Hey!!
Back when my 4yo was a baby and beginning to walk it was robeez and pediped were the best shoes, what is it now?? :)
I would still do Robeez when they first walk. It's just like having bare feet! However, if you are going to buy actual shoes, then Stride Rite all the way! :)
I always heard bare feet until walking (robeez before for foot protection). Then, we always go with Stride Rites for the the first or second pair for good walking shoes.
I love Stride Rite for my 2 1/2 yr old. they are great shoes that last. plus they take the time to measure her feet and make sure the shoe fits correctly!
Barefoot at home. Striderite for shoes.
We bought Robeez or knockoffs when DD was starting to walk, but she went barefoot a lot, too.
Stride Rite are still good shoes, but I tend to get whatever shoes fit our purpose at present. I make sure she tries them on for fit and for support. If she stands up and her arch falls over/the shoe collapses, we move on. I've had decent luck with Payless, truly. They make wide kiddie shoes in reasonable prices.
I like the PreWalkers from Umi. They stay one, and they give them some traction while they learn. There are many styles, but one that I've bought for both kids is called "Puggle".
You can find them on Zappos - amongst other places.
I liked Pediped (starting to walk), Rileyroos, Pedoodles, Stride Rite. I think it is worth the money to have them wear good shoes. My son never had over 2 pair, but they were good for his feet.
I still say pedipeds are great for when a baby is just learning to walk but I only ever used them when my baby needed shoes on ie: outside or at the Drs office, etc but in the house I always kept her in bare feet or sock feet.
Robeez and pediped when they need to have their little feet covered- otherwise barefoot! In FL, it's warm enough most of the year to be barefoot indoors (and out).
We have also had really good luck with Stride Rite.
Tsukihoshi's are ABSOLUTELY the best shoes. My son is 4 and I still buy them for him. Much better than stride rite in so many ways. Go to the Tsukihoshi website so you can read all about these shoes and check out reviews on Zappos. I can't even express how much better they are than stride rites which was my son't first pair of shoes because that is what everyone suggested. I thought they were awful. They caused my son to keep tripping and seemed hard unlike the tsukihoshi's.
