Robeez shoes transitioning to firmer soled shoes?

beachgirl24

DS is 11 months and cruises and crawls, and will walk if you hold his hands up for him.  He can walk with one of those push toys as well.  We got his foot size measured this weekend (5.5 Wide) and have him in Robeez soft leather soled shoes right now for indoors and to get him used to the idea of shoes.  He seems to be doing fine and doesn't mind the shoes, to my knowledge.

I guess he needs some firmer/more rugged soled shoes for when they take him outdoors for "recess", where they just sit on a blanket and let the infants play.  He's not technically walking yet and we've heard that it's best to keep them in soft soled shoes as long as possible to allow their feet to develop.  I think there are different opinions on that.  The pedi agreed with this but that was at his 9 month appt. and things are different now of course now that it's been 2 months. 

I know Stride Rite has the "Stage 1  Pre-Walker" shoes so I was going to try to find some of these at a consignment shop or at least on sale.  Just wondering at what point others have added shoes?  Also, this might be a dumb question, but I assume he needs socks or is it better to go without so there's no chance of them bunching up?

beachgirl24

Oops, I guess I mean "Stage 2 Early Walker"...

memali26

DD2 has been walking unassisted for about 2 months now. We still have her in soft soled shoes (Robeez knock offs) as her primary shoes, even outside. They protect her feet very well and she has the flexibility/feel of the ground she needs for her foot development and balance. We won't transition to a firmer soled shoe until it starts snowing in a few months and we need to keep her feet dry. 

Even with my 2.5yo, I still look for shoes with soles that flex well. Shoes that are too rigid don't move well and make it difficult for them to walk. Really, even DH and I look for good flex in shoes, especially athletic shoes! 

beachgirl24

memali26:

DD2 has been walking unassisted for about 2 months now. We still have her in soft soled shoes (Robeez knock offs) as her primary shoes, even outside. They protect her feet very well and she has the flexibility/feel of the ground she needs for her foot development and balance. We won't transition to a firmer soled shoe until it starts snowing in a few months and we need to keep her feet dry. 

Even with my 2.5yo, I still look for shoes with soles that flex well. Shoes that are too rigid don't move well and make it difficult for them to walk. Really, even DH and I look for good flex in shoes, especially athletic shoes! 

 Thank you!  This is exactly what I'm talking about.  We want to keep him in the Robeez-style shoes (we also had a knock off pair but he grew out of them) for as long as possible since they're the softest and most flexible, but I guess where I'm having trouble is the fact that the leather soles can get ruined by the elements.  If the ground is damp outside when he's at DC, I don't want the soles to get wet and ruined.  I was thinking that some of the Stage 2 Early Walker shoes at Stride Rite looked only slightly firmer and still very flexible, what do you think about those?

memali26

We've had the soft soled shoes for both girls and they've not been ruined by damp grass. Snow would do it, so would splashing in puddles, but grass wouldn't worry me.

Just from peeking at the Stride Rite website, the Stage 2 shoes look like they have a similar sole to what we'll get DD2 next. As long as they have enough flexibility and aren't too thick and rigid they'll probably be fine. 

meganjoey0728

We just bought some of the stage 2 early walkers. They are pretty flexible still. Our LO doesn't mind them and only wears them outside.

SLPMel

We love the Robeez mini shoez.  Ds isn't walking quite yet, but DD is, and it's been great for her.  Out Physical Therapist recommended them at this point.

MrsT2008

DD is at the same cruising/walking while holding hands stage and I just got her some of the Early Walker shoes at SR and I love them! She seems to be doing really well in them too It was what they recommended to me when I went to the store and had her sized.

memali26

LalaMama81:

I would stick w/ a very soft sole or robeez until they are walking very well. It's no big deal if robeez get wet, they also scrub up pretty well. 

There is no reason they need something sturdier or different at this age. I highly doubt a 15 month old will be walking in the snow anyway. 

Why wouldn't they? DD2 loves being outside and exploring, and since we can have snow as early as October and as lat as April, if we want to be outside she'll have to be walking in the snow. When we reach that point, she'll get sturdier shoes to keep her feet warmer and drier.

blu-eyedwife

My almost one-year-old is still in Robeez and will be staying in soft-soled shoes for a loooooong time, per the recommendations.  His daycare requires shoes at his age since they do a lot of practice walking and spend hours outside every day.  So far he's been wearing the same pair every day for almost a full month and they're holding up fine.

In the next size up I have soft soles by Pediped and Smaller by See Kai Run waiting for him.

J234

The Smaller by See Kai Run is more solid but very flexible as are the Tiny Toms.  I have some Robeez and they were destroyed on the playground... the Smaller shoes are good though.  They were on sale on Zulily a while back.  

I do socks... it seems to provide some comfort from chafing.   

beachgirl24

LalaMama81:

I would stick w/ a very soft sole or robeez until they are walking very well. It's no big deal if robeez get wet, they also scrub up pretty well. 

There is no reason they need something sturdier or different at this age. I highly doubt a 15 month old will be walking in the snow anyway. 

 I think this is our plan too but I"m curious to see what the pedi says at DS's 12 month appointment in a few weeks.