Did your parents put bells on your toddler shoes? Did you as a parent?

[Anonymous]

I worked at F R Richey Stride Rite in high school.

The bells were encapsulated in plastic and screwed closed. It was to keep the laces from coming untied.

They were a pain in the ass to get on. Most grandmas wanted them, most moms did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked at F R Richey Stride Rite in high school.

The bells were encapsulated in plastic and screwed closed. It was to keep the laces from coming untied.

They were a pain in the ass to get on. Most grandmas wanted them, most moms did not.

I found a link
https://www.bestdressedchild.com/fobashacsula.html

[Anonymous]

I did not, but I remember hearing a podcast (This is alive) about a blind woman who put bells on her girls’ shoes so she always knew where they were!

[Anonymous]

Hadnt seen those, but squeakey shoes were both cute and amazingly useful, and bells seem similar conceptually.

[Anonymous]

Born in Detroit in 1974 and while I have no memory of the bells, my mom saved them and gave them to me.

[Anonymous]

The babies and toddlers are intrigued by the bells, obviously it is adorable to hear them walk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the hard-soled, high top, belled white shoe as a toddler. My mom was adamant that my oldest needed the same, but didn't mention the bell. I grew up in western PA and most of my family is from Ohio. She also looked for glass bottles. No thank you on both accounts.

Glass bottles came back in the aughts.

43. Central OH here.

I remember those rigid white shoes and hadn’t thought about the bells until tonight. My brother and I had them and there are photos of my dad with them from the 1930s! I’m sure that all of our bells were used for crafts years ago.

Anyone else remember how that white shoe polish would build up on those shoes and saddle shoes? And the laces were so thin and got into terrible knots. My parents would cover scuffs on every Sunday morning before church. I still buy the white bottle with the little sponge dabber for my DD’s white summer sandals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of the bells? Luck? Function? Just general cuteness? I did not have bells and neither do my kids and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them.

They kept laces tied.

[Anonymous]

They’re a choking hazard

[Anonymous]

Yes, born in 1974 in Detroit and my mom gave me my bells a few years ago. I think they were so they knew where the kid was walking in the house, this was pre-baby gates (and definitely pre helicopter parents)!

Never thought about putting bells on my kid but we lived in a condo so she couldn't go far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, born in 1974 in Detroit and my mom gave me my bells a few years ago. I think they were so they knew where the kid was walking in the house, this was pre-baby gates (and definitely pre helicopter parents)!

Never thought about putting bells on my kid but we lived in a condo so she couldn't go far.

Adding my parents are from Erie and after Detroit we moved to Pittsburgh - seeing there are a few other Western PA people on here so maybe this is more common there? Like the cookie table at weddings?

[Anonymous]

I just make my kid wear air-tag earrings. It's the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, born in 1974 in Detroit and my mom gave me my bells a few years ago. I think they were so they knew where the kid was walking in the house, this was pre-baby gates (and definitely pre helicopter parents)!

Never thought about putting bells on my kid but we lived in a condo so she couldn't go far.

Adding my parents are from Erie and after Detroit we moved to Pittsburgh - seeing there are a few other Western PA people on here so maybe this is more common there? Like the cookie table at weddings?

Omg Cleveland here. We need a cookie table thread!

[Anonymous]

I was born in 1974 and no bells.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re a choking hazard

This is why they aren't popular anymore.