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Shoes for Toddlers:

Here's a little secret that no one tells you about, you just have to find out on your own. Little feet attached to little bodies would almost always prefer to be uncovered, but it's not always possible to allow them to go barefoot (especially in winter!), so picking the right shoe is difficult and very important. If your child's shoes are uncomfortable, or if your child just doesn't like them, they come off quickly and often end up left behind in a store isle or some other place, never to be recovered again. In order to be certain you’re your child will like the shoes, there are a few things to consider. Remember the tips below to help ensure that you don’t end up wasting money on shoes that just don’t satisfy your child.

• Heavy or “clunky” shoes are not a good idea. Even when a child has been walking for a year or more, she can still trip easily, and heavy shoes will make it nearly impossible for him to regain his balance. Instead, a thin rubber sole is safest.

• Make sure the shoe fits. If a shoe is too big, more bumps and bruises will be the result.
Likewise, the shoe should not be too tight. Too-tight shoes can cause a toddler to become cranky and irritable, and that is never a good thing. It might not be that the shoe is too big or small, though. It might be that, just as with adult shoes, this particular shoe just doesn't fit right. If your child constantly takes a certain pair of shoes off, or cries when you try to put them on, this may be the case, and you may want to consider buying a different kind.

• Buy shoes without strings. Shoes with strings are good for older children, but this isn’t the case with toddlers. Shoes coming untied on a child that hasn't been walking very long can pose a danger of tripping them. Even when the shoes don't pose any risk to the child, all toddlers inevitably reach that phase where they want to assert their independence, including putting on and taking off their own shoes. This phase almost always comes long before the child can tie a bow, so it is best if you purchase zipper, Velcro, or slip-on shoes.

• Take your child shopping with you. When shoe shopping for your toddler, take her with you to the store. This way, she can try them on so you can make sure they fit correctly. You will want to feel for her big toe at the end of the shoe. It should be close to the end, but not quite touching it. You should also have her wiggle her toes while the shoe is on, and if she says it hurts when she wiggles them, you shouldn't buy them. Disobey the etiquette rules you may try to live by, and have your child run around in the store with the shoes on. This way, you can see if this particular shoe might cause problems while running. It’s much better to discover this in the store, rather than on the sidewalk a few days after you buy them.

It is often tempting to buy all the cute boots, tennis shoes and sandals for little feet that you can find, and this is fine. You should just try to make sure that, during times your child will be running around or will be wearing shoes for a very long period, the shoes are comfortable. Following these guidelines when purchasing shoes for your toddler will hopefully end up with fewer shoes left in the isle of the grocery store.

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