Why are some shoes so expensive? What brand do you buy?

Chelz · August 2011

So thinking of the SKR post below, I did hop on the websites for SKR and SR. I just can't afford to spend $50 on a pair of shoes for DS. Even the clearance prices are $25-30.

So what brands do you buy if you can't afford these?

I did buy some great boots at Costco last year for $20 so I hope they have more kids shoes soon. I missed the sandals.

bride2be79 · August 2011

lasposa425:
You could try second-hand stores -- you can find gently used pairs for 5 to 10 bucks.

This. DD's grandparents are nuts (she's the 1st grandchild and has 3 sets due to divorce) and they buy her crazy stuff. There are several pairs of very expensive european shoes that she barely wore before she outgrew them that are definitely going to resale if baby #2 is a boy.

I usu buy her shoes at either Target or Nordstrom Rack for cheap. I've heard stride rite outlets are awesome but we don't have one close by.

ANJ410 · August 2011

I buy my LO's a combo of cheapy and expensive shoes. We go to a lot of parties and "fancy" playdates so I like to have a pair or two of designer shoes to go with some of their better outfits, but for day to day play I buy all of their shoes in The Children's Place and I love them. TCP sneakers are really well made and wash beautifully. I just washed all three pairs of my son's summer sneakers from there for probably the 20th time and they look brand new!!

ANJ410 · August 2011

lasposa425:
You could try second-hand stores -- you can find gently used pairs for 5 to 10 bucks.

I've heard its not good to put LO's in used shoes for day to day because the shoes have already conformed to someone else's step and won't provide support, can be uncomfortable, etc. One of my friends has two girls and had to take one of them to an orthopedist for something and he told to never pass down shoes from the older one to the younger one unless they had only been worn once or twice.

Chelz · August 2011

I am checking ebay. Some are new. I'll check for a SR outlet

anna7602 · August 2011

ANJ410:

lasposa425:
You could try second-hand stores -- you can find gently used pairs for 5 to 10 bucks.

I've heard its not good to put LO's in used shoes for day to day because the shoes have already conformed to someone else's step and won't provide support, can be uncomfortable, etc. One of my friends has two girls and had to take one of them to an orthopedist for something and he told to never pass down shoes from the older one to the younger one unless they had only been worn once or twice.

Interesting. I guess this means there's no point in storing DD's outgrown shoes any longer.

Anyway, to answer OP- Daffy's, a discount chain for designer brands, tends to sell nice children's shoes' brands cheaper and the quality is a lot better than what I've found at PayLess, for example. I will really only buy cheaper brands for things like dressy shoes that will only be worn for Thanksgiving & Christmas because most cheaper brands haven't held up very well with daily wear & tear, in my experience.

I also search the sales on diapers.com. I've gotten some very nice Stride Rite sneakers that way at the end of different seasons, but sneakers can be used year-round.

PrincessShay80 · August 2011

I may be in the minority, but I only buy either SKR or Pediped for DD- at this age I know it seems crazy to spend that much money, but it's so important for their growing feet that they have good supportive shoes. Pediped has some clearance shoes right now for like $18-$25 I would check out their website.

PrincessShay80 · August 2011

ANJ410:

lasposa425:
You could try second-hand stores -- you can find gently used pairs for 5 to 10 bucks.

I've heard its not good to put LO's in used shoes for day to day because the shoes have already conformed to someone else's step and won't provide support, can be uncomfortable, etc. One of my friends has two girls and had to take one of them to an orthopedist for something and he told to never pass down shoes from the older one to the younger one unless they had only been worn once or twice.

I agree 100% this is so bad for your LO's feet.

Doylesa · August 2011

I buy DS's shoes at at variety of places. I bought a pair of Puma and Adidas shoes at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, they were like $25/each. I also like Gap and Stride Rite.

wedsept · August 2011

I also only buy pediped, see kai run, livie and luca, or other high-end brands.

A AAP book my pedi gave us to read when my DD was born states that you shouldn't use used shoes because it affects their support, etc. It also states toddlers should only wear real leather or canvas shoes. No plastic shoes, fake leather, etc.

I would rather spend money on 2 good pairs of shoes for her, than clothes. You can just buy colors that can be worn with anything.

tusshie2004 · August 2011

I get DS' shoes from Target, Wal-Mart, Ross, Marshall's, T.J. Max, and the Nike Outlet Store. I don't like spending more than $15.00 on DS' shoes unless they are Jordan's.

katcarls · August 2011

Shoes are one thing I don't skimp on. I just don't buy a lot of them. DS doesn't care if he wears the same shoes over and over, so he only has two pairs at a time. I also didn't buy any shoes until after he started walking. I never wasted any money on unnecessary crib shoes. We mainly use SR which aren't that expensive. I like Pediped and SKR too. They have all the nice brands on BS quite often and they're 50-70% off.

ETA: 6pm.com is another good place to look too. They have the top brands at 20% off and up.

chmana · August 2011

Stride Rite shoes at their outlets and Nordstrom Rack. I got DD a pair of sandals at Nordstrom Rack for $15.

dmathis10 · August 2011

katcarls:

Shoes are one thing I don't skimp on. I just don't buy a lot of them. DS doesn't care if he wears the same shoes over and over, so he only has two pairs at a time. I also didn't buy any shoes until after he started walking. I never wasted any money on unnecessary crib shoes. We mainly use SR which aren't that expensive. I like Pediped and SKR too. They have all the nice brands on BS quite often and they're 50-70% off.

ETA: 6pm.com is another good place to look too. They have the top brands at 20% off and up.

What is BS? (I may have missed something)

Kingston54 · August 2011

We have bought a few in the $30-$50 range but I also have some cheaper ones I got on sale at Gap, Gymboree, or Children's Place - some as $5.

katcarls · August 2011

dmathis10:
katcarls:

Shoes are one thing I don't skimp on. I just don't buy a lot of them. DS doesn't care if he wears the same shoes over and over, so he only has two pairs at a time. I also didn't buy any shoes until after he started walking. I never wasted any money on unnecessary crib shoes. We mainly use SR which aren't that expensive. I like Pediped and SKR too. They have all the nice brands on BS quite often and they're 50-70% off.

ETA: 6pm.com is another good place to look too. They have the top brands at 20% off and up.
What is BS? (I may have missed something)

Sorry, BS is babysteals.

iumegan716 · August 2011

I have bought all of the ones he is wearing now (which is all of the shoes he has ever worn, because he is still a size 4!) at Target. I have bought some bigger pairs at Kohl's on clearance and a couple pairs on either mamabargains or babysteals. I've never spent more than $15.

Our pediatrician said to not waste money on Stride Rite-type shoes. He says the purpose of shoes is to protect LO's feet from the elements, and that's it.

melody921 · August 2011

We do Stride Rite, bc I like that they're good shoes. But I've never spent more than $25. How about Target?

Fashiongal1973 · August 2011

I will only buy good shoes for DS feet but he only has three pairs. He has extremely fat feet and is hard to fit. I bought him a pair of See Kai Run and a pair of Keen sandals for the summer and he has a pair of Converse.

It is good to know about used shoes. I looked at a couple of pairs at a resale shop but none fit, also they smelled.

I have looked at Payless and Target but the shoes are made of cheap materials. I have read that leather or cloth are best because they breathe. I can't stand to wear cheap shoes because they hurt my feet unless they are leather so I can't imagine what they would do to DS fatty feet.

I bought the SKR and Keen's at Nordstrom the Converse were at JCP. I looked at Nordstrom Rack the last time I was there but didn't find anything in his size. I will keep checking there.

I really want to get him a pair of Tom's.

mielkede · August 2011

I hate to admit it, but I spend more on DD's shoes than my own. I figure that her feet are growing and need to be in shoes that support her feet properly. I buy only stride rite. I have found good deals at the outlet. I just got her 3 pairs for $40 as they had bygo sales going on and clearance. I don't care if they are last season, as long as they are good shoes. I will admit that on occasion I have purchased her a pair at Target to get by for a day when she needed a pair of shoes for a wedding or party and I knew that she would not wear them very often.

acruffalo · August 2011

ANJ410:

lasposa425:
You could try second-hand stores -- you can find gently used pairs for 5 to 10 bucks.

I've heard its not good to put LO's in used shoes for day to day because the shoes have already conformed to someone else's step and won't provide support, can be uncomfortable, etc. One of my friends has two girls and had to take one of them to an orthopedist for something and he told to never pass down shoes from the older one to the younger one unless they had only been worn once or twice.

I've heard this too.

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