Shoes that a toddler can't escape from!

[tracymom1]

Hi mamas!
Does anyone have any ideas or experience with a particular brand of shoes that are difficult for a toddler (almost 2yo) to remove? My DD takes her shoes off constantly, and while *most* of the time I really don't mind if she chooses to be shoe-free, sometimes it is just inappropriate or extremely frustrating (like when I have my newborn crying, my 3yo trying to run across a busy parking lot and now I have to stop and get DD's shoes back on while trying to keep an eye on everyone else...sigh...).

Really, I just want her to wear them at the store and in public, but she always stops and removes them - and FAST!! Before I can even get her to stop!! We have tried shoes with velcro (Keens and sneakers), shoes that tie, shoes with a buckle (like mary janes)... she is like a little houdini! A master escape artist, lol. We have talked about keeping shoes on in public but she is just a little too young yet to reign in her impulse control for this one.

Any suggestions?

[mkksmom]

I gave up on keeping shoes on unless she needs to protect her feet. So if she will ride in a stroller or shopping cart for the outting, I just let her take them off. If she will be down walking in a public place, I do put them on her to keep her feet clean/protected. But I have not found any toddler-proof shoes, so when the ladies ask, "Where are your shoes?" I show them the shoes in my diaper bag and they laugh.

[Midwesterner04]

They aren't difficult to remove, but my young toddler--who removes all other socks and shoes within seconds of getting them on--will happily wear Hanna Andersson's Swedish Moccasins http://www.hannaandersson.com/style.asp?from=SC|6|2|156|45|9||&simg=22896_25H. They are basically thick (and soft!) cotton socks with leather covering the heel, toe, and bottom of the foot. I think they're really quite cute in person.

[jdg]

Maybe something like hi-tops would work? I spotted these on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Woogee-Boot-Toddler-Sea/dp/B003CFB74I/?pf_rd_mnb=ATVPDKIKX0D34&pf_rd_stb=center-2&pf_rd_rat=0817NMRY4ZRQZM6P18TH&pf_rd_t3r=101&pf_rd_ptd=470938631&pf_rd_ied=507846&tag=buaazs-20&pf_rd_ptd=470938631&pf_rd_ied=507846

[insidevoice]

My shoeless wonder can't escape from converse-style high tops.  It's the ONLY thing he can't escape from, and I don't love that the soles aren't uber-flexible.  He's almost two now though and he does run into situations where he needs the protection for his feet, I'm willing to trade off flexibility of the sole for their actually staying ON his feet.