Anonymous wrote:StrideRite shoes are great but I always buy them online at a lower price than that

Which site? I look for specific ones at Amazon DSW or 6pm, but I don't find the ones DD chooses from the SR website. Aren't you limited in selection of styles if you don't buy from SR.com?

You could do Pediped or SeeKaiRun for first shoes, but they won't save you on $ over SR.

StrideRite shoes are great but I always buy them online at a lower price than that

We did Carters Every Step when our son (now two) was first walking and they worked very well.

Now we go to Fit Right Kids Shoes in Chantilly. They carry Stride Rite but steered us to Tsukihoshi, which is comparable in price to Stride Rite but (according to the owner) better made. They fit well, hold up great, and he seems to fit into them for a surprisingly long time since we get them with a good amount of toe space and they're very adjustable.

Shoes are literally the only thing we go brand name on.

Target carries a cheaper brand of stride rite that we like. Yes, they aren't going ot last long, but my son also isn't going to fit in them for long, and they're $20 each.

Anonymous wrote:Target carries a cheaper version of Stride Rite...we live those! stride Ez or something? Also, Carters now carries Stride Rite so you can use a carters coupon!

The Target ones are called Surprize, and they are pretty cute. The materials are cheaper, but they seem pretty well made.

I have never paid $40 for a pair of shoes, and we buy SR almost exclusively because they fit my daughter's feet well and come in half sizes. I measure her feet at home and shop around online, or watch for sales in the stores. But if I had to, I would, because shoes and coats are the two things I don't skimp on.

I love Bobux shoes. Similar (or more expensive) price point but really well made. And, you can frequently find 25%-off coupons (I just used one yesterday). They have instructions for measuring feet online - they are really easy to follow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The store in Wheaton mall is independently owned and still open. The owner has been working there for 30 years, he knows children's shoes. We go there to get measured and buy a pair of shoes. Then I buy more online. I also loved bobux for my new walker. We wear those as slippers in the house. They have a sale section too.

Which store? Stride Rite?

Yes.

Shoe train in Potomac has had the same guys working there 30 plus years as well.

Just FYI, Ramer's in Chevy Chase is still open and one of the good old fashioned shoe stores. That's where I go locally go get DD's feet measured (once or twice a year) and always buy a pair when I go.

Anonymous wrote:The store in Wheaton mall is independently owned and still open. The owner has been working there for 30 years, he knows children's shoes. We go there to get measured and buy a pair of shoes. Then I buy more online. I also loved bobux for my new walker. We wear those as slippers in the house. They have a sale section too.

Which store? Stride Rite?

I am happy to spend a lot of money on my child's first few pairs of shoes because I think that the shoes a new walker is wearing can impact his or her development. My first daughter's physical therapist recommended stride rite, so that's who we bought from for the first three years - now that she's almost four, I'm buying other slightly cheaper brands. Now that Stride Rite stores are closed, I'm going to go to Nordstrom for sizing.

Which brings up another point -- I strongly believe in buying shoes from the store whose employee takes the time to measure my child's feet. I like a good deal as much as anyone else, but I don't think it's fair/ethical to go in just for the free shoe fitting and then buy elsewhere. As a PP said, this is why all the small stores like Bradshaw's, etc have gone out of business.

We did Stride Rite early on, but new shoes every few months drove us to Target and Payless. Now that our kid is older, I want something more durable. I'll research on Stride Rite's website then find the same shoes for $10 less on Amazon.

The store in Wheaton mall is independently owned and still open. The owner has been working there for 30 years, he knows children's shoes. We go there to get measured and buy a pair of shoes. Then I buy more online. I also loved bobux for my new walker. We wear those as slippers in the house. They have a sale section too.

I'd also add that when they are just learning to walk bare feet inside the home is best, or use the shoes. socks are too slippery. outside, wear the shoes and socks. and at certain ages, they love taking off shoes if they are sitting around w them on!