Appropriate Footwear for 13-mo old?

[andromedajulie]

My 13-mo old is running around like crazy and loves loves loves to be outside. She has mostly been barefoot, or if necessary, in Robeez, but mud season is coming upon us and I want her to be outside just as much, so she is in need of some real shoes.

I know lots of people just buy cute shoes from Target but I'm wondering in terms of good foot development, what is the best type of shoe to get at this stage, when some additional coverage from rain and cold is needed. Pretty soon I'll have to get actual snow boots, too.

Thanks for any suggestions!!

[nstewart]

From what I understand barefoot or as close to it is best as much of the time as possible.  For when they do need to wear shoes you want to ensure that the shoes have a very flexible sole, and that the "body" (is that what it's called) of the shoe is flexible as well.  Something leather is best.  You also want to ensure that there is nothing stiff around the ankle and that the shoes aren't high-top.  (I imagine that when it's snow season that won't be possible, at least where we live!) 

I think "cute" shoes that don't meet the description from time to time for short periods or snow boots when necessary are fine.

[Amatullah0]

We usually buy Pediped

[mamazee]

I had my kids in socks and Robeez at that age, unless it was so snowy that they needed snow boots, and on those days they had boots but put the Robeez back on inside.

[LittleBirdy]

My DS is the same age.  He only wears shoes when we're outside, and he usually wears these.  They are very flexible, much more so than anything I've seen at Target/Walmart/etc.

[foreverinbluejeans]

Moccasins are a good choice unless the weather is really bad. I read a book promoting everyone being barefoot and that was the author's first choice if you had to wear shoes. I made my kids moccasins from Tandy leather kits and they loved them. There are leather boots and they could be waterproofed.

[andromedajulie]

thanks for the suggestions... i keep her barefoot indoors, but i like to take her out in the pouring rain, mud, and cold, which is why she needs something beyond robeez... waterproofable moccasins sound amazing... i would love to try that!!! foreverinbluejans can you tell me where to get something like that?  littlebirdy, I went to stride rite and found a very similar flexible pair... thank you!

[foreverinbluejeans]

One of the kinds of shoes my kids wore were like these Soft Star Shoes. The brand they wore is n longer in business, my children are adults. Soft Star shoes also have boots. My kids only wore their shoes like the Soft Stars (or moccasins I made them) and the leather bottoms held up to Indiana weather. They had pull on boots they wore over their shoes for bad weather.

http://www.softstarshoes.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=41 

The moccasin kit I used from Tandy leather looked like this one. How cute is the headband on the same page! My kids would have liked that.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/4602-194.aspx 

[JudiAU]

I like the Smaller Line from See Kai Run and also the most flexible rubber soled Stride Rites. Order a bunch from zappos.com to feel them out.

[superlove]

I had a physical therapist recommend Stride Rites.  She said you want something with a flexible sole, but that still has some support.

[Viriditas]

I also like See Kai Run.