Toddler Shoes... My Gripe

[rufalina]

Why is it that all toddler shoes are stoopid velcro. Do shoe makers not understand that children who are just over the age of 1 and really like exploring, and do not like shoes on, but need shoes for park and shopping, are very adept at velcro and no sooner as shoes are on, they are off, and that is a good game??????????? I can understand velcro for an older kid, but for a toddler?

In a shoe store on the weekend, when I wanted to get some summer sandals for DS, to break in now with sox at home before it gets hot and he needs then at day care, there were 2 pairs with buckles, and one of them had a velcro bit at the top to adjust for toes, so not suitable...

And when we needed to get late winter shoes as DS had outgrown his there were, again, two pairs of lace ups to choose from, and one was out of his size... See a pattern here??? And you know what, I am a mum who LOVES her shoes, and I hate the fact that I am not given a choice for DS. I want him to have nice shoes, not just the only ones that suit wrt buckles and laces...

Am I shopping in the wrong places? Or am I not normal in my needs?

And while I am at it, can anyone explain the inequality in choice for boys and girls, not only in shoes, but in clothing too... Please dont get me started on that topic....

Am I the only one who find this really hard?

Ok...rant over... i just needed to get that out..

[MamaPan]

I agree with you soooooooooooooooo strongly.. esp about the choice (and esp for girls)
I went to ecco on the weekend to get DS shoes and there ended up ONE choice... there were about 20 suitable pairs of girly shoes. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Inanna]

I agree too. It's ridiculous!

[butterfly_warrior]

We're not quite up to the shoe stage, but I think you're entirely normal, Rufalina. I'm so thoroughly sick of trying to go shopping for Sam's clothing and finding rack upon rack of stuff for girls and maybe half a rack for boys. And there's just no variety - it's all ugly!

Makes me want to get the sewing machine out...

BW

[Bathsheba]

I LOATHE velcro!!! So I totally agree. I rarely buy shoes with velcro and only do as a complete last resort. Whenever I am in shoe shops I make a point of saying how much I hate shoes with velcro for the exact reasons you gave plus i find that it doesn't last as long as a buckle... all manner of lint and fluff get in it... i know I could pull it out a bit but that's not the point... and it looks shocking... so cheap and nasty. Shop assistants think I'm crazy... they assure me that all mums prefer the convenience of velcro these days (ppppft!) because it's faster and gives the child independence. Well that's all very well and good but at the end of te day it's also cheaper to install than a good quality buckle so I remain suspicious and refuse to be converted.

Start-Rite are a good brand of childrens' shoe that have largely avoided velcro. I have also found Gro-Shu to be good for buckled sandals as well, and they are nicely lined with leather and have padding around the heel... and are reasonably priced.

I also prefer lace-ups to velcro.

[rufalina]

Thanks all for validating my issues... I am not a totally insane mum... *Phew*

Toddlers love velcro. It is such a game and makes a great noise too. ...RIP... and DS loves scratching his nails on the hard bits... As for laces, I am sure you can teach a child to do them up. I know I learned... When we were growing up (I am going to show my age here) velcro was only for cheap shoes and noone had it... oh except for the cool velcro bit that went over the laces round the ankle on high tops...

Bath thanks for the recommendations... will look out for them.

[Bathsheba]

yep, in "my day" (when I was a teen) vecro on shoes was kinda embarrassing... it meant they were cheap... that you couldn't afford buckled or lace up shoes.

[Sequoia]

And while I am at it, can anyone explain the inequality in choice for boys and girls, not only in shoes, but in clothing too... Please dont get me started on that topic....

Really? I have no trouble finding funky items for my little man. Most everyday stuff is from Target but I also buy from Fred Bare and Country Road (the spend and save offers are fantastic!). I'm not a fan of Pumpkin Patch as I don't like logos and writing over each piece of clothing. My sister lives OS and buys a lot of Gap and Benetton for him also which wears very well.

[Jennifer13]

Ruf, there are a couple of good factory outlet stores at DFO at Homebush. I always got DD's shoes there when she was littler. And I bought both velcro and non-velcro, depending on the intention. Preschool always got the velcro shoes! You tend to find that the more expensive brands seem to make good shoes for kids that include buckles and laces, but I shudder at the usual prices. Lately we've found what we want at DJs and Myers when they have their throw-out sales at the end of season. I always buy the sizes ahead and a few staples for each size, so it doesn't bother me what season the sale is for. And my tip is if you find a shoe that's perfect, buy it in the next size or two as well, 'cause there's no way you'll ever find it again!

(We encourage bare feet at home too and I did get second-hand shoes from my Mum whose foster-daughter has CP and didn't walk for quite a while. But I'm very reluctant to go second-hand shoes otherwise, my DD has a very narrow, long foot and only new shoes give her a snug fit. Same as me, so I don't like to take the chance that they come off easily.) As for pink... Can you believe I managed to find a lovely dress for DD for our photo shoot on Sunday that is completely blue!