My Son Won't Wear Socks (Or Shoes!)

Maybe it's because he's so used to the weight of the crocs, that the shoes are to heavy or something? My son wears crocs as well (his feet are so chubby hard to find shoes that fit!) In the colder months, I go to Target (Or Ebay) and buy the leather soft sole shoes like the Roobeez (however you spell it!) They're light weight, the elastic give plenty of room for his chubby feet, and I hear they're good for thier feet... It's worth a try!! Good Luck!

Hi R.,
I have been a Home Child Care provider and what I have learned....and that is kids will do more for their child care provider/day care then they will for their parents.
So that being said I would 1) hide the Crocs 2) just take him into daycare with no shoes or socks but take them with you. When he gets to daycare let them know these are his shoes to go outside in and see if they can get them on him. If those are the only ones he has to go outside in he will just have to deal with it. Once he wears them all day at daycare and then comes home in them and then put them on before you leave the next morning, you will have accomplished it. One other thing let him pick his outfit for the day like between 2 outfits and socks and he only has them shoes to get. So when you get him dressed and the last thing to put on is his shoes, tell him to go get them and bring them to you to put on. You can start teaching him how to get himself dressed if you don't already or if he isn't really trying.

Also if he doesn't already try teaching him to put on his socks by himself. This is one of the things I work on with the younger kids ages 1 y/o - 2 y/o and then we move. He may not like his tennis hoes because he can't take them on and off by himself, it's another thing you have to teach him when he can and can't take off his shoes. Hope you find something that works, W.

I hvae a similar ordeal everytime we have to get my daughter new shoes. This sounds drastic I know, but it is the only thing that works. I tell her that the other shoes are in the trash since they no longer fit her. I keep them hidden in the garage up high so she can't see them until I usually give them away, if they are in really bad shape I do throw them away. This is the only way I can get her to wear new shoes. As for the socks I don't have any advice there. She loves socks and wears them with everything. Good luck adn I hope this is helpful.

my 3 yr old loves his crocs too. I would put socks on with them. make sure to reinforce that you are still going to let him wear the crocs. You could also take him to pick out a new pair of shoes. It always helps when you let them pick them out. It brings ownership. Before I bought my son a pair he was always stealing his big sisters pink ones, so it could be worse

R. -

Crocs are a very light weight and molded "shoe". If he has become accustomed to wearing them, it may be that his new shoes are uncomfortable. In addition, he has probably become used to not having socks on and having the air on his feet. Socks and shoes then, may feel very hot to him. It may help to take him to the store to let him try on different shoes. He would be picking them out "with your guidance of course". I know he is young but my 20 month old will scream when I put certain shoes on and be fine with others. Try to find something he enjoys wearing that will be suitable for the weather. Good luck though...I know it can be tough.

R.~
Take the crocks and put them away where he has no idea where they are, and tell him that he can't wear them anymore (he doesn't need an explanation for why). Make him wear the socks and new shoes that grandma got him, and tell him "no fit" whenever he starts whining when you put them on him, and switch his bottom if he starts to act up. Take control of the situation now and let him know that it is not a choice that you are giving him anymore. If he tugs at them after you've put them on him, switch him again until he understand that you are not going to allow him to take them off.

Don't feel bad for correcting him, he is not too little, and he will get over it and be fine. He needs to learn now that your the boss, and that he can't throw a fit to get what he wants.

A.:)

Hi R.! When I saw your message, I started laughing. My daughter at the exact same age would not where a skirt or dress without long pants or leggings underneath! And we lived in Ca & Florida! I finally let her pick out her clothes even though she wasn't even two! When we went shopping I would point out the other kids at the mall & also let her be part of process of buying the clothes. (Give the cashier the money, carry her own little bag, etc.) Pretty soon, she got over it! But, for awhile there she looked like Madonna!(1986-1989 era) She's 21 now & a fashion diva. So, don't get crazy. Maybe taking him to pick out some new shoes & socks (make sure no Crocs are around!!) & point out other kids. As I always say...pick your battles! Good Luck!, C.

My oldest boy (3.5) has always had a hard time letting go of his old shoes when it is time for new ones. He really gets emotionally attached to them.

It has been proven time and time again that it is best to ease children into big changes. If your son is in fact emotionally attached to his Crocs, then you don't need to break his heart. Try something like letting HIM choose some cool socks, and let him play with them so they become "his" socks. Then, well, this is what I did to get my son to where his new shoes when he was around 18 months:

I put his old shoes out of sight and then told him we could go for a walk. As I tried to put his new shoes on he wasn't happy. I calmly said he had to wear them to go on a walk. He caved just enough for us to get out the door. Once we got outside he was distracted enough to forget about his shoes. Later, we saw his grandfather and I had him make a big deal about my son's "cool" new shoes. The next time we went out he wanted his cool new shoes.

He felt like he had some control in the matter. He got to choose new shoes, or no walk. Then he felt proud of himself for wearing the knew shoes when my father-in-law made a big deal about them. I hope you can get your son to go along with something like this. Good luck.

My friend's little boy (almost 2) acted the exact same way when she tried transitioning him to tennis shoes and socks from his summer sandals. What she did was she hid the sandals. She then started putting the new socks and shoes on his feet every morning for as long as he can stand them. Every day, he left them on and tolerated them a little longer. Don't back down and just make it a morning routine. Since you have to take him to day care, maybe they will help out with this routine after he gets there.

My daughter is like this, it makes for a long winter. Last year, when she was 3 so she should have been able to uderstand but she didn't care, I finally just bought suede boots with a fur-type lining. Her feet stayed warm, she stopped crying, and I stopped wanting to go crazy. This may not be the best advice, but it worked for me. Good Luck.

My son also has an obsession with not wearing new shoes when we buy them for him. I'm not sure if it's just because they're something new, or he thinks they'll be uncomfortable, etc. I'll put them on him anyway, even through a fit. Once they're on, we'll do something that he always thinks is fun, like go outside to play, or take him somewhere in his "new shoes". Just getting his mind off of what is on his feet will work. Pretty soon he'll forget his obsession and realize that they're not so bad after all. It may take a couple times doing it that way, but soon THEY will be his favorite!

Have you tried taking him to some store that sells "special" socks and letting him pick a pair out? I know he might be a bit too young to actually "pick them out," but there might be some that he's especially interested in. See if you can find some with animals or something and then really play them up as being wonderful (if he's open to it, I'd put them on right then & there in the store, so he doesn't lose interest). I'd start with one pair so they're really special, and then once he's used to (or tired of) those, get a different "special" pair. After that, you might be able to get him to wear plain ones.