Toddler Shoes
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Capezio Little Kid/Big Kid Daisy 205 Ballet Shoe
List Price: $19.95
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She'll love every minute of wearing Capezio's Daisy ballet shoe. The leather shoe features a lightly padded footbed, a split-suede sole for ultimate flexibility, and a pre-attached elastic strap keeps her foot snug and in place.
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Capezio Toddler/Little Kid Teknik 200 Ballet Shoe
List Price: $19.95
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Your dancer deserves only the best to progress her skills, and Capezio's Teknik will help her get there. The flexible leather shoe features a pre-attached elastic strap to keep her foot in place, and its split suede sole is soft for keeping plies and releves under control.
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Speedo Toddler/Little Kid Surfwalker Pro Water Shoe
List Price: $19.95
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Your little one will be dreaming of riding the wild waves and then some with the Surfwalker from Speedo. This adventurous water shoe has a fast-drying stretch fabric upper with contrasting trim and logo detailing, breathable mesh panels, a drawstring closure on the ankle for a secured fit, a fully cushioned insole, and a multi-directional tread on the outsole for sure footing in and out of the water.
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umi Infant Pearl Pre-Walker
List Price: $34.95
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umi's Pearl crib shoe will give your little princess all the comfort and durability that growing piggies need. Its smart design promotes healthy foot development with its flexible leather sole complete with rubber grips...
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New Balance Infant/Toddler KV503GBI Training Shoe
List Price: $29.95
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Your little one deserves a sneaker that's as comfy as it is cute. With this tiny sneaker from New Balance, they'll have the best of both worlds. The leather sneaker features adorable contrast overlays, a flexible design that moves naturally with each new step, and padded linings for protecting little piggies...
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Aquatik Kids and Baby - Toddlers Aqua Water Shoes - Beach Shoes
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It is difficult to find aqua shoes that not only give comfort but style too. Our selection of aqua shoes are just the right kind of shoes that you are looking for. These are comfortable and at the same time they look fashionable and stylish...
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Dance Class Toddler/Little Kid T100 Patent Flexible Tap
List Price: $20.00
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She'll be fit to be tied in the Patent Flexible Tap shoe from Dance Class. The surprising flexible patent leather upper is reinforced with a rubber sole, attached taps, and a removable gross grain ribbon for a change of pace...
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Robeez Tredz Infant/Toddler Petal T-Strap
List Price: $39.95
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This little T-strap shoe from Robeez is about as precious as it gets. Besides its adorable two-tone style, the practical hook-and-loop tab, grippy rubber sole, and padded footbed will keep her cozy and snug, and the maximum flexibility in its grippy rubber sole promotes healthy foot development and keeps every step steady.
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umi Infant/Toddler Sail Crib Shoe
List Price: $37.95
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Your little angel will look simply adorable in umi's Sail crib shoe. This flexible leather design lets new little piggies breathe, promoting healthy foot development. An easy hook-and-loop strap ensures that getting dressed is as painless as possible.
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First Steps - Choosing Shoes for the Child Who is Learning to Walk
Young children have gone barefoot for most of human history, and still do so in many parts of the world, so the answer to the question, "What are the best shoes for the toddler who is learning to walk?" is still being discussed.
Research shows that feet are more flexible, stronger and healthier when a person goes barefoot, and many experts believe that it is best to go without shoes as much as possible. Of course this isn't always practical outdoors where shoes are needed to protect the feet, or in cold weather when they're necessary to keep young feet warm. For a young child who's learning to walk, therefore, the next best thing to no shoes is a shoe that is as close as possible to bare feet. When you're purchasing their shoes take the following factors into account:
The correct fit. Neither too large nor too small, though a tight shoe will cause more problems for a child who is learning to walk than one which is too large.
Easy to take on and off. High top shoes can be confining and are more difficult for parents to put on and for toddlers to take off. But low-cut shoes come off easily and a child can pull them off at will. They can also slip off by themselves. What's best for your child when he or she is learning to walk will depend on foot shape as well as on the fit of a particular pair of shoes.
Light weight. Toddlers find it hard enough learning to put one foot in front of another and if the shoes are too heavy then this becomes even more of a challenge!
Flexible soles. Make learning to walk easier, so check you can bend the toe of the shoe up easily.
The right soles. Neither so slippery that your child is always sliding around, but neither so non-slip that it's hard for them to lift their feet. Search out rubber soles that are grooved like tire treads. If the shoes do have smooth slippery soles, then rough them up a bit with sandpaper to improve their grip before your toddler wears them.
A shape that matches the foot. Choose a high square toe rather than a pointed one.
Breathable uppers. Much nicer to have leather or canvas uppers that allow the foot to breathe, than plastic or fake leather which make feet hot and sweaty.
No heels. Even a small heel can alter a child's posture and balance, making learning to walk even more difficult.
Good support. The backs of the shoes should offer good support to the foot and preferably be padded along the back edge, making them less likely to rub and a lot more comfortable.
Attractive colors and designs. Toddlers will often refuse to wear shoes they don't like. So if at all possible let them have a say in chosing their shoes - bright colors and designs are usually favorites, while those featuring animals, cartoons or other pictures score bonus points.
Reasonably priced. While your child is learning to walk, and indeed for some time afterwards, their feet will be growing very fast and you'll probably have to replace their shoes four, five or even more times in the next year.
If you can afford it, it's a good idea to buy two pairs of shoes at a time. Mud, water and perspiration are all attracted to the average toddler who is learning to walk and switching pairs will allow shoes to dry completely between outings.
About the Author
And of course when you come inside after your walk, it's great to snuggle down with a good book! The author, Ellie Dixon, lives in deepest rural Devon, England with her husband and two very large Newfoundland dogs. She is passionate about vintage illustrated children's books and loves to restore and edit them for today's kids to rediscover. Visit Scruffy's Bookshop, Ellie's website for some great books to download and read together.
