Need HELP with baby boy's summer footwear!

[June Mommy]

DS was a newborn last summer so we just went barefoot, or had socks to match his short Gymbo rompers. This spring/summer, though, I don't know what to do! He has fat little feet, so we haven't ever done many shoes. I can't get any sort of structured shoe on his foot. He has a couple pair of soft-sole shoes, but I only let him wear them with outfits that they match, which is only a couple. Now that it is getting warmer, I'm wondering if I should let him go barefoot, just do socks, or try to find some sort of shoe. Most of his summer clothes are short rompers and jon-jons. I had him in a cute jon-jon this week and plain socks just *ruined* the outfit, if you ask me. (It looked *nerdy*, not a look I want to reinforce!) Is there any sort of soft-sole boy's sandal that would work as a neutral sort of shoe that would function as a foot-covering but 'fancier' than just plain socks? Would white sandals be too girly or do I have to stick with brown? He is just crawling right now, but pulling up on everything so I'm thinking he may walk by his 1st birthday in July. I need boy-foot-fashion help!!

[alkagift]

My son has a wide foot but I don't know if it qualifies as "fat" per se, so I don't know how they will fit on your son, but DS basically lived in closed toe sandals last summer. The ones I had were navy and went with most things. The "buckle" closure was really velcro and was super easy to get on and off.

Mine were last year's version of Stride Rite's Guppy. They're soft and flexible and come in extra-extra wides. Because they were navy they went with almost everything and they're a bit dressier than regular sandals, I think.

Allison
Mommy to Matthew Clayton, 5/19/03

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/23870.jpg

[August Mom]

Last summer, when DS was 21-24 months old, we had the same SR sandal as the PP only in brown. I really liked it and the brown went well with everything. I think a white sandal would probably be too girly. During DS's first summer (9-12 months), he had one pair of navy Robeez and I thought they went well with most everything. I let him wear them outside as well.

[C99]

What about Robeez? I think they make a sandals-looking option. I wouldn't put him in shoes if he isn't walking yet. In the summer, my son goes around w/ bare feet in the backyard and at home. In the winter, he only wears socks inside. He basically only wears shoes/boots when outside the house.

[mom2aidan]

SeeKaiRun shoes maybe another option for you. Here's their website: www.seekairun.com. Their soles are flexible but it provides more protection than the soft-soled shoes like robeez. I got one for my DS who's 10 months old and I wish I can keep it except that it's too wide for his feet.
Definitely worth looking at.

[noahsmommy]

I'm in the same dilemna. My ds goes around barefoot all the time, but I'm looking for a shoe for him to crawl, stand and possibly walk around in outside. I'd stay away from white, since it'll probably get dirty outside, unless you're using them for special occasions.
What do you all do if your baby has a wide foot with robeez? I find the elastic band digs into his feet. We just got the stride rite pair in navy mentioned earlier, so i'm glad to hear that it's a good starting shoe.