What Summer Shoes for a Young Toddler?

[kozachka]

DS had too many shoes this winter, some of which he did not even get to wear :(, so I am trying to figure out the absolute MINIMUM that we'll need for the warm weather. So far we've got a pair of Robeez and Teva Little Psyclone sandals but I am not sure if that's what DS needs now that he's so mobile.

DS is running around in my favorite velcro Primigi boots and Elephanten house slippers (also velcro) but it's getting too warm for those here. I am afraid to put him in Robeez, which is what he wore last summer when he was crawling and cruising, it seems to me that leather soles won't offer enough protection for his feet. Am I wrong?

Are open toe sandals a good idea at this age? DS still falls occasionally. Teva size 4/5 seem to be too big for my boy, he keeps tripping. And I think he's figured out how to undo the velcro. U-g-h. Might have to return them. LE sandals look really cute but would we have the same problem.

My friend loves to keep her DS in snickers but I am not crazy about the idea. Won't they be too hot for SoCal?

[kalebsmama]

The summer that DS was just over 1yr old he had 3 pairs of shoes. Sandals that were open-toe (he had been walking since 10 months so I felt ok about it. A pair of keds, and a pair of water shoes to wear at the lake. We are in hot and humid Ohio.

[jk3]

Last summer my DS wore a pair of preschoolian nubuck sandals. These sandals are perfect for new walkers. He also had one other pair of shoes (preschoolian sneakers) and a pair of Robeez.

Jenn
DS 6/03

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030603/2/5/1/-5/.png

Last year my son was just learning to walk. We had a pair of Robeez that he wore around the grassy yard and safer places. We also had a pair of Stride Rite shoes that he wore and a pair of water shoes/sandals (we had a cheapie pair of water shoes from Target and bought a pair of water sandals that he outgrew before the end of the summer). I think you could get by with a pair of sandals (only you will know if he's tripping too much in them, and may want to consider a pair of fisherman style sandals that have some toe covering) and a pair of sneakers/shoes in addition to his Robeez. I know it's hot, but sometimes you need a closed up shoe for protection, so I would get a sneaker shoe of some sort probably. You could always just start with what you have and then decide if you need them and get them later.

Now that DS is not wearing his Robeez, he will just have a pair of sneakers and a pair of Tevas.

Fisherman style sandals! Absolutely the best option, IMO. That's all I had for DS last year, and I'm going to get the same again this year. They're cool, but they protect DS's feet beautifully in the playground.

Like these:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/4998102/c/6.html

or

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1497983/c/5404.html

HTH

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a PWD and a cocker(at the Rainbow Bridge)

[C99]

> Are open toe sandals a good idea at this age?

No! I didn't put open-toe sandals on my new walker last summer and I won't put them on my runner this year either. I was somewhat attracted to the Tevas last year b/c they were significantly cheaper, but the sales guy told me that early walkers have a hard time w/ those shoes and from observing new walkers last year, I would say that the sales guy was right. W/ an exposed toe, it's easier to trip and then there's a bigger risk of injury as well.

Last year, Nate wore SR fisherman's sandals. This year, I plan to get him a pair of fisherman's sandals and a pair of flat canvas tennis shoes, like a Converse low-top or a Keds shoe.

[stefani]

My DS is 18 months old, and he has one Preschoolians beach shoes (it is fisherman sandals), and two moccasins type shoes.

My vote for the minimum will be a fisherman sandals (cooler than closed shoes, but still protect the toes better than open-toed sandals) and a closed type shoes (moccasins or others).

Kiran wears his Robeez and Bobux outside quite a bit. It is all right, since where he walks is not really rough terrain. The only thing I don't like about it is that the sole gets so dirty. That's why the next shoes I get are Preschoolians and Wiggees.

The shoes I like are Preschoolians, Wiggees, Pedoodles, and See Kai Run. Those have flexible soles but rubber. Wiggees and See Kai Run have co-ops running right now.

O yes, we live in Dallas, Texas.

HTH!

[alkagift]

Last summer I kept my son in fisherman (closed toe) sandals almost all the time. I had a SR pair in navy and they went with nearly everything and were cute and flexible. Other than that he had a pair of leather tennies from Nike, lace up style. If I had to do it over again I would go with a pair of dark canvas keds or similar for sneakers. That's what I have this year. I live in the South so it's seriously hot here in the summer.

For dressy, I had a pair of plain navy Jack and Lily's (Robeez type) with a patent white star that looked good. He couldn't wear those for long, since they got tight in the ankle. When I replaced those it was fall here and I got a pair of SR dirty bucs.

Allison
Mommy to Matthew Clayton, 5/19/03

[kozachka]

Thank you for all your advice, ladies. Based on it Teva sandals are going back to the store :( and I am looking for a fisherman style sandals :). Those Primigi sandals from Zapatos look oh so good but I can't stomach the price, not yet anyway.

Preschoolians I am Walking Barefoot Beach in Primari Multi are darling :9 too. Wish there was a co-op for Preschoolians rather than Wiggees, which do not sell sandals. Or should I buy SKR in Danny for my Danny :D? Waiting for the co-op confirmation.

Not a big fan of snickers, can always buy those later if need be. Primigi high-top boots should still fit DS for awhile if we need something for a rainy weather. Will have to check Stride Right outlet for fisherman sandals when return Tevas.

Have you purchased Preschoolians before? You get 20% off for first time customers. ANd they have a page or so of sale shoes that 2 pairs is 20%, 3 is 30% and 4 with 40% off. They have some beach sandals in a I can Walk style. We had those last year for my son and loved them! They were very flexible and held up very well. I am not sure what size your son is but there seems to be plenty of styles on the sale page in the smaller sizes.

As for the SKR I would only suggest these if your child have wide feet. I bought some for my Levi (from a different retailer b/c I wanted to make sure of sizes before I ordered from the co-op). I am glad I did. I thought Levi had sort of fat little feet but the SKR are still a bit wide for him. He likes them and they are easy to get on but if he wears them all day them seem to get loose on his foot. The quality is very nice and the soles are flexible and the leather is very soft.

But out of those two brands I prefer the Preschoolians. Plus you cannot beat the Preschoolian CS