Shoes for a new walker!

[Deebs]

Heidi - I'm with you - there are "Pedipeds" and "Robeez" (imitations of course) at Target. I guess I didn't mention that. (I'm the person that thinks I'll buy the $400 purse, but then finds something similar enough for $30 and can't splurge.) DH's uncle is an ortho guy and has told us the same thing - the most important thing is fit. When my kiddos get older, I'm stuck in Stride Rites - they all have wide feet, and we have yet to find a pair of cheapies that fit. If you do get stuck in Stride Rite shoes, it is well worth finding an outlet. When we moved from Ohio, where there was an outlet, I literally bought the next four sizes up for DD so that I wouldn't have to pay full price. I go in there, find the correct size, and buy whatever shoe comes in that size.

[Vanquisher]

Deb, my kids have wide feet too. They have wide sizes at Payless called Smart Fit.

My daughter had some of these:

http://www.payless.com/store/product...layName=Girls+

and these don't look bad for a girl:

http://www.payless.com/store/product...layName=Girls+

They also have a couple of styles of Mary Janes. My daughter used to wear those frequently. It's been too long since my son was in kids shoes to even know what's available, but he had wide feet too, and we shopped at the same cheap stores then as well. Now my son is wearing a size 8.5 in men's!

[alison]

Cute sneakers!

Jack's first couple pairs of shoes were Robeez and Stride-Rite, but his feet grew SO FAST last year he could only wear each for a couple months max. I don't like seeing kids in shoes way too big that they will grow into, especially when they are learning to walk, so the most I would size up was a half size.
I think for early walkers as long as the shoes have flexible soles the brand does not matter. I cringe seeing tiny ones in thick, stiff soles that they can't bend their feet in.
I mostly buy Payless and Target shoes now and they have been just fine, although this summer he is living in Keen sandals because they are awesome and I got them on sale!

[madeintaiwan]

I mostly buy Payless and Target shoes now and they have been just fine, although this summer he is living in Keen sandals because they are awesome and I got them on sale!

We love the keen h2 sandals. They are awesome for the summer.

We love the keen h2 sandals. They are awesome for the summer.

Yes, those are the ones. I live in mine too

[HouseofWool]

and these don't look bad for a girl:

http://www.payless.com/store/product...layName=Girls+

I just bought these for Sophie - but that girl is HARD on her shoes and a solidly built pair of sneakers is worth it to me.

[ides]

Shoes for a new walker!

O has some Stride rite close toed sandles that we got on sale & a pair of canvas sneakers from Pediped that were on sale. His previous pair was also Pediped & his first ever pair was Umi. Umi's were totally too expensive but we are keeping them too.

[Pollyanna]

Has anyone seen these: http://www.pipsqueakers.com/ They crack me up, too cute (but I also like loud toys...)

[v-girl]

Wide width shoes aren't wide enough for my chunky-footed 3 year old. Unless we squeeze his feet into his shoes (which we've done when he just HAD to have the Buzz Lightyear sneakers). His sneakers really need to be Stride Rite XW to fit well. He's been living in his Target-version Crocs since May. For the second year in a row (I'm glad they run 2 sizes at a time -- 10/11).