Conference moira::parenting

The first pair of walking type sneakers I bought for my daughter were 
called Agility.  I think Weebock makes them.  They are very light and
flexible.  

I wanted a pair of Nike or Reebock for her, but the children's show store
talked me into this brand.  I was glad they did.  While they are not the
cutest sneakers around, they are designed with the new walker in mind.
Plenty of time to buy those cute ones ahead.  The Agility have special
soles that help with grip on the more slippery surfaces.

Another brand that I heard was good but never tried was Toddler University.
They are also fairly expensive for an infant/toddler shoe.

Barbara

    If your child is walking in the house, please consider no shoes.  More
    and more I am hearing that this is the best way for those little ankles
    to strengthen.  Hi-tops are NOT recommended anymore.  Sneakers (for
    outside walking) are preferred to shoes because they are more flexible. 
    Make sure you can bend the sneaker (put your fingers on the toe area
    and your thumb on the heel and squeeze - they should be flexible). 
    
    I always bought my shoes wherever.  I bought according to flexibility
    and price versus name brand.  My kids spent alot of time barefoot
    (still do) and we are now into the Spaulding type shoe.  We have worn
    thru our last pair of character shoes - they seem so cheaply made.  But
    at your baby's age, they will probably grow out of any shoe long before
    they wear them out.
    
    -sandy
    

    	Our physician (who is very conservative) asked us not to put shoes
    on the baby inside the house and to only use a very soft shoe outside
    if he needed foot protection (either from temperature or terrain) until
    he was at least one year old.

    	As the first thing I do when I get home (besides take off the bra)
    is to kick off my shoes, I have absolutely no problem with that.


			Wendy

    My physician also recommended bare feet while in the house.  When she
    saw the extremely inexpensive (< $7.00) pair of very soft soled shoes I
    had on my son when he was first learning how to walk, she made a
    comment about how they were the best thing for him and not to waste my
    money on Stride Rite or other fancy named shoes and that the only thing
    you were paying for was the name.
    
    Lori B.

    My kids never wear shoes while in the house.  I also 
    buy generic brand sneakers.  Both my kid needs a new pair
    every 3-6 months.  I cann't spend $30-$50 on a pair of shoes.
    
    Wendy

    If you can afford it, Stride Rite sells a brand of sneakers called
    Toddler University.  They're expensive.. $35.00.  However, they are
    supposed to simulate barefeet and are very flexible.  I bought these
    for Jackie's first pair of shoes and she wore them till she out grew
    them, and they were still in pretty good shape.  I am now on my second
    pair (after a few others in between) and really like them.  My pedi
    recomended sneakers for a first pair of shoes, but also (along with
    previous comments), thinks bare feet are best if possible. 
    
    Mary
    

    
    I'm really impressed with everyone.  I also felt strongly that bare
    feet was the best way to go.  When I was growing up, my parents spent a
    small fortune on orthepedic shoes for me (I had flat feet - nothing
    major).  Anyway, one summer I spent the entire summer at the beach
    barefoot.  Lo and behold, when I came home and had my physical for
    school, I had an arch!  8-) 
    
    I'm not saying it's a cure for flat footedness, but it REALLY did work
    for me!!!

    
    I also have flat feet and I remember the doctor saying if I'm outside
    on the lawn to go barefoot.
    
    Chris D.

When my kids were toddlers, I subscribed to a couple of "Parent" type magazines
and read everything I came across.  What I remember most about shoes was that
the traditional idea of giving a toddler a firm supporting shoe was no longer
recommended (remember those stiff white shoes?). 

Toddlers have flat feet.  Their arches develop later, and you don't have to
"give" them arches through expensive shoes.  I really believe that buying
expensive Reeboks, Nikes, or whatever for babies is a waste of money.  Any
comfortable canvas sneaker will do for the summer, as long as it fits well in
width and length. 

IMHO
Barbara

Blanket statements like "it is better for babies to go barefoot" really bother
me.  I'm sure that in most cases that's probably true, but there are times when
wearing shoes is a must.  My son has high muscle tone due to his prematurity, 
so we have been advised to put him in stiff-soled sneakers (sneakers are 
lighter) to encourage him to walk flat-footed and not on his toes.  And I do 
know that lots of babies walk on their toes for a while, but he walks on the 
very tips (I bet lots of ballerinas would kill to be able to do it like he 
does), and needs to be encouraged to relax his muscles so that he will 
eventually walk correctly and not have permanent problems.

    Re:.-1

    I agree with you.  Russell's left foot used to be turned in.  My pedi
    watched it for a couple of months, then when Russ was 4-6 months old,
    had him see an orthopedic dr.  Russell was in special shoes (the ones
    that looked like he had them on his feet the wrong way) for about 4
    months or so.  He wore them all day, even when napping.  Then he got
    what they called "straight last" shoes.  These looked like those white
    high tops we all wore, except there was no difference from right at
    left shoe.  He wore those until he was 1 yr old.  When I showed the dr
    the high topped (stride-rite)sneakers I had bought for Russell for the
    playground, he approved.  Russell's feet are fine now, and I do let him
    run around barefoot as much as possible.  But I also am leery of buying
    really cheap sneakers for him.

    BTW: I wouldn't trust myself to "fit" Russell's feet either.  I don't
    remember who was going to stride-rite (.10?) but if you live near
    Westboro, Ma, you may have heard of Raschel's.  They have some of the
    name brands for much less than the regular stores, and the woman there
    who fitted Russell for his latest pair of sneakers did a great job. 
    There is also a place out in Wochester called "Little Feet".  I used to
    get the stride rite sneakers out there for more than 1/2 off.

    marianne
    	

    For anyone looking for inexpensive Stride Rite shoes, there's a Little
    Feet in Worcester and also one in Fitchburg.
    
    Lori B.

    We have to get a pair of "straight last" shoes for our 2 year old. With
    summer coming, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep them on him. 
    
    Can anyone tell me what your experience has been with these shoes?  Do 
    kids mind wearing them? How long do they typically need them?  Our
    son's problem is relatively minor--slightly turned in left foot.
    

    Russell was in the straight last shoes starting in either April or June
    (I can't remember which) and stopped wearing them in September, just
    after his 1st birthday.  Russell had been wearing heavier shoes prior
    to that, which he had to leave on all day (including naps).  He never
    had a problem with them.  My dr had said that he should wear the
    straight last as much as possible, but that for special occasions, etc,
    he could wear sneakers.

    What I did was this.  Russell wore the special shoes to daycare.  At
    that time, he was only going 3 days a week, but those days he wore them
    all day.  On the days I was home, I would put them on in the morning,
    and take them off for naps, etc.  If we went swimming at the lake, or
    it was unbearably hot, I'd let him wear his sandals.  About a week
    before he went for his last checkup, I bought him a pair of high topped
    sneakers for the playground.  The soles on the straight last shoes are
    leather, and while they do get scuffed up, they are still to slippery
    to do much climbing on wooden structures.  When I showed them to the
    dr, he said they were fine.  

    Hope this helps.....         

    marianne 

    My son wore straight last shoes plus orthotics -- heel lift and cookies
    for almost 4 years .  He has/had what the orthopedist
    called 'spiral torsion', where his lower left shin bone was twisted.  So
    at 15 months he was put into straight-last shoes during the day and a
    "brown bar" -- i think that's the name - a stiff piece of leather with
    the shoes attached -- while sleeping.  Unfortunately  I think we waited
    too long -- the pedi kept on saying it would straighten out by itself,
    and he still turns in at age 8.  The main problem I had with the shoes
    was that they weren't very stylish.  He did wear sneakers, also with
    the orthotics -- talk about expensive!  He's the kind of kid who
    doesn't outgrow shoes, he destroys them first!  I finally asked could
    we stop with the straight lasts and orthotics because he was still
    turning in just as badly - didn't stop him from anything athletic tho!
    -- and the orthopedist said we could as long as the counter of the
    sneak was firm, like ked or nike or reebok, and would keep his ankle
    from turning in.  I used to buy his shoes in W. Concord (MA) at a store
    where they specialize in problem feet, but gave up last year when his
    shoes would've cost more than mine -- and he only would wear them maybe
    twice a week!
    My daughter also turns in, so I had her checked at 6 months -- the
    orthopedist thought I was crazy but I didn't want to repeat the
    problem.  She was fine as far as bone not being twisted, but still
    turns in, no matter what she wears.  I have bad feet -- wore cookies for 
    years as a kid yet still have had bunionectomies -- and my husband
    does also, so it's something I'm very aware of.
    
    Sandy

    I'm way behind reading notes, (thanks to DECworld for 3 weeks!) but
    thought I'd add my "frugal" thoughts to this.  I have relied very
    heavily on TJ Maxx stores for sneakers since AJ was an infant.  I've
    been able to pick up Weebocks, Toddler U's, Nike, Reebock, and a couple
    other brands I can't remember usually average price of $20. or less.
    Of course the prices go up with the size, and he's now in a 12-1/2boys.
    
    IF you know what size you need, I usually had him measured elsewhere,
    or they were bought just after (oh let's use Easter as an example) an
    occation where we bought regular shoes and knew which size we needed.
    
    The other thing I do is to buy him the "boat shoes".  Stride rite makes
    them in brown and navy, and I usually get a pair annually in the spring
    at Little feet in Worcester.  I put them in the same category with
    sneakers, flexible soles and good leather, and of course there's the
    stride rite brand name.
    
    I do try to avoid the vinyl sneakers and shoes, they tend to make the
    feet sweat (and smell-yuck!), I've also stopped, after only one
    experience, buying the character sneaks with velcro closures.  He had a
    pair about a month ago that literally fell apart in 7 DAYS! Needless to
    say I brought them back and requested (and was given) a full refund and
    bought something different.
    
    Lyn
    

    I am looking for some information pertaining to shoes/feet of babies. 
    I did read note #69 pertaining to shoes but had an additional question
    that was not addressed there. 
    
    At which age, growth period should shoes be purchased for babies.  My
    daughter is eight months old, not walking nor standing but my
    mother-in-law insists on buying her some stride rite shoes.  She stated
    that she always buys the first pair of shoes.  I did notice in the
    previous topic that the name is not always the best way to buy shoes.  
    
    Now that the warm weather is coming, is it OK to put on a pair of sox
    and let my daughter try out her legs on the ground without shoes?
    
    Lisa Cozzens
                        

    It depends on the ground.
    
    From what I've read, medical opinion perfers barefoot if the
    surface is "safe"--no broken glass or dog excrement and so on.
    That is, after all, what feet are for.  Only barefoot feet can
    bend in all the right ways, etc.
    
    Socks are slippery on floors and get dirty outside, so I'd skip
    them.
    
    Grandmothers (and others) often feel differently about going
    barefoot--and they generally want to do symbolic things like buy
    the first pair of shoes.  Children sometimes find grass too
    ticklish to start with, too.  And our feet aren't really evolved
    to handle snow and ice.  Of course, open cuts and so on mean shoes
    are required, and if you're in a warm climate where hook-worms 
    and the like are an issue, educate yourself about the risks first.
    
    I'd let the mother-in-law buy shoes if she wants, but I'd let my
    child play barefoot in my back yard--but wear shoes when on the
    sidewalk or in public areas.  And barefoot in the house is ok, too.
    
    		-John

	And, my pedi said, if you *do* buy shoes, make it a sneaker type
	of shoe, not the hard baby shoes.

	Karen

    My daughter (age 1) wears shoes to daycare, they're always outside
    playing, but once she's home and in the house I take them off and put
    "Padders" on her.  Padders (brandname) are just like slippers and have
    a rubber sole which prevents slipping; they're so light and flexible
    that her feet work just like they would if she didn't have any shoes
    on at all.  When my pedi saw them she wanted to know where I got them
    so she could get some for her son, too, (Raschel's in Westboro, btw).
    They do make socks with no-slip bottoms, they're made by Gold Bug, but
    are definitely not appropriate for outside wear.
    
    Susan

    I'd do what -.1 says, although I found the 'Padders' brand always fell
    off my daughter. They are a slip-on style with elastic around the
    ankle. I found the 'TV booties' brand better for my daughter. They are
    essentially the same thing (cordoroy 'shoes' w/ non-skid soles) except
    they have a shoelace-type tie around the ankle.

re: .18

What does your pedi think?  If s/he is a "barefoot" type of doctor, that 
could help you manage your m-i-l.

Once your child starts walking, there probably will be times that you will 
prefer to have shoes, such as when she's walking where there may be glass or 
rocks, or dog poop on the ground, so it doesn't hurt to have a pair of 
shoes; but that does not mean that your child needs to wear them all the 
time.  A previous note mentions that sneaker type shoes may be preferable; 
that's what we used.  See what your pedi thinks, and along with other input 
make your decision.

The knock against Stride Rite is not that they are bad shoes.  It is that 
they are overpriced.  Since it won't be YOU that is buying them, and since it 
appears that your m-i-l would feel better buying Stride-Rites, I'd say let 
her, but make sure it is YOU that selects the specific type of shoe.  Unless 
things have changed radically in the last few years, Stride-Rites come in a 
variety of styles, including sneaker types.

Clay

    I'll add my voice to the chorus -- as soon as you feel some kind
    of foot protection is necessary, get moccasin or slipper-like 
    shoes, not the hard-soled shoes. Once the child is really walking,
    sneakers are a good idea because they are flexible, yet protect 
    toes from scraping and stubbing and so on.
    
    I started my son on moccasins at around 9 months (the weather
    was cold) and my daughter at around 11 months.  In the house we 
    always left her barefoot until the weather turned cold.
    
    One good thing about going to Stride Rite (or any real shoe store)
    is that they will size your child's feet. 
    
    Lucy

    If anyone wants the name of an excellent children's shoe store in
    Londonderry and Manchester, NH, please send me Email.  They do a good
    job of fitting.
    
    Laura
    

I just bought new shoes for my kids on Sunday, and we had to go to 
Stride-Rite since Brad's foot is EE in width, and I've yet to find someplace
other than Stride-Rite that carries shoes that wide.  I thought the prices
were high, and if you can use a vanilla shoe size, I think you can get
similar quality for less money.  But I did appreciate them measuring and
fitting both pairs of shoes.  And it turns out that Jessica also has a wide
foot, but we didn't realize it because compared to Brad, her foot looks
like a regular size.  I ended up buying 2 pairs of canvas sneakers for 
few dollars less than the leather ones I've been able to get at Raschel's
previously.

And when we got them their first pair of shoes, we were told by the physical
therapist to get hard-soled sneakers. That was to force Brad to bend at
his ankles (high muscle tone), and they needed to be sneakers so that they
would be light enough for him.  I think a lot of doctors recommend sneakers
as a first shoe.  I didn't bother to put them in shoes til they were 
almost a year and had started pulling up and cruising. 

We put sneakers on Patrick as soon as he started walking, to help develop
his muscle tone which was a bit lacking because of his hip problems. Stride
Rite makes a high quality shoe but $35/pr is out of our price range. My
wife always manages to find the exact same shoes at TJ Maxx for $14.99.

Chris

    Yes -- the best thing to do if your child wears a standard size 
    is to get their feet measured at Stride Rite, then go to a discount
    place to find the shoes. You can save megabucks this way. 
    Beware: just as in adult shoes and clothing, sizing varies among
    manufacturers and brands.
    
    Also, Stride Rite does have decent sales sometimes.
    
    Lucy

    I'm not sure this note fits in exactly well, but I'd rather use this
    than start a new one.
    
    Gina is 3 and we are going away for a vacation to the beach next week.
    I bought her a pair of cheap off-brand "sand" shoes at a discount
    department store a couple of months ago.  (The type with a rubber
    bottom and a mesh top that cling to your feet when you go into the
    water.) 
    
    We used them last weekend and while they worked great in terms of her
    feet not hurting on the hot sand, the fit wasn't the best and she got
    blisters on both feet.
    
    This kid views cuts and open wounds as if she were dying.  It scares
    her and she will barely let you touch her feet at all.  So, we are not
    planning to use the cheap shoes again.
    
    We go to the beach a lot, and I'd like to try to get her another pair.
    What I want to know is, should I go to Stride Rite or some regular shoe
    store in the hopes that another brand may fit properly.  Has anyone
    else bought these shoes for their kids and had them fit comfortably?
    
    And how much can I expect to spend on them?
    
    Thanks!
    
    judy

How about an inexpensive pair of slip-on canvas sneakers?  Or a pair of plain 
old sandals?

Clay

    I just bought a pair of "Aqua" shoes for Jason.  They're a little snug,
    but other than that, they're great!  Got them at Stuart's for $10.00
    
    I think they're made by Voit, but I could be wrong.  They're rubber
    soles and have wet-suit material on top, come in ALL different colors,
    ALL different sizes.  Only drawback is that they take about 12 hours to
    dry.  But, they are made to get wet, and he said they keep his feet
    warm (even when wet), and definitely help with the traction on the
    bottom of the pool.
    

    We bought Nike Aqua Socks, at Raschell's, for $12.95.  They stay on
    great, haven't caused any discomfort for our 18 month old son, and they
    work wonders, especially on rocky shores and in the water.
    
    Slip-on canvas sneakers are much heavier, take much longer to dry, and
    don't fit as snugly in the water.
    
    I think that the Nike Aqua Socks are definitely worth it.
    
    Leslie

    We've bought whatever rockwalkers were available whenever we needed the
    next size, and I don't think there are any "good quality" ones, as the
    top dollar is $13 or so.
    
    What I think is important is not to let the kids *live* in 'em all day
    long; they can have rough seams, and that imitation-fabric-product does
    not dry quickly (as noted).  Wet, rough mystery fabric on tender
    footsies for an extended period of time is just *begging* for blisters! 
    And when they're dry, they're hot, so the feet perspire...  Make a rule
    that the rockwalkers come off when you get to the beach towel (if the
    sand is hot, then have a backup pair of flipflops [zoris] or something).
    
    Leslie

My daughter (2 1/2) loves her aqua shoes too.  We picked them up at Wal Mart
for about $8.00.

Michael

	I saw some name brands at Marshall's in Marlboro MA last week.

	Can't remember the brand now, though, nor the price!

	On a different note:

	I just had Emily fitted for shoes for the first time yesterday.
	Up 'till now, we've gotten by with a cheap pair of canvas sneakers
	when absolutely needed, and barefoot/socks the majority of the time.

	I tried to find her shoes at Marshalls before a fitting, and had
	no luck.  I quickly realized she had a wide foot, plus the "fat pad"
	near the toe joints is still there, making her a tough fit.

	Anyway, she's in a size 5 wide (at 12 months).  The salesperson
	at Stride Rite told me they are the only brand that makes "wide"
	kids shoes.  Does anyone know if this is true ?  Daddy doesn't
	want to buy Stride Rite shoes every 3 months (rightfully so)...

	Karen

    Hello Judy,
    
    Evan has a pair of "beach shoes", I bought them from Lands End (mail
    order).   I think they were 12.00 for children.  He wore them all day
    at a local park last weekend and didn't seem to bother his feet. They
    fit him really well, no blisters or marks.
    
    I have the catalog if you would like to order a pair, I actually
    ordered a pair for myself, since Evan likes to swim already
    (2.2 going on 4) but needs alot of help from me.
    
    take care                                  
    Alice

   re : Karen/Stride Rite & wide feet......

   Karen,

   I can really emphathise with you - when my Matt started getting shoes,
   he started (at 11 months !) with size 4EEE !!!!! The ONLY place I could
   find anything decent that fit well was with Stride Rite !  

   The bad news is they are more expensive ......

   but there is good news as well - I found they lasted more like 6 months 
   before I had to go to the next size AND at age 8 yrs, Matt is now into 
   more normal widths and I can buy at other shoe stores !

   Debbi 

    I echo the vote for Stride Rite for wide shoes. My son went through
    a period when his feet were quite wide and I was unable to find
    anything that seemed to fit other than Stride Rite. The quality is
    top notch.
    
    Now, at 5, his feet are average in width.
    
    Lucy

    Check out the discount stores for Stride-Rite.  On the west coast we
    have a store called Ross that carries some Stride-Rites (Toddeler U,
    Nike, etc...) now and then. I make a habit of stopping by there every 
    few weeks since the stock changes frequently.  I typically get top
    quality shoes for 50-60% off retail.  
    
    The negative is you have to know how to check sizes yourself since
    there is typically no "shoe expert" around.
    
    

    Both my kids were told they *HAD* to have Stride-Rites when they were
    younger because their feet were so "unusual" (sounds like it's not so
    unusual (-:)
    
    Jason had wide feet .... Chris has a _very_ narrow heel, and would step
    out of everything.
    
    I asked their pedi, and he said they're NOT necessary at all.  For
    Chris, we used "high tops" to help keep his foot in his shoe, and they
    seem to have an overall "snugger" fit.  For Jason, I just hunted around
    for a while till I found some canvas lace-up shoes that had very little
    "shoe" from the toe to the beginning of the laces.  Therefore, I could
    lace the shoes "wider" than your average velcro sneakers.  Both kids
    are fine now, and they've never had any trouble with their feet.  And
    for Jason's shoes, I found I had better luck in the discount dept
    stores - something like a flat "basket ball" canvas sneaker worked real
    well.
    
    We didn't have the money nor the desire for Stride Rites.
    
    Good Luck!
    

	Thanks for all the input.

	I've received a few E-mail suggestions, too.

	I have already tried canvas shoes for Emily - they continually
	fell off, which is why I wanted a higher-cut sneaker.

	Also, when I looked, the discount stores didn't have any Stride Rites.
	I guess it'll take frequent trips to catch them at the right time.

	I've got a very wide foot, and have always been a difficult
	fit for shoes.  I know it's too early to tell for Emily, but
	I won't be surprised if she doesn't outgrow the wide foot.  At
	least I'm sympathetic to the problem, so if it has to be Stride Rite
	for comfort, it will be.

	BTW, the salesperson said that at this age, expect her to outgrow
	her shoes every 3 months on average.

	Karen

    I would like to know what other parents have purchased for footwear for
    their "just starting to walk" children. My daughter (12 mo.) just took
    her first solo steps yesterday. I've had her in sneakers while she's
    been cruising, mostly for protection from other active little feet
    around her at daycare. But I'm not sure if I should be bringing her to
    a real shoe store, (Hayes in Concord, StrideRite, etc.) to have her foot 
    measured and buy her quality shoes or hit the local department store. 
    Actually I was considering doing both, say a good pair of shoes and a and 
    an inexpensive pair of sandals for summer. I'd appreciate any input.
    
    Thanks!

    I just let Derek walk in his bare feet - his pedi said that was fine,
    and was better for his feet.
    
    It's whatever you and the baby feel comfortable doing, but I'm a firm
    believer in bare feet!
    
    Barb

    I spoke to Alyssa's pedi a little while ago and she too recommends
    barefeet where appropriate and sneakers that are flexible and
    breath. At least I know I'm doing the right thing. I always let her go
    barefoot around the house. I guess I'll stick to the modest priced
    sneakers too. It's nice to be able to hear what other parents/pedi
    suggest though too. 
    
    Thanks for the input.

	I put my pedi's recommendations in an earlier reply 
	(similar to your pedi's).

	One thing I found out recently is that barefoot outside is only
	ok in certain spots on our lawn.  Emily tried to follow me into
	the garden the other day, and stepped in a small patch of weeds.

	She ended up with little "prickers" in her feet.

	Karen

    
    	We're big on socks or bare feet in the house. Following our pedi's
    advice, we got a pair of soft, cheap sneakers for Spencer once he
    really starting walking. In Spencer's case, there were a few problems,
    first I don't think that those smaller sneaks are built to withstand
    bodies that have a higher than normal amount of weight, and (not
    surprisingly) Spencer has very wide feet and the cheaper sneaks gave
    him blisters.

    	Now we go with Stride Rite but we get them at the local discount
    place in Nashua.

    			Wendy

    
    regarding .43, you mentioned sandals...
    
    When I was ready to buy my son sandals a friend said to get the kind
    that fully enclose the toes, since he's so young (18 mo.s). I took
    her advice, and am REALLY glad I did  --the front of the sandals are
    taking a beating, but his little toes are in great shape!
    
    Just wanted to pass it along for what it's worth.  Also, someone told
    me about Salt Water sandals, which apparantly look like leather, but
    hold up if they get wet etc.  I couldn't find them, but they sounded
    great.
    
    Lynn
    

    .43 and .50
    
    I also bought my 18-month old covered toe sandals.  I like them and she
    seems to like them as well.  Unfortunately our daycare center doesn't
    like them and has asked me to send in a pair of sneakers for when they
    go outside.  The playground is covered with tiny little pebbles and
    Emily gets them stuck in her sandals and can't get them out.  They told
    me they bother her and they are constantly having to take off her sandals 
    to get the pebbles out.

My daughter likes to ball up her toes when I put those water shoes on her,
so I get them on her foot as best I can, then have her stand up. That 
usually works to make her uncurl her toes, and I can work the shoe on
completely with her standing.

    Hi, 
    
    My son is just 12 months old this month 8/11.  I believe in barefoot/or
    socks around the house and outdoors in our yard, but did want a pair of 
    shoes for inclimate weather/protection on the ground in unknown areas.
    He just took his first steps on my birthday 8/25!
    I couldn't find anything that fit and finally took him to Mr. Ed's 
    Stide Right Shoe in Auburn MA (Heritage Mall) and he didn't have a shoe
    in stock that fit Eric!  But he did order a pair for him that will be
    in this week.  He shoe size measures: 5-1/2 EEE!  I was very happy I
    took 
    him to Mr. Ed's because he put a pair on Eric that to me looked liked
    they fit but he wasn't happy with the fit and showed me exactly "where"
    it didn't fit properly.  I wouldn't have noticed myself, & am happy
    that he pointed this out.  
    
    Like I said, I do believe in barefoot... and Eric's pedi does to, but 
    we both also agree that a pair of shoes is important for those
    occassions when some protection is needed. especially once walking on 
    the tar and such...  
    
    I wouldn't bother with shoes until the baby is closer to a year old
    either.  (or starting to walk "outside") Slipper socks and booties socks 
    worked just fine for Eric when he was a baby during the winter and
    light socks for the summer or barefoot. 
    
    . 

I've been buying my sons shoes (sneakers) at Stride Rite.  He got his
first pair at 13 months, and I just bought him his 4th pair a few
weeks ago at 27 months.

The first pair fit him for just under 3 months, and they did not appear
too large when they were new.  However, the second and third pair (the
third pair still fits him and he's had them since April), seemed to be
too large for the first couple of months.  

The salesman says that his big toe should come just in front of the rubber
band that goes around the front toe area.  The new shoes do always seem
too large.  The last time I stopped in he was measured for an 8 slim.
The previous shoe was a 7.5 regular (purchased in April).  He said he'll
probably continue to need a narrow shoe.

I hope this doesn't sound too confusing, but my question is, does Stride
Rite tend to sell you shoes that are too large?  This way they last
longer and it makes up for the higher price?

One time I even told the salesman I'd rather him be in a shoe that fits
him well for a shorter time, then to have him in a shoe that is too big
for him.  He told me that he was selling me the correct size.

How much extra room in the toe area (length) is the right amount?  

I live in Colorado Springs, are there any other places to buy slim sized shoes
other than Stride Rite?  Has anyone else had any good/bad experiences with
the local Stride Rite store?  (I guess you'd better send me mail on this one.)

Thankyou!!

Ginny

	Emily got new shoes last week.  *I* didn't think her old
	shoes were too small, but my husband did.  The man at the shoe
	store could tell just by looking that they were too small.  

	He told me to check her shoes periodically by pressing my thumb
	just behind the toe-rubber.  If I press her toes, the shoes are too
	small.  He said once the toes begin to press against the front of
	the shoe, you can damage the feet with continued wear (the large
	bone at the base of the big toe takes the pressure). 

	I have wide feet, and never had comfortable shoes.  I always remember
	my shoes feeling tight.  I have large bunions now, and have to take
	extra special care of my feet unless I want to end up in surgery in
	10 years (according to my podiatrist).

	I plan to be sure that Emily's shoes always have plenty of room
	and are comfortable.

	About selling you larger shoes... that doesn't seem to make sense.
	If they wanted to be dishonest, they'd be more likely to sell you
	shoes that just fit, so you'd be back in two months instead of three.

	Karen

    I have the same problem. Neel who is 17 months old today wears infant
    size 7 shoes. I bought them 2 weeks ago thinking that the pair will
    last him for a while since it has some "toe-room". I did not want to
    buy too large a size since that would make walking difficult for a
    toddler. So I use the same judgement that I use for myself with slight
    modifications. I make sure that there is enough "toe-room" so that the
    little toes are  not squished (:-)) and also there isn't too much room
    that the child has trouble walking / running. Of course I do not use
    exact measurements but the "feel" method similar to the "eye-ball"
    method.
    
    That must have been very clear right? :-)
    
    Shaila

    RE :-1 Hahaha! I totally missed to state the point of it all. Gulp!
    that was my coffee, maybe now I am awake (right!).
    
    Anyway, the point was that the shoes that I thought would be big for
    Neel are just fitting him. So I will have to make a shoe run in a
    couple of months. I prefer to buy the shoes by my "feel" method than
    buy larger size shoes since the little feet and legs need the support
    to walk and run confortably. 
    
    Sigh! If only infants' shoes were inexpensive. Some cost more than my
    shoes!!!
    
    Shaila

Fyi:

I checked with our pediatrician on how big new shoes should be.

She said to make sure the heel is not slipping out, and to keep about
a thumbs width free between the big toe and the end of the shoe when
buying new shoes.  Donot have ankle supports, and select flexible shoes.

It is better to have the shoe too long, than too short, or they can get
ingrown toenails, etc.  Common sense, I guess.

Now, I wonder, did she mean a thumbs width on a woman's hand or a man's 
hand?  ( :-) only kidding...)

Ginny

Hi,

I need to buy some shoes for my 18month old daughter for the winter.  The
daycare suggested boots...what have you used ?  What would you recommend ..
I am concerned that with just the regular sneakers, she could slip on the ice
and snow...

--C.

Ps:  She has been wearing sneakers for most of the time since she started
walking...

	Last winter, Emily had a pair of slip-on boots that came
	just above the ankle, and closed with velcro.  The boots
	were seamless, with extra material at the top to help get
	them on.

	I used these and packed her sneakers in her diaper bag.

	I've got a question, too.  What size boots do people typically
	get their kids ?  Emily's boots from last year are a size 8, and
	she just went up to size 8 in sneakers.  (Grammy couldn't find
	any smaller boots!)  Do you usually get them a little bigger ?
	Boots always seemed to be tighter on me than regular shoes....

	Karen

    I've found that boot sizes vary widely depending on style and
    manufacturer. Last year, Jessica was wearing a size 8 shoe, but her
    boots were a 10!  I think you really have to just try them on your
    child to see what fits. I don't think it's something you can buy
    without having the foot that's going to wear it right there to try it
    on. Of course, that may not be true if you kids have regular-sized
    feet.  Both my kids have wide feet, but Brad's are ridiculously wide,
    so finding any kind of shoe or boot for him is challenging to say the
    least, so I always have to have the kids right there when I buy shoes
    of any kind.
    

    Karen,
    
    Sarah is in the same situation as Emily, she wore a size 8 boot last
    winter and is now starting to wear a size 8 shoe.  The size 8 boots
    were very big when we bought them (in August while shopping in Kittery,
    ME) but I figured her feet would grow some and then I'd want extra room
    for heavier socks, etc.  While just treking from the house to the car
    to daycare or the store she just wore one pair of regular weight socks,
    but for extended play out in the snow we doubled up or had her wear
    thick socks.
    
    We haven't shopped for boots yet, but I anticipate that she'll need
    about a 10 if we stay with Stride Rite or an 8 or 9 if we get Buster
    Brown.
    
    Susan

    I have about 10 pairs of Stride Rites which my daughter has outgrown. 
    Most are in good condition.  I know you are not suppose to reuse shoes
    on other children but not everyone can afford new shoes.  What do
    people do with their old kids shoes?
    
    Carol

    
    How about selling them to a consignment store?  I bought 2 beautiful
    pair of Stride Rites for my son for $7 each. These shoes were barely
    used and since he always wears them with socks I didn't mind that they
    were second hand.

     As tough as it is for me, I trash  my son's outgrown shoes (with the 
     exception of 1 pair of soccer shoes that were only worn once or twice) -
     I remember the doctor and others telling me when he was younger that
     shoes should *not* be handed down - it's not so much the condition or
     hygiene of the shoes but the fact that, over time, the shoes modify
     their shape to conform to the wearer's foot - by the time they're
     "outgrown" by one kid, they're usually well-conformed to that foot
     and won't change again.......

     just me $.02 - ymmv
     Debbi

    In Manchester, NH, there is a place called (I think) The Walking
    Center, that was looking for used shoes in any condition.  We brought
    an obscene number of shoes there one year, after we found that we kept
    buying new pairs without throwing out the old.
    
    I never found out exactly what they were doing with them. They do
    walking-related physical therapy there.  
    
    I don't know how you'd find such a thing elsewhere - maybe a shoestore
    would know?
    
    I've also given shoes to Goodwill or our local thrift store.  Even
    though it's better to have new shoes, unshaped by a previous wearer,
    I'm sure there are plenty of kids out there without that luxury!
    

    
    When Jason started walking, I gave him a pair of Chris' old sneakers,
    and MAN did he walk weird!  Kept stumbling about, falling down, feet
    were all twisted etc etc.  This was Only with the shoes on - barefoot
    he walked fine.
    
    THEN I was told about the "don't hand down shoes" bit .... bought him
    his own pair of brand new shoes, and VOILA! he walked perfect.
    
    After that experience, I'd never hand down another pair.  I MIGHT think
    about boots for older kids, but even that has me leary ....
    
    

    At the wellness center at ZK, there is a sneaker collection every
    spring.  They ship the sneakers to 3rd world countries and kids who
    have no sneakers at all get them. 
    
    I know you aren't supposed to wear old shoes, but I figure it keeps
    their feet warm and from getting harmed from walking totally barefoot.
    
    They also accept adult sneakers, for those of you who have extra pairs. 
    Runners go through so many, this is a great way to recycle them.
    
    The collection has been in April in the past.
    
    judy

    re -1  Our church does the same thing.  And just to put our worn shoes
    in perspective, our minister brought back some of the worn shoes that
    they took from some of the children in Honduras, in exchange for our
    shoes (sneakers).  
    
    I can guarantee, that even very few street people in the US have shoes
    that are as bad as what most people in 3rd world countries accept as
    everyday wear.
    
    The pair the minister showed us was unbelieveable, and he said that on
    reflection, he shouldn't have taken them and he should have let the
    child have 2 pairs (original and the ones he brought), because the
    original, worn sneakers were better than what most of the rest of the
    people had. 
    
    This pair was almost nothing more than a sole with some side still
    attached and laces.

    Aaron is getting very good at walking (and he's only 11 months!) so we
    decided it's time to introduce him to the concept of wearing real
    shoes.  Up until now we've had him in Thumpers or Padders (brand names
    for cloth shoes with a gripping material on the bottom).  We took him
    to Striderite to have his foot measured.  At 11 months he's in a 5 1/2
    extra wide.  That seems pretty big to me, but he's a pretty big little
    boy, 100% in height and 75% in weight.
    
    We're only planning to put him in the shoes when we go places.  The
    rest of the time he'll be in socks and Thumpers (or padders).  We've
    been taking him out in Padders "boots".  They're a fleece lined, taller
    version of the shoe, but he really can't walk in them, they're too
    bulky.  They seem to be nice and warm for the cold weather.
    
    sandy

    Does anyone know of discount stores in Massachusetts that you purchase
    Stride Rite shoes? Any idea of cost?

    Curran's Footwear in Holden, MA carries Stride-Rite (almost
    exclusively, I think).  Most shoes in the store are $20.  Some
    have occasionally been a little cheaper.
    
    Curran's also carries sandals, snow boots, dance shoes, etc., at
    pretty reasonable prices.  They're on 122A (I think - it's the main
    road thru the center) right near the intersection with Rt 31.
    

    Little Feet in Chelmsford, MA [7 Summer]. I'm not sure on prices, but
    they are less than average.
    
    The Village Belle in Acton, MA [on Great Road south/east of 27, but
    before the rotary]. Prices are dead average for Stride Rite. $30-40 for
    early walkers, less for sandals.
    
      Annie

Re: .74

Not in Masschusetts, but in Salem NH there is (or at least used
to be) a Stride Rite outlet store. Prices were more in line with
what you'd see at a discount dept. store (Marshalls, TJMaxx) for
Stride Rite, but selection (style and size) was much better. I
haven't been up that way in 2-3 yrs. Anyone know if it's still open
and the name? 

    Marshall's carries Stride Rite, but of course there it is "hit or
    miss".  I go to the one in Bedford, MA which I think is one of the
    best. The Stride Rites run between $9.99-15 there. 
    
    Kathy

    Yes,
    
    the one in Salem, NH is Kid's Shoe Outlet at 322 South Broadway [Rt.28]
    603/898-9492
    
    I didn't put in in because the request was specifically for
    Massachusetts.

    There is a discount shoe store in the Worcester Common Fashion Outlets,
    right near the food court, that carries Keds and Stride Rite - and the
    prices are great! After shopping at Curran's in Holden for years,  I
    won't go there again - the prices were too good at the outlet mall.
    

    Curran's, suggested in .75, will fit the shoes (IMO much better than 
    the DIY trough at Marshall's, TJ Maxx, etc.).
    
    Leslie

    
    	I've been getting my kids' shoes at the outlet in the Worcester
    	Common Fashion Outlets.  Andrew's latest pair was $14.00 and
    	Emily's was $9.99 !  Much better than the $38.00 I spent on
    	Andrew's first pair ...
    
    

My 6 month old son KICKS off all of his socks.   He was fine in the baby
socks, the trouble started when he grew into the 4 1/2-6 sock size.  
We keep buying different brands of socks, hoping we'll find some that 
stay on.    Slippers haven't worked either.   It's a little too cold to 
let him go barefoot.   Any suggestions?  

He's not mobile yet.  And he hasn't been pulling the socks off, though
he just discovered his feet yesterday, so that may change!   

				Beth

    
    	superglue ?
    
    

    <-- BWAHAHAHAHAhaha!
    
    How about those little soft suede thingies that tie at the ankles?  Not
    really moccasins... they look more like little sole-less desert
    boots... somebody help me out here!
    
    Leslie

    they make something called thumpers, I think.  It's been a while since
    the last kid was that little.  Now some kids just aren't sock babies. 
    Atlehi hated any kind of thing on her feet, despite constant attempts
    to keep her feet covered.  come to think of it, she is downstairs with
    naked feet as we speak.  Shoes, socks and slippers are outdoor wear as
    far as she is concerned.  The only thing that worked were terry
    sleepers, and my kids always lived in them through the winters anyway.  
    
    Good luck,
    
    meg

    
    The only socks I found to stay on my son were Baby Gap. The Old Navy
    store, owned by Gap, also sell Baby Gap socks but with Old Navy name.
    They are thick all cotton with non skid writing on bottom.

    I had good luck with draw string booties that I got at Kids-R-Us. 
    (Note - I noticed that they are not in Toys-R-Us, only Kids-R-Us.)  
    
    The string is sewn into the booties around the ankle and tied into a plastic
    holder that keeps it from coming out.
    
    You can tighten the string so that it's snug around the ankle, thereby
    making them more difficult to kick off.
    
    Good luck.

    Mervyns also used to have booties with a velcro strap across the ankle. 
    Those might work.

Thanks for the suggestions. It gives me a few more places to try!

I'd be willing to let him do without socks, but his feet get cold 
and he complains about it.   It's a miracle to me that someone who 
can't use words yet can still communicate what he wants so clearly!  

My Claire also had trouble keeping socks on. She didn't find the Baby Gap
ones stayed on either. The ones we found good were the JC Penney's Toddletime
socks. The elastic is pretty tight and wide.

The other alternative would be to buy those "Padders" slippers. They are
usually made of something like corduroy and have a no slip sole, and
elastic around the ankle. Claire liked these cos she could get them on and
off by herself pretty early on (I don't remember when... probably around 
12-18months)

Lucy

    
    	another option is to put on those super-soft "shoes" for
    	infants, that are more for show than for functional purposes.
    
    	it ought to take at least a month or two for him to figure
    	out how to get those off ;-)
    
    

    wanna bet?  Alycia figured out how to kick those things off RIGHT away. 
    Somehow, it's always the left one first.  And yes, I'm sure they're
    tied tight enough.  We almost lost one yesterday at the mall.
    
    As for socks... I haven't had any problems with her keeping socks on
    her feet.  Those little infant socks never fit her, so I had to go to
    the next size up.  I can't remember the name of the company that makes
    them, but they seem to have a good elastic on them.  I got them at
    K-mart.
    
    Holly
    

    Sears has some *GREAT* stay-on-yer-feet 'socks'.  They're actually more
    like booties, and have grippy-things on the bottom, and are sized up to
    ?10? I think.  They go pretty big.  Jonathan's favorite for his first
    year or so!  Sometimes they run out of the larger sizes, so you might
    have to try a different Sears to get them.  
    Good Luck!  He's now 3, and I STILL can't keep his socks on him (-:
    
    

    Been there done that.... I have had pretty good success with the JC
    Penney brand (I think someone already mentioned that).  The socks are
    pretty thin for wintertime so I have used the Padders slippers and he
    actually leaves them on.  
    
    Shoes are another thing. Only shoes he will leave on are the clunky
    high top sneakers.  Only reason he leaves them on is because they make
    lots of noise when he kicks stuff (feet never stop moving).
    
    Good luck, I got the Penney socks at the Outlet for $4/8  pair (or
    something like that).
    
    Cheryl
    

    
    	I just remembered that there was one pair of socks that
    	I always preferred to put on Andrew because they didn't
    	fall off.  They looked more like terry cloth than regular
    	socks, and were elasticized at the top.  They were also
    	longer, so they came just below the knee.  They never fell
    	off, and Andrew never tried to tug or push them off.