Need help buying shoes

SigmundsGirl

I have never purchased shoes for Evan and now that he is starting to walk (while holding onto things like his storller) I'd like to get him some shoes to wear while we are out and about. At home we just keep him barefoot or with socks.

Any suggestions? I have seen good things about Pedipeds, Robeez, and See Kai Run.

Also, how do I get a good fit? I have no idea how to determine shoe size for an infant. It seems weird when I see them sized by age since there is a huge range in how big the kids are.

Oh, and how long should I expect them to fit? Could he need a new size in a few months? I am so clueless about shoe shopping for him.

TIA!

RaeAnt

Also try Stride Rite. They have stages depending on how much walking you LO does. The month sizing I don't like because DS's foot was ahead of his age. Just go to a store that has them and try them on. As a sales person to help if you'd like. After all, that's what they are there for. When we got DS his first "real" shoes, he had his foot measured to make sure we got the right fit. DS first real shoes for when he started cruising was a size 4W from Stride Rite and he was about 9 months old.

CareBear01

We did Stride Rite - went to the store, and they measured his foot.  I'm glad we went, b/c he ended up being in a wide shoe b/c of the top of his foot being tall, and I don't think I would have figured that out on my own.  We get a new pair every 4ish months - but he pretty much wears that one pair everyday, so they get their use.

newinhouston

Diapers.com has 20% off shoes right now. You could buy a few in different sizes and then return the ones that don't fit since returns are free. 

readyforbaby

At that age we used both Robeez and PediPeds.  The month sizing worked fine for us.  His pair of Pedipeds lasted a long time...from spring through summer.  They were still in good shape he just outgrew them.

Suzi-G-

Cooper started walking with a push toy at 9 months so I had to start putting him in shoes for school because he walked around the playground a lot and I didn't want to ruin all his socks or hurt his toes! 

For first shoes I liked the soft all-leather ones.  I bought the cheapo ones at Target but he also had some of these that my sister bought him.   Both worked very well, didn't wear out etc.  Once he was walking a little more confidently I put him in a soft shoe with a rubber sole from Target.  He's been walking for several months now (and is starting to run!) but I still prefer the shoes with softer soles.  He's currently wearing these from Stride Rite, they're nice and flexible and really good quality. 

ETA: About sizing, the soft shoes I just held up to his foot to choose a size.  Then I used the printable size chart from Stride Rite to figure out what size he was before I bought his first real shoes. 

nchschic05

My MIL took ds to Kids Foot Locker the first time when he was 7 months and they measured him and he was a 5W. However, he refuses to wear anything on his feet so they just hang out in the diaper bag.

kat.in.the.hat

i love pedipeds and they have a printable sizing guide on their website.

Marion's first four pairs of pedipeds stood up so well, I saved them for Eliza Jane to wear

readyforbaby

Suzi-G-:

Cooper started walking with a push toy at 9 months so I had to start putting him in shoes for school because he walked around the playground a lot and I didn't want to ruin all his socks or hurt his toes! 

For first shoes I liked the soft all-leather ones.  I bought the cheapo ones at Target but he also had some of these that my sister bought him.   Both worked very well, didn't wear out etc.  Once he was walking a little more confidently I put him in a soft shoe with a rubber sole from Target.  He's been walking for several months now (and is starting to run!) but I still prefer the shoes with softer soles.  He's currently wearing these from Stride Rite, they're nice and flexible and really good quality. 

ETA: About sizing, the soft shoes I just held up to his foot to choose a size.  Then I used the printable size chart from Stride Rite to figure out what size he was before I bought his first real shoes. 

We just got these for DS too!

lilycat

I liked the Robeez for when they were early walkers. I liked Naturinos for Lucas because they run narrower; See Kai Run were always too wide.

Stores are good because you can try things on. Purple Mango in the village was small enough with enough selection that I could manage the chaos of getting the boys sized for shoes. But, they're pricey.

Stride Right is good, but they tend to be short stock whenever I shopped at the ones near us. I like the fit of their shoes, but tend to have better luck online or Nordstroms. 

As the boys became older, I bought a Brannock device, one of the shoe sizers like they have in the store. It makes it easier for me to shop online and gauge when their feet grow. https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Fit-Brannock-Device-childrens/dp/B000X1LR08

I may still shop in stores, but I can tell when their feet need the next size -- not just go to the store "when it feels right." I could never figure it out with Lucas.

-- I hate shoe shopping with them. So, I like to plan my visit carefully and only go when necessary.