easily with the foot and are great for first walkers. After about a year of this I felt comfortable buying cheaper, stiffer shoes because my kids had become accustomed to shoes and to walking. Stride Rite is pricey, but I really think it's worth it for the beginner walker.

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Of course barefoot really is ideal for early walkers (I think mine walked early in part because they were barefoot a lot despite comments from certain people), but they eventually do need shoes. I have to agree with the Target soft-soled shoes for indoor use. They're really flexible and wore well, even after a few trips through the washer.

For "real" shoes, though, you want to find something flexible and supportive, and that fits well. I know Stride Rite has a great reputation, but they just never worked for my kids and they were pretty expensive in my mind. My kids always did/do great in the Smart Fit shoes from Payless. They have several features that are important for early walkers - the soles are flexible and the shoes are very supportive. I prefer something that's a little higher on the ankle, but not as high as the plain white baby shoes we probably had as babies. Just enough for a little support, but not so much to impede flexibility at the ankle. When you look at a shoe, be sure to bend it up and check the flexibility. After a few pair, you'll get a sense of what a range of flexibility there is. Oh, and if you want Mary Janes, I would recommend some with a rubber sole as opposed to some of the harder soled ones. They can still be cute too (again, at Payless we've gotten several).

As an aside, I've always heard that you really shouldn't put your child (especially an early walker) in used shoes since shoes tend to mold to foot of the wearer and won't necessarily work well for another child. Now I have 3 girls and have been known to pass some down, but really only those that got gentler/less use. Your call, of course, but thought I'd mention it.

And don't worry, by kindergarten she'll probably be wanting more shoes than you have!

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My son is 14 1/2 months and we just went through the same issue. He was having a bit of trouble walking and we had a PT out here every week working with him. So I did not have shoes one him. He just really started walking around and now I figured it's time. I bought him a really cute pair of Scketchers and he was walking like a robot with bricks strapped to his feet. We took him to Stride Rite to get him a good pair of shoes. Now he did have a little trouble with them at first but by the end of the night he was walking fine again. Mt PT said that is normal and he is doing great.
The other suggestions about the Roobezs sound good for young children just starting to walk around. But if your daughter is really starting to walk, you may want to go with a real shoe. They have to learn sometime.

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Hi! A lot of people have suggested Robeeze which are nice but a little expensive in my opinion. I have always bought ones just like Robeeze for less than $15 at Target and Babies R Us. They are leather and hold up really well. They're practically all my now 3 year old wore when he was starting to walk. He adjusted fine to actual shoes whenever I put them on him. I actually found them on ebay too and they had lots of designs to choose from. They even have toddler sizes too! I now put them on my 4 month old as slippers to help keep her socks on since she loves to pull them off! Happy walking!

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ROBEEZ!!! i love them, and my daughter prefers them to other shoes. Get them cheap on ebay.

also, Babies R Us sells an imitation kind, for about $15.

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Once she's ready for walking outside, you'll need to get sneakers, since the Robeez won't provide enough protection. (Although I agree, they're great for inside).

My daughter has one pair of Stride Rite stage 3 sneakers that she wears everywhere. These were her first "real" shoes we bought her when she started walking outside. They velcro and provide excellent support/protection, etc. Shoes are very important for them at this stage... make sure you get something that will provide plenty of stability when they go outside.

It will be a little weird for her at first, but she will adapt quickly.

Best of luck.

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Hello!
I highly suggest Robeez to begin with (they're more like slippers but give her the idea of what shoes are like). Then, I only buy Stride Rite and have been so happy with every purchase. My son is 2 1/2 and they have such good support for growing bones and feet.

Good Luck!
A.

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Hi S.,

I can't believe your little one is 15 months already! Time flies!! Anyway - Robeez great transitional shoes - my son still wears them as slippers. You can find them at Robeez.com and many local stores carry them. Don't get the knock off brands, though, they aren't nearly as good. I know that USA Baby carries them - but I am sure there are lots of other baby stores that have them as well.

J.

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Stride Rite has "new" walker shoes that my daughter adapted to very, very quickly. You can get them online, but they also have them at the Stride Rite outlet store in Limerick.

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We started my daughter out wearing Robeez soft shoes...she actually kept them on all the time. She is now 16 month and wears regular shoes. It took her a few days of wearing the regular shoes to get used to them. She now thinks that it is funny to run in them. I hope that thei helps.

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If you're going the Robeez/soft slipper route, Target's are just as nice as Robeez (real leather, very cute designs) and are $10. I think they tell you they should have a more supportive shoe once they're walking full-time though. Another option is to go to a store like Olly (there's one in Newtown and I know there are others) where they carry lots of good shoe brands for kids and can measure the feet...but I have to say my son walks much better in his cheap Old Navy sneakers than in his expensive Merrells I bought at Olly (on the other hand, I wouldn't have known what size to buy had I not gone to Olly).

My little guy had the same problem. I found some really great Robeez knock-offs on ebay for about $10 a pair (I like the seller littleonesshoes). Also, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pedipeds, but they're a little spendy. You can find them for about $20-$25 though if you look around for sales. The nice thing about Pedipeds is that they're good for outside too.

I love robies and they stay on their feet. They have the same type shoe without the big price tag at Target.

I LOVED the Robeez shoes. They are leather slippers essentially and allow the foot to flex and stretch as needed to develop naturally. You can find them at the StrideRite at the Harrisburg Mall and Reinebergers Shoes in York. There may be other places, but those are the two I know. There are generic brands at ToysRUs, etc., but I personally thought you could tell a difference between the leather name brand and the generic in this case.

The Robeez also make a hard bottom shoe now, called the Robeez Trendz, they too are great! And at 2 years old, I still have two pairs for my daughter. They are lightweight, so I don't wear them on her when it's too cold or wet, but I do wear them every chance I get. They just seem to be made well and seem to fit well. Where there are other shoes where she's asked me to take them off, she has never asked me to take these off.

You might also want to take her to the StrideRite or Reinebergers to get her foot measured and allow her to try on a bunch a different types of shoes. The cute shoes are sometimes not the best one... especially if they home some weight to them, do not allow her foot to flex, or may be just a bit too small or too big.

Good luck! :)

Robeez, yes yes yes! Baby botiques carry them, but Target has them for a fraction of the price. The brand is "Ministar" and you can order the style you like online. (Sometimes the store selection is limited). Also check second hand stores? My daughter LOVED hers so much that she wore out any she got second hand. We literally had to put her in hard-soled shoes with a squeaker in them to give her the novelty to be interested in anything but the Robeez!

Good luck!

We loved our Robeez and it was the only one I considered at that early walking stage. Target did not carry their brand when my kids were that age. We immediately went to Stride Rite when they became better walkers and went with their recommendations and to be fitted properly.

Since then I've learned about preschoolians and I will consider them for an inbetween step between the Robeez and Stride rite with this baby.

Good luck!

We found a Robeez knock-off - cost half as much - at Target and they were great! You find them in the infant/toddler section.

We used Robeez as first walkers (and beyond) for both our girls and LOVE them! They now have 3 styles: Original Robeez, which are soft soled, leather (like slippers); Robeez Tredz, which are have non-slip, water-resistent soles, leather uppers and are flexible, and the Robeez Mini Shoez, which are Our 16 month old is now wearing the Robeez Tredz, which are an in between style, with softer soles. All are designed for early walkers and are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. You can check them out at http://www.robeez.com My girls both had that same reaction as your daughter their first time in harder shoes, but not in their soft, flexible robeez. My 3 year old still wears them as inside slippers. Also, their winter booties are great. (ps - I don't work for Robeez..but I love them so much that I definitely should be their spokesperson!)
Best wishes!

They're on the pricey side (around $30, but you can get them cheaper in consignment shops), but I love Robeez. They're leather, but elasticized around the top so they STAY on, plus they're really comfortable. My 11 month old does fine in them for walking around.
There's also a different kind (courderoy, with leather bottoms) that are more like booties sold at Stride Rite, but they've fallen off more.

Although I am not to this point with my little one yet, my friend loves the Robeeze. They are a bit pricey, but really cute. They are leather with a thin flexible sole, so should be more like walking in socks.

Hi S.! I loved your description...It just brought back all those memories! How cute can kids be anyway? LOL I always started my girls in stride-rite basic white leather (or white and pink) tenner shoes. They cost a bit more, but they are well made and the folks that work there know how to fit them correctly (instead of me guessing!) I have always thought that bare foot is best, but this time of year you do need shoes so getting ones that are flexiable, (those maryjanes can be really stiff!) and fit correctly is critical. Best wishes and have a great Christmas!

My son LOVED his Robeez shoes. They're leather soft soled shoes and I have to imagine they feel like wearing socks. They were great. The Robeez Tredz are also fantastic, since the soles of the shoes are so flexible that you can almost fold the shoes in half. Pediped sells similar shoes as well so check them out too. Both companies sell their shoes online, although sometimes you can find them in Stride Rite stores. Both brands are a little bit more expensive ($40 a pair), but they're great shoes and they're worth it.

I suggest Robeez first (they are pricey, but they withstand the test of time...trust me!), and then putting her in a transitional shoe from Stride Right. They are pricey, but most pediatricians recommend them because their soles aren't hard on the baby's feet. They are also pricey, but if you go to the Lancaster outlets, they have a store that costs half of what the mall charges. Good luck!

Where do you live S.?
I know they make leather "booties" for babies about 12-24 months. I actually forget what they're called, but a kids shoe store would have them. Also know that Target sells a knock off brand that I used for my son when he was about the same age.
Let me know where you live cause I would love to get together as well.

M.
Mother of two little ones

I laugh as I read this - my 2 1/2 yo son ONLY wears Crocs and those Target Robeez knock offs. I love them! I ocasionally get a comment from an in-law, but really, this is so not a struggle we are going to have.

I would not worry about the shoes, have her wear the slippers from Target. To be honest, we had the name brand as well as the Target ones, and the only difference was the outrageous price of the name brand shoes. See if you can get 3-4 pairs, because from one mom to another - once they have been in a McDonald;s playland, they become "outside" shoes, and we don't wear them in the house.

Have a great day!
-C.

We like Robeez very much, but for a little girl I think Pedipeds are SO cute, and they are soft too. Locally you can get them at Cribs To Teens or Babyland, but both Roobez and Pedipeds have websites and they are usually available used on Ebay much cheaper. One upside of Robeez is that they are machine washable. Pedipeds aren't, though I have been known to run them through occasionally without consequence.

I had great luck with Bibi and Geox brand shoes...european and super flexible and soft. Get her foot measured at a store and then buy them on zappos.com. (free shipping and returns) They are a little pricey but well worth it. After she outgrows them you can sell them on ebay and recoup some $. Lil'Shoe Boat is a great store for the old school shoe fitting. They are located in the Concord Mall on rt 202 and one on Pike Creek in DE. Their selection is weak. Olly shoes has this computer image sizing system but the problem I have there is the salespeople (usually young high school/college) kids take the measured size verbatum and do not account for brands that run small, narrow, etc. Lil Shoe Boat staff has much more knowledge and will steer you in the right direction. In my opinion, the worst shoe store is Stride Rite - shoes are stiff and no knowledgeable staff. Good luck!

Robie's are soft with leather on the bottom.

When my kids were little, my pediatrician told me that bare feet were the best while babies are learning to toddle and walk, so you've done the right thing. She also told me when I did start buying shoes to buy ones with the most flexible soles possible. So I'd say the idea of a treaded slipper or something like that would be your best 'transitional' shoe. I don't know if they still have them, but my now 7-year-old used to have a nice pair of sueded boot-type slippers that I bought at Baby Gap. LL Bean and Target have some nice ones too that I got for my niece more recently. Don't worry too much - she'll figure it out before kindergarten!

I disagree with someone that posted that the knock off Robeez aren't as good. My daughter had both and I saw no difference. We got the real Robeez at Littles in Squirrel Hill and the knock offs at Babies R Us.
Another type of shoe she had when she was that age were infant New Balance. They were like a tennis shoe/slipper. Also bought at Littles.
My daughter walked like a marionette in mary janes at that age.

I used to put my kids in these little (big, actually, since they wore them a long time and their feet grew) booties that were corduroy with a kind of plastic skid resistant sole. but, that was many years ago and I don't think they make them anymore.

If you can't find anything with a really soft sole in the baby depts, I would try a soft sneaker to help her get used to ahoes. I would assume anyway that the sneaker's sole is a little more flexible than a regular hard soled shoe. Good luck ! I hope the younger moms have tons of advice for you ! My kids are in adult sizes now, so I'm way out of tough !

My son loved his Pedi-Peds: (http://www.pediped.com/Home/Home.aspx). They have a whole line of soft soled shoes and now as they get older, have a line of harder soles.

In my opinion, Robeez & Pedipeds are probably the best shoes on the market!
They are incredibly well-made & encourage healthy, proper foot development b/c they are incredibly flexible!

Depending on the size of your child's foot, you can even get "hard soled" shoes from both companies now (so they could be worn outside, even in wet conditions). Robeez "hard soled" shoes are called Tredz.

Hope that helps some!

you want to get her soft sole shoes you can find them locally at target or online like robeez
www.shooshoos.com
http://www.seekairun.com/
http://www.bugalookids.com/?Click=116

Cracked up when I read this request! Tyler had a pair of navy blue fleece velcro slippers that I thought he would wear to his prom! LOL
My niece loves the Robeez for her son. I never tried them.
I went to Stride Rite because they know how to measure a kids foot and I believe they have "first walkers" or the like. Good luck! After all--it's snowing now!

they do have socks that have treads on them at old navy and think other stores as well.

Payless has the white shoes they soft and flexible and wide as they should be at this time. Only need shoes if walk well and on the ground.