Velcro Shoes --How to Keep Them on a Toddler!

My 2.5 year old has always been one to remove her shoes. If he really wants to get them off then nothing will stop him. Double knotting just meant that I had to untie the double knot to get them back on her (which gets really annoying). I don't react anymore. She still does it but now she is learning how to put her shoes back on so if she takes them off then she puts them back on (sometimes with a little help) so now it is great to have velcro and sandals, it is just part of life for us. I think some kids just don't like to have things on their feet, I agree with the others who say this is nothing compared to the "remove all of my clothes and diaper" stage :) good luck :)

Duct tape? LOL!!! When I am out grocery shopping with my son, and his shoes inevitably come off, I just toss them in the cart along with the socks until we get to the checkout lane. I get tired off picking them up, plus those "good" shoes cost so much, I can't afford to lose them. I wish I had a good solution. Like everything else, I am assuming this phase will pass. In my son's case, I notice he's more likely to remove his shoes (and socks) when he's bored (strapped in to a shopping cart or the car seat). I hope, in your son's case, that he's just figured out he can get his shoes off & so he is removing them. Hopefully he's not bored. Good luck to you!

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Duct tape? LOL!!! When I am out grocery shopping with my son, and his shoes inevitably come off, I just toss them in the cart along with the socks until we get to the checkout lane. I get tired off picking them up, plus those "good" shoes cost so much, I can't afford to lose them. I wish I had a good solution. Like everything else, I am assuming this phase will pass. In my son's case, I notice he's more likely to remove his shoes (and socks) when he's bored (strapped in to a shopping cart or the car seat). I hope, in your son's case, that he's just figured out he can get his shoes off & so he is removing them. Hopefully he's not bored. Good luck to you!

Updated

Duct tape? LOL!!! When I am out grocery shopping with my son, and his shoes inevitably come off, I just toss them in the cart along with the socks until we get to the checkout lane. I get tired off picking them up, plus those "good" shoes cost so much, I can't afford to lose them. I wish I had a good solution. Like everything else, I am assuming this phase will pass. In my son's case, I notice he's more likely to remove his shoes (and socks) when he's bored (strapped in to a shopping cart or the car seat). I hope, in your son's case, that he's just figured out he can get his shoes off & so he is removing them. Hopefully he's not bored. Good luck to you!

My 3 year old still removes her socks n shoes. One night we were at choir practice and she ran over to me barefoot. I was so embarrassed until a lady said her toddler does the same. It could be any shoe, velcro, laces, buckle, it didn't matter. Just something little people like to do :-).

Try a StrideRite outlet store before buying another pair so soon at those prices. Or a pair of shoes that tie from walmart just to wear at daycare. If u do a double tie it may help keep the shoes on.

I would get some shoes that tie and double tie them if he is required to have shoes on. My daughter LOVES to take her shoes off and for the most part I am ok with that but if we are going to be in a situation where she needs to keep shoes on I just take the option away from her and double tie her shoes.
Good Luck!

My son did that too. Although our daycare never made a fuss about it and often times we would pick him up and he would be barefoot. We have tried both lace up shoes and velcro, he was able to get either of them off. I think it is a phase - something new they discovered how to do. We found that the hardest shoes for him to take off were the high top converse and we would double knot the laces. Famous Footwear has a lot of sales, you can pick up a pair there. They are also super cute.

I would not use duct tape on any shoes, especially ones that you have paid good money for. Duct tape is super sticky and it will leave dark gray/black sticky stuff that will be almost impossible to get off. Good for your son discovering he can get his shoes off! It's a part of a child's development to learn new things. I think daycare needs to be a little more understanding. They should be putting his shoes back on and telling him "no" every time he take or tries to take them off. He's not the first child to take his shoes off once he has learned how. You can help by telling him every day that he needs to leave his shoes on while he is at school/daycare. This too shall pass. He will get over it. They should get over it. If they keep him busy enough, he won't have time to think about his shoes. Whatever you do, don't tape down his shoes. Tied shoes will be just as bad. I know it's a pain, but he is learning and that's a good thing. Daycare should know that this is a part of development. I'm sure they can come up with something to make sure he understands that he needs to leave them on. It will be extra work for the teachers right now, but I'm sure they have seen worse behavior. It's not like your son is pulling down his pants and taking his diaper off. (that happened when I was working) My daughter use to take her shoes off all of the time and it drove me nuts. I haven't thought about that stage, for a long time, until you brought it up. Relax, this will be over soon enough.

I think he will do it until he gets bored of it... you might have to buy tie shoes... unfortunate as it is. My 17 month old did this for a long time, but she wasn't in daycare so I would just put them in the diaper bag until she had to walk..hehe... she no longer takes her shoes off, so i'm thinking it is a phase.

On a lighter note, I buy my daughters Stride Right shoes at the outlet mall for at least 1/2 the price of the normal store. :)

Our kids both have the same Saucony shoes - we chose the one with what appear to be laces and 1 velcro strap vs. the shoes with the 2 straps. Our daughter was probably 15-16 months when we got them for her, and we've not had any problems. Neither of my kids have ever been ones to be anxious to take their shoes off.

Is it possible to buy a less expensive pair of shoes, perhaps real laces that may be easier for him to get off because they're tighter, for day care and wear the nicer ones the rest of the time when it's not as much of an issue?

We've had good luck at Kohl's this season with their shoes. Both of my kids have wide feet (daugther is double wide), so we usually have to go with more expensive shoes that they quickly destroy.

Good luck - wish I had more advice.

Do they have two velcro strips on each shoe? If so, you could try criss-crossing them.

My little gal is only 11 months but a champ at getting her shoes off! I've had the best luck with a high top type of shoe (a soft sided shoe so her ankles can still move) or something that I can strap at the ankle. Although, I realize that may be easier in girl fashions. Good luck!

all children at 18 months by nature hate having anything on their feet , if you elect to go with the tie up shoes make sure to buy a pair of string keepers , this will prove more difficult for him to figure out and since the keepers are spring loaded he will not yet have the strenght in his hands to squeeze them together enough to loosen the strings , now for the duct tape idea !! it seems to be used for just about everything else here in oklahoma , we call duct tape a must for all tool boxes that no self respecting repairman should do without :) :) paschar

I've lost 1 pair of shoes that way too. I usually have the shoes off. I put it on when I know he gets to walk. He usually fusses until I tell him he needs shoes on if he wants to walk. Mine is 16 months old. He went through and is still going through that stage but is getting better. I think yours just needs to get used to wearing shoes. Let him have them on and walk/run around with them in the back yard or park. He may get used to wearing them and I think he'll probably be able to get tie shoes off too.

Hi Nict - this is pretty normal behavior for and toddler and it will pass when he's bored with it. Don't make too big an issue with him about it - be matter of fact and just put his shoes back on. That will avoid it turning into a game where he wants to see your reaction.

Give daycare same advice - dont take too much guff from them but be sensitive. Tell them those are the only shoes you have for him now and to please just put his shoes back on without making a big fuss. That you believe he'll get bored and move on to something else like his clothes or his diaper . . . LOL : )