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Parenting
Expensive shoes worth the cost?
When I bought Lily's first pair of "big girl" shoes (i.e. not Robeez), I went straight to Stride Rite and they sold me on the need for their $45 pair of shoes with the flexible soles. Since then, Lily has gone through a few more pairs, and I just can't decide if it's worth it. I mean, she has three pairs of shoes to go with different outfits (brown ones, black maryjanes, and tennis shoes), so that could easily run me well over a hundred bucks in shoes every 3-6 months as she outgrows them. I really can't afford to do that. The last time, I picked up a pair of $15 shoes at Target, and Lily walked fine in them. She's 18 months old now. I've thought about just having one main pair of expensive shoes, and buying the cheap ones that she won't wear as often (like dressy shoes).
What are your thoughts? Do you invest in the pricey, soft-soled shoes for your kiddo, or buy cheapies at Target and Payless?
I do love drooling over some of the adorable footwear available for toddlers: See Kai Run, Pedoodles, Pediped. But Target has some pretty darn cute ones, too!
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Re: Expensive shoes worth the cost?
I almost always buy Stride Rite, but I get them at the outlet and have never paid more than $20 a pair, usually less.
I bought 5 pairs of Bass shoes for him for next year, though. At about $8 a pair I couldn't pass them up.
You're lucky she can wear shoes for 3-6 months. DS has been in a different size every 6-8 weeks since he was out of Robeez. He has gone from a 5.5 at the end of February to an 8.5 now.
DS - December 2006
DD - December 2008
Come to think of it, our pedi commented when he saw DD's Stride Rites, too. He was like, "Are those Stride Rite? Man, I'm in the wrong business!" And he has three little girls, so I take it he doesn't usually buy the expensive shoes for his kids.
Unless DS had a specific reason to require Stride Rites (or the like), I wouldn't buy them. I got him Pedipeds when he was learning to walk, but since then, it's been mostly shoes in the $15-$30 range. I won't ever cheap out on sandals again, though. I got him some brown "leather" ones from Payless and they smelled SOOOOOOO bad after only a few wearings.
Right now, he has two pair of Converse Chucks, a pair of navy canvas ones from Gap, a pair of brown oxfords from Gap and two pair of corduroy sneakers from BRU because they were CHEAP and they're great for daycare/play because I don't care if they get dirty (they were 2/$14 and I had a 15% off coupon).
I think as long as the shoe has a flexible sole and fits well, you're fine -- whether it comes from Target or Stride Rite.
Usually M's black mary janes and her sneakers are higher priced as she wears those the most. The rest are cheap because she does not wear them enough for me to pay $$$ for them.
I don't think they're necessary as long as you find something that's lightweight, comfortable and flexible.
Ds has a mixture of more expensive (Keens, Merrell, New Balance, etc.) and cheaper shoes (Target things) and they all work equally as well for him. However, ds's feet are very slow growing and I never have to buy him new shoes more than once or twice a year, so I can justify spending a bit more for higher quality since I don't want them to wear out. I've noticed that his New Balance sneakers are still in great shape despite being worn all spring/summer and that his Target sneakers are already falling apart even though he's only had them for a couple of months.