My 2-year-old daughter has one pair of pink high top sneakers right now and one pair of snow boots. In the summer, she had a pair of canvas sneakers and a pair of sandals. Doesn't have any dress up shoes because she's barely ever dressed up, and if she is dressed up, it's usually indoors so she doesn't need shoes.

DD has too many, but grandparents spoil her. Many she doesn't wear, b/c they're impractical. I do like having 2 pairs of sneakers, though. Allows me to wash one or let one dry if they get wet. I think we'd be fine with the sneakers, a pair of nice shoes and a pair of winter boots now and wet-friendly sandals for summer.

At that age, my kids usually had 2 or 3 pairs of shoes - sneakers, seasonally appropriate casual shoes (sandals in the summer, closed toe shoes like Mary Janes in the winter) and maybe one other pair that were a little nicer but still ok for everyday wear/play. They hated boots so we didn't buy rain boots, but if someone gave us a pair of hand me down snow boots we'd have those lying around, too.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand buying so many pair of shoes for little kids they outgrow so fast. My 5 year old has 2 pairs at anytime.. one pair of sneakers and one pair of rain/snow boots or crocs for summer. The only reason I would buy a 3rd pair (dressy shoe) is if he needed to go to a formal wedding which has not happened yet.
For me, I have 5-6 pairs pairs in rotation - ballets, boots, dressy boots, sandals, dressy sandals, pumps. But my feet are no longer growing and my shoes last a long time

It's really better to have at least two pair that you wear alternately, even for little kids. And for those of your letting your kid wear ONE pair of shoes day after day after day...and then passing them down...shame on you. Buy your younger kid new shoes. Save money elsewhere.

5 or 6? I like her wearing a different pair daily. I also try to make the sneakers or shoes match the outfit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 year old has rain boots, water shoes, sandals, athletic sneakers, slip on sneakers, patent mary janes for fancier events, shearling slippers

That's more pairs of shoes than I have...

My 4 year old and 2 year old kids typically have 2 pairs per season-1 of the pairs is always sneakers and the other varies by season. right now it's snow/winter boots, in spring it'll be rain boots, in the summer sandals, in the fall probably back to rain boots. I used to buy cute, dressier shoes on occasion and then realized they never wore them and it was a waste. They outgrow/wear out their sneakers every couple months so basically we're buying 2 new pairs of shoes each season it seems=16 new pairs of shoes each year between the 2 kids. I can't imagine buying more.

You seriously don't have more than 6 pairs of shoes?

I have 1 pair tennis shoes, 1 pair winter boots, 1 pair ballet flats, 1 pair sandals, and 1 pair birkenstocks. I'm a SAHM and we don't go to church or any dressy events really. It's plenty for me.

Wow I admire your minimalism. Even in the "sport" category I have tennis shoes, running shoes, riding boots, hiking boots, boat shoes etc. It seems like it could be freeing to pare down.

This is similar for us. Ours actually ended up with three pairs right now because of a hand-me-down. He has regular sports shoes, high-top shoes, and winter boots. It's more than we've ever had for our kids before and is nice so that there's something to wear if one gets wet, but I don't think more is necessary. They grow out of it so fast.

I don't understand buying so many pair of shoes for little kids they outgrow so fast. My 5 year old has 2 pairs at anytime.. one pair of sneakers and one pair of rain/snow boots or crocs for summer. The only reason I would buy a 3rd pair (dressy shoe) is if he needed to go to a formal wedding which has not happened yet.
For me, I have 5-6 pairs pairs in rotation - ballets, boots, dressy boots, sandals, dressy sandals, pumps. But my feet are no longer growing and my shoes last a long time

My girls have more clothes than any child should have but we've never had a lot of shoes. My 3 year old has one pair of sneakers (Plae) that she wears every day and one pair of "dressy" maryjanes from Mini Melissa that she wears for nicer events or while playing dress up.

Every season: sneakers, boots, dress shoes
In the summer we add waterproof shoes for camp and flip flops
Between 2 kids I feel like I’m always buying shoes.

we have everyday sneakers for daycare

then I have Hunter rainboots and some mary janes for dressing/stockings

in summer, she has several "jelly" sandals

My 3 year old has 2 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of Mary Janes, 1 pair of booties, and 1 pair of snow boots. She obviously wear the sneakers the most. I think kids should have more than 1 pair of sneakers. I learned this the hard way last year. My daughter has only 1 winter coat, and when the zipper broke, we went all over the place looking for a coat. It was March at that time, and most stores were not carrying winter jackets.

Anonymous wrote:That's pretty normal I think. My daughter just turned 4 but she's never had more than 3-4 pairs of shoes. She wears her boots with her church dresses.

Yes my 4 year old has more shoes now than ever before. It's a bit easier to buy her shoes because she can tell me if they are too small or feel off. So she has a few pairs of "fun" shoes like sparkly boots from Target and mary jane sneakers that look like cats. But for every day she wears her sneakers. The sneakers are the one pair I want to fit perfectly, that I replace the most and spend the most money on. The fun shoes I don't always replace. Rain boots I buy big and they wear until they are too small. Same with winter boots.

My kids are often going up a 1/2 size in sneakers every 3 months. It's expensive! I can't imagine having 20 pairs or the like.

My girls each have one pair of sneakers, one pair of natives, one pair of rain boots and one pair of mary janes (that are really sneakers with straps)

DS1 (3YO) has 1 pair sneakers, rain boots, snow boots, and a size-up flip flops ready for next summer. In summer he'll also get water shoes for the pool and a pair of slip-on Natives or other waterproof sneaker. So I guess 3 pairs per season?

DS2 (2YO) has more pairs because he also has DS1's hand-me-downs but I feel bad not also buying him new sneakers when I buy DS1 ones.

Each also has slippers that were gifts but rarely worn.