What Shoes Does Your 11 Month -1 Year Old Wear?

I second the Tsukihoshi shoes. I just got a pair for my 1 year old who is not quite walking. They are lightweight, easy to get on and can be worn with or without socks. They are made of breathable material to allow this. They also have some antibacterial lining so their feet don't stink and you can throw them in the washing machine if you take the lining out. I am a pediatric PT and agree with some of the previous posters about not having to go to Stride Right or spend a ton of money on shoes. The only problem is at this age it is really important that the shoe fits properly and you aren't going to have salespeople at target and kohls etc who are able to do that. I tend to go to a children's shoe store to get the kids fitted for a good pair of shoes and then buy the additional ones at target/kohls etc once I know what size they are.

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My son turns one in 2 weeks... he is barefoot except for when he's out of the house. Then we have him in Stride Rite's (Stage 2) - they're sort of fisherman's sandals so he can wear them with socks if it's cooler or with bare feet if it's warmer. We are very happy with them - they do a good job of protecting his feet and are good even on wet surfaces, unlike the Robeez. Until we got him these (which we did when he was about 10 months old) he wore sock/moccasins from Hannah Andersson (but it was winter then) - we bought the mocs for him when he was about 8 months old - before that there wasn't much point in him having shoes at all.

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You can find the Stride Rite brand at Penney's, also at endless.com and zappos.com. The websites have free shipping, often both ways, so if there is an issue you can return hassle free. Plus, I have found that all of those places are cheaper than Stride rite stores!

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Hello, I LOVE See Kai Run shoes. They are a bit harder to find. But I swear they are THE best! THey are also reasonable. Check them out at happyhealthybaby.com. I have had no luck with stideright(they kept leaving sores on my baby's feet). I just think they are over rated personally. As for the Robeez... they were too tight and left large marks on his feet. I thought they were uncomfortable for him. Good luck Let me know if you have any questions. I swear you will LOVE the see kai run's I'm so sorry my son will someday grow out of their largest sizes. good luck. C.

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I'd recommend Pedipeds. They are great for a baby who is just starting to walk. Pedipeds are similiar to Robeez however they are also designed for outdoor use. They have soft cushioned leather soles and a wide toe box. They were recently endorsed by the American Podiatric Medical Association as promoting healthy foot growth.

I own a children's shoe store, Sole Babies, located at 2033 W. Division just south of Wicker Park. My husband and I did a lot of research selecting the brands we would carry. Stop by the store to check out Pedipeds. We carry a large selection for boys and girls and they come in sandal styles as well.

P.S. We also carry See Kai Run in sizes 3-5!

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Hi Nicole:

Until they actually started walking, I just recommend Robeez or barefoot (inside of course). Once they start toddling, I would only recommend Stride Rite. Some people will balk at the price, but here is my feeling. When I go to Stride Rite, they know how to fit the shoes properly (I don't). I recently went into the Stride Rite store in Yorktown, as I was thinking that my son (almost 2) needed a bigger size of gym shoes. The salesperson at the store told me his shoes are fine and to come back in about 45 to 60 days. I was shocked at their pure honesty. They also have a frequent buyer program that will really benefit you with two little ones!! When it comes to car seats and shoes, those are two areas I refuse to cut corners. Good luck!!

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My son wears Stride Rite shoes, I was brainwashed by my mother that Stride Rite is the only acceptable shoes for babies. He got his first pair at 10 months old and is still wearing them now at 14 months (even though the Stride Rite people try to convince you that you have to come back and buy a new pair every 2 months). I got a standard brown casual shoe that goes with everything. At $45-50 a pop, it better go with everything! Anyway, he was cruising when I first got the shoes and they are Stage 2. Now he is walking so I should probably get him Stage 3 shoes, but these still seem to be working fine for him.

I agree with the see kai run shoes. My son does well in them and the quality is excellent. I also put him in Robeez. They are a good standby and last a long time.

I just purchased a pair of Preschoolian's for my 13 m/o. You can check them out at www.preschoolians.com. They call their shoes for new walkers "walking barefoot" since that's the best, but not always practical. Apparently they also sell their shoes from previous seasons on Ebay. So far I have been very happy with them and my daughter just stared walking and has no problems with them inside or outside.

Quite frankly I think Stride Right prices are outrageous! I can't justify paying $30-$40 on a shoe that they may wear for a few months. My doctor told me that places like target and kohl's carry shoes that are just as good. We buy almost all our shoes from Target.
Also, at the younger ages, used stores are a good place to look. Now that my daughter is older I do not like to buy used shoes.
Good Luck!

Stride Rite has great (and super-cute) shoes for all stages of walkers. They'll measure your child's foot for you at the store. If you feel they're too expensive (like me), you can always take the measurement and then hunt for discounted shoes on the internet, at Marshall's or at Nordstrom Rack. Luckily my son always pitches a fit when he's measured so I can say, "Wow, there is no way we'll get a shoe on him today. We'll have to come back later." Then I don't feel bad about walking out without a purchase :)

Hi Nicole,
My kids wear sandals in the summer months, they do have soft soled sandals at Stride rite that are made for little ones who are not yet walking. Another thing you can try are those water shoes, not sure of the name but they are soft soled also and almost anywhere sells them.

I would also like to thank you on all the wonderful advise you have given me on my twins due in December.

Have a wonderful day and hope my advise helps!!
H.

I LOVE 'See Kai Run' shoes for early walkers and later. My son starting wearling them at one and still wears them now at 3. They are very soft leather with a flexible rubber sole. They were created by parents of a new walker who live in Seattle and needed robeez with a rubber sole for the damp ground in Seattle. They come in very hip styles and cost less than stride rite, about $35.00. I buy mine at The Red Balloon Company in Bucktown or Andersonville. Good luck!

My son has wide, fat feet so he can't wear any of the shoes that just slip on the foot like Robeez. I have a pair of Tsukihoshi shoes for him that I LOVE. They are so easy to get on, they have flexible soles, and they are so cute! But now that it's summer, I can also put him in any sandal that velcros closed. So now I have a lot more options. My son's first birthday is next week so I've been more focused on that than anything else, but I will be checking to see if Tsukihoshi makes sandals. They're definitely worth a look!

The best thing for babies to learn to walk is barefoot. When you do go out for summer you can get sandals but make sure they are not too big or they will trip alot and be bruised and scratched. If you go to a beach,waterpark or pool they have water shoes. You could get gym shoes. You don't have to spend a lot of money either. Payless will measure your children and have the buy one get another half price sale. Target and Wal-mart have clearance shoes now.