Good Brand for the First Shoes

My son wore Robeez at first then we went to See Kai Run. They are great shoes with flexible but supportive soles. They are not cheap, but sometimes you can find a coupon online. Last winter I bought one pair of SKR shoes for him and they lasted the entire winter - so worth every penny in my opinion.

Good advice here! When the baby is learning to walk, barefoot is the best! When you do need shoes (only for outside), look for some that are lightweight, flexible, no tread, just a non-slip bottom that moves with the baby's foot. (When it was hot, I let my kids outside in socks with a non-slip pattern on the bottom).

I love the pediped. They slip on baby feet, and they don't come off. They are comfortable and light.

Hi M.:
First, unless your child is outdoors,its easier for them to walk and get around barefoot. Its also better for their feet,allowing them to work their arches.. To take them outdoors,the more flexable,and comfortable the better.My boys wore tennis shoes all the time, and appeared to have a little more control when they walked.The stiffer the shoe,the more awkward it is for them in my opinion.You don't have to buy the most expensive,as your child is going to out grow each size very quick. The important thing, is that they fit and are comfortable.I wish you and your growing daughter the best.

I was buying stride rite, but the shoes are not all that flexible for them to start walking. But the Strideright stores are great for fitting if you don't know what size your baby is. I recently started buying See Kai Run shoes for my 14 month old. I LOVE them. They are nice and flexible, completely leather and very supportive.

I loved all the shoes at Target, my second pick would be Payless. You don't have to spend top dollar on Stride Rites or anything like that. When my daughter started walking I let her walk around barefoot. That is the best thing, then you move her into shoes. Good luck.

When indoors, she should be barefooted until she's mastered walking pretty good (ask your Pediatrician what is best, but I think that's what mine told me). Outdoors, you can use Robeez (expensive, but Target sells a similar brand that is much cheaper). When she is a pretty good walker, I highly recommend Stride Rite. The employees are very knowledgeable (at our store anyway in Thousand Oaks). They are expensive but it's worth it in the long run and so important to have good shoes for healthy foot/leg development. You can usually find coupons too. Once you know her size, you could also go to the second hand kids stores and find Stride rite brand.

Hello,
I unless your daughter has any foot problems, as long as you start with close-toed shoes I don't think there is really any particular brand you need to go with. Both of my children (now 12 & 5) started with Payless & Walmart shoes. I had no problem with either. If you prefer name brand, which a friend of mine would have no other, you won't be any better off but will have "name brand" shoes. Good luck and have fun. :)

Hello M.. I would tell you to scrimp on the diapers before I'd tell you to scrimp on the shoes. Walking shoes are such a vital and integral part of a new walker's life. When babies first start walking, they need the extra added support of a good shoe. I always used Stride Rite shoes on my babies, no matter what I had to forsake in order to get them. With my daughter (my first) the expense was not an issue, but with my son (my second), money was extremely tight but I knew it was so important for him to have a good foundation, so to speak! lol Of course, I haven't bought shoes for babies in 12 years, so there might be new and improved varieties, and I don't even know if Stride rite is still around, but shop around for a good solid shoes with plenty of ankle support. good luck to you :)

Indoors, let her go barefoot. Or (since we're coming up on the winter months), if it's cold, go with pediped or the like - they're very thin and will let her walk without too much hindrance.

Outdoors, you can't beat Striderite. If you're concerned about price, take her in to get her sized, and then go on ebay to buy them. They can be pricey, but they're the best! (There are some things that I'm super frugal on, but shoes are a necessary expense!) I buy my daughter shoes about every 6 months (including the first pair), so they will get some use out of them. Now that she's 3, I have one pair of Striderites and then some other brands - but when my son starts walking, we'll be heading off to Striderite!

No matter what brand, make sure the shoe bends. It's important at this age when they are learning to walk. I have found Champion brand at Payless. The shoes are flexible, and they often have buy one, get one half off. Good Luck.

Get a moccasin type soft sole shoe for when you go out but let her go barefoot at home or whenever possible. This way she develops naturally. Also, check second hand stores such as "Childrens Orchard" they have tons of gently used shoes, often including Stride Rite and other expensive brands and at that age, hardly used at all.

Try Target. They have soft soled shoes perfect for new walkers. The best part is, they're only about $10 a pair, which is helpful since you'll be buying bigger shoes in a few months. Happy shopping! :)

My daughter has a wide foot. Stride Rite shoes fit her the best. I tried a pair from Target and she wouldn't wear them (she's 18 months old). They can be expensive; however, I just got her two new adorable pairs from the outlet store and they were about $10.00 each. A great deal for a great pair of shoes. Sometimes you can find Stride Rite shoes at Marshalls or TJ Maxx.

everyone who i talked to about this where i used to live said that putting shoes with hard soles on your baby just starting to walk is not a good idea. they need a shoe that has a soft super flexible sole. i usually keep my kids in those shoes till they are two years old at least.

with my oldest (now six) i only put socks on him and rarely had real shoes on him until he was almost two. with my daughter (who is now 3) i was given those floppy leather shoes i believe the brand was Robeez, which are 30$ so i would not buy those ones but the cheaper 12$ brand from Target you can find in the baby section. THEY ARE THE BEST EVER!! i use them with my new little one who is eight months old, hes only crawling at the moment but its good so his little toes dont get all scratched up!

For that age, I think Stride-Rite is the best place to go.

K.

Pedi Ped's - My daughter has had these since she was 5 months old (different sizes). They are great to walk in and learn to walk in. I have always heard that soft soles are better for learning to walk (at least that's what they say now days, it was the opposite when I was a baby). They sell them online or at baby boutiques and Nordstrom. They run about $30 a pair, but my daughter never trips on them and she can still move her little toes inside them. Try ebay also. I would try the 12-18 month size, for 13 months. They'll last her for a while.
http://www.pediped.com/Home/Originals.aspx

Definitely get Robeez!
Watch out for Pedipeds--they're very slippery!

Stride Rite, are always good for new walkers! Good Luck!

I am a shoe weirdo. I fess up to that. But, start w/ stride rite. I used to sell shoes, and let me tell you, feet that wear cheap shoes, or ill fitting shoes, get jacked up. But, you do not need to beak the bank. Stride rites cost about 40 bucks a pair, but, if you know the size, Nordstrom rack usually has some for 1/2 that. OR I just bought 3 pairs of stride rites on amazon for 12-15 bucks a pair. Do not buy shoes really big either. I little big, but, get fitted at a stride rite store. And if you ask the shoe salesperson how to fit your child, then as they grow you will be better informed (when you see a sale) on how to get your kid the right size. Some one mentioned wearing a pair of shoes for a year... that is crazy for a kid. I have 3 kids, and my oldest doesn't grow, he has worn the same size for over a year. But, he wears out the shoes. My youngest flies through shoe sizes. Good Luck.

See Kai Run are my favorite first shoes, but they are kind of expensive. Any good, wide, first walker shoe will be, unfortunately. My only advice is to get them a tad bigger so they last longer, but See Kai Run are between 30 and 40 dollars. Look for better deals on ebay.

Hi, I've not seen this, so I'll go ahead and suggest it. When my boys were little (now 10 and 7) I bought them shoes out of the clearance bin at Baby Gap. The shoes have very flexible soles, so walkers can get that soft shoe need taken care of but also have a more sturdy shoe for out of doors without spending big money on Stride Rite or other great brands that are quite expensive. They went barefoot until they had the walking thing down. Socks were too slippery, or they stuck to the carpet. Both boys leanred to walk very quickly just going barefoot. I didn't spend alot of money on the shoes, money was tight then. And, because the kids grow so fast, I was able to save them and hand them down to my second son.

At Kohls they have Munchkins by Stride Rite, FYI :)

I would like to recommend a "STRIDE RITE" shoes, the white hard sole with lace. This is a little bit expensive but its worth it. Usually it will last for a year. This is the kind of shoes that I bought for my kids. They started using this kind of shoes from the day they started walking until the store ran out of sizes for them.

Stride Right!!! Love them and I can usually get a good deal at Dillards. They run a sale on them all the time. Sometimes I can get out of there with more stuff than I could have gotten at WalMart!!

When my daughter first learned to walk my pediatrician said it was best to go with a soft sole shoe like Robeez. Target has a brand just like it in the baby section that is a lot cheaper. Also, if you want something with a bit more of a sole, then Pedoodles are great.

STRIDERITE!!! LOL

I LOVE them. They are a bit pricey..but you print out the size chart online. Get your daughters correct size adn buy one size up. They last forever and are very well made. No blisters, slipping and they fit even when a bit big till even a bit small. They just rock. Plus they have stages for where your child is in walking. etc.

PediPeds--- flexible soles & they really worked great for my twins when they were just beginning to walk.

Pedipeds are the best! They are really soft, but sturdy too. I wholeheartedly recommend them and See Kai Run as the best shoes there are for kids.

I did not want to spend a lot of money either but it turns out my son need an extra wide shoe because of his instep. We go to stride rite because they are the only ones that sell extra wides. They have outlet stores so if you know the size you can take advantage of the lower prices. These are suppose to be the best shoes for their feet.

Hands down, Stride Rite shoes are the best shoes for first walkers. A baby does not need his/her first pair of shoes until the child is walking across the room by themselves. It is incredibly important to get correct fitting shoes. When children's shoes fit correctly, the foot fits with the ball of the foot into the ball of the shoe. You would be suprised how many moms check where the child's toe is to check the fit. Most of them have no idea what they are doing. Most babies have extra wide feet. Unfortunately, most shoe brands don't make shoes in different widths. It is important to have a professional measure the childs foot every time you buy shoes. If a shoe is fit correctly it will last the average child three to four months. I dont understand these other moms complaining about price. If fit correctly you can spend about 150 a year on your growing child's shoes. That is nothing compared to how much people spend on haircuts, mani-pedis, purses. If your child has misfit shoes it will lead to back problems later in life. There are many good brands. Stride Rite consistently produces good shoes and covers them with a WARRANTY. Other good brands are See Kai Run, Ecco, Saucony, New Balance, Nina, and Twig.
Ladies, this is one area not to skimp.

and on another note one mom mentioned taking your kid into get measured but then purchasing the shoes on ebay. I'm sorry but that's just flat out rude. And no one should ever wear hand me down shoes for health reasons and also because shoes form to their owners foot and no two feet are alike.

Robeeze (the soft leather type) are great. An even better brand but is harder to come by is called Sho Sho's (out of S Africa), they stay on a little better. both will in first walkers/ soft soles to help developing feet not be bound up. They both have cute styles.
have fun keeping up with your new walker!
ps. both are around $20

The last response was right, you don't want full on hard soled shoes until they are expert walkers and have been doing it for a long time. My neighbor is a podiatrist and has confirmed this.
Pedipeds are the cutest and best soft soled shoes for new walkers. You can buy them anywhere now. Norsdtrom, kids boutiques and online. www.sweetsoles.com also has some and some alternatives.

The way I understand it is the lastest update is that you should let them be barefoot as much as possible and when going out use as soft a soul as possible.

Hi,

Just wanted to tell you that I agree with the posters who recommended Stride Rite, they're the best, in my opinion. But they're horribly expensive, and I understand you not wanting to break the bank on these. I went to the store and had my son fitted, decided which shoes I wanted, then got them for cheap on Ebay! Worked great. Plus, I was able to relax and let him wear them at the beach, scuff the leather by crawling every now and then, etc etc.

Good luck,

R.

I second and third the Robeez or Stride Rite shoes. You don't have to spend a ton of money to get these shoes! You just have to be a smart shopper. Trust me... I gave up for awhile on buying stride rite shoes and bought from payless... well they just didn't last long enough... even with feet that grow fast! It is better to spend a little more on a shoe that will last than buy 2 or 3 pairs of shoes in the time that the good shoes have lasted! I always go to the Stride Rite outlet at the Carlsbad Outlets to get mine. You can get a good pair of sandals or sneakers for $20 (btw that is the same price as at Payless!!!). Sometimes I get lucky and find a great pair of Stride Rites at Ross or Marshalls. Hitting the Nordstrom's sales are also a great bargain for good shoes! You can by fake Robeez at the Nordstrom Rack or Target. Have fun shoe shopping!

Robeez and PediPeds are the BEST!! You can find them at Right Start and Nordstrom. Spend the extra money on shoes - it's worth it!! :)

I agree with alot of the other moms on shoes being a very important purchase for your child. definately don't go cheap! Pedipeds have always been the shoes that I found to fit my childrens feet the best. They offer more protection and are made especially for the beginner walker with more protection for winter weather than robez, I use these target brand ones(minstars) as slippers around the house when it's cold.and I have never found them to be slippery. when your child has mastered walking well you can go to the next shoe pediped makes called flex. It has a special area in the sole that mimics the foots natural walking stride. I think it's patented. Check out their website www.pedipeds.com and you can google free shipping for pedipeds and use the code when checking out. plus they are sooooo cute we get tons of compliments on ours hope this helps

I always liked pedipeds and then later See Kai Run.

Stride Rite, but they cost about $50. My daughter stayed in her shoes for about 4-5 months.

i don't have a suggestion on brand name shoes, but....just make sure you get her some shoes that have a soft, flexible sole - not a hard sole. she still needs to be able to feel the flexing in her feet when she walks & she can't feel that in a hard soled shoe....

M.,
I have 3 girls under 3 and so far all have started out in Pedipeds. They are all leather and come in great styles, but don't really have tread and tend to be slippery. When the walking really got going it was on to Stride Rite. They are not how they use to be, with the ugly "first walking shoe" that looked more like a nurses boot!...they have great colors and styles now. Your baby's arch and foot is still forming through 3 years so good shoes are important. I'm not sure where you live, but the outlet here in Camarillo is GREAT! All the gals there are knowledgable and friendly.
All the best!
S.

Robeez first, then when she does a lot of walking, Stride Rite. Stride Rite is really the best, compared to some of the other well known expensive brands. They are reasonably priced and durable, and most of all very comfy. You can find deals if you go to a Stride Rite store.

I liked Stride Rite for both my kids when they were just starting to walk. Until they actually started walking, I just let them wear socks. Both my kids didn't like Robeez or similar shoes. They would just pull them off. So for us, they were a waste of money.

My friends like Pedipeds. But they are very expensive.

I would buy Stride Rite either through Ebay or at the outlet stores on sale. I would only buy them when I could get them for $20.

I see you got a lot of responses already. Good shoes are very important. Robeez are great. There is a shoe store in Encino, Harry Harris they specialize in childrens shoes and the sales people are wonderful and very informative. There shoes are expensive $30-$60.

good luck

My 22 month old daughter has just outgrown her favorite (and mine as well) shoes-the Rosie by Stride-rite. The shoe is white with a small high top and small pink flowers on the side. The front of the shoe has a nice flap which helps the shoe from scuffing when they crawl around, fall forward, play on the ground etc. The shoes are easy to clean with a wipe and are long lasting. I highly recommend this shoe because of the front flap, high top to protect the ankles, soft yet sturdy and are sooooo cute. My daughter got her first pair just before she turned one and I bought her the same shoe 3 times just different sizes. Unfortunately the biggest size is a 5 1/2 and it is time she must stop wearing them :( I also tried pedi-ped. Their shoe has improved within the last year and are more sturdy for walkers now and have more styles as well. Both the pedi-peds and stride-rite are about $30-45 but I highly recommend the Rosie from Stride-rite...especially for your little girl!

I would definitely recommend PediPed brand. They have lots and lots of cute styles and they are made of soft, supple leather and are pediatrician recommended. Depending on your daughter's size, there are soft sole bottoms or the PediPed Flex which offer a rubber soled bottom for walking (don't worry, these type are soft too.)
My sister-in-law recommended these to me for my son and it's all he's ever worn. Go to pediped.com and take a look; they might seem pricey but I can assure you they are worth every penny!! Good Luck! :)

My 17 month old LOVES Robeez and her Uggs. They are soft soled bottoms that allow her to use her toes to walk and balance better. I just got her her first pair of hard bottomed shoes and they are Striderites.

All are available online or at Dillards or Nordstroms. :) Good luck and have fun shopping!

I always just got shoes at Payless or Target because they grow out of them so quick. I never bought Striderite or those kinds because they are so expensive. My kids are older now and their feet are fine.

I used Robeez with my son and they worked real well. So did my sister in law and many of my friends. They are soft soled shoes and those are great for helping them with their balance. (You don't really need a thick sole between your babies foot and the floor.) They are about $28 a pair, not too bad. If you buy 2 pair on line they ship for free. They sell imitation Robeez at Target too.

I've always trusted Stride Rite. They offer support without being too stiff. It's what I wore when I was a kid and now my daughter wears them. Kinda cool!

Find a Stride Rite store near you, they look at their feet and find a supportive shoe. My 16 month old was rolling her foot inward, so they helped find a good shoe until her arch grows and tendens get stronger...good luck!