Kids' Shoes
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Dec 2011
My 2 y/o son has wide feet so we've been getting him shoes
from Stride Rite, but at ~$60/pair, it just doesn't make
economic sense given how fast he outgrows them! What other
brands out there have a good selection of wide shoes? anon
My 22-month-old son has wide feet, and See Kai Run shoes,
which are very well made, fit him. They're about $45 a pair,
but you can often get them on sale for half price on their
website. Anon
July 2011
I'd appreciate recommendations for where to buy good quality
shoes for younger kids.
- Thanks
Hi,
Kid Dynamo at 1481 Shattuck Ave has an awesome selection of
kids and baby shoes. They also do a great job measuring kids
feet.
Anon
I wish I had a recommendation for a local shoe shop, because
I would prefer to shop locally, but I haven't found a
convenient shoe shop with the selection we need. I now
order shoes for my kids from Zappos.com. It works out
really well- -I choose about 4-5 pairs for each kid, in
brands that tend to work for them andstyles I approve of--no
worries about my daughter falling in love with the pink
sparkly heels at the shoe store. The kids then try them on
in the comfort of our own home, and we keep the pair that
fits the best and send the rest back (Zappos has free
shipping AND free return shipping). Online shoe shopper
I buy shoes for my son at REI. He's 9 now but I've been
buying shoes for him there for years. There's a very good
shoe salesman there, his name is Gene, he's there Tuesday
and Friday evenings, and he's very helpful with kids. Sally
I highly recommend Happy Feet in Alameda. Small but
well-stocked with knowledgeable staff. The salesperson was
helpful, attentive, listened to my criteria, and helped me
find the perfect shoes for my daughter. Laura
Nov 2010
My 4 years old daughter's feet grow like weeds and I have a
hard time finding her the right pair of shoes. She has very
wide feet. Can anyone recommend a good place (Walnut Creek
area, but will travel to Berkeley) to shop for wide shoes
and/or a type of brand? Would prefer affordable (less than
$20 a pair), comfortable and girly shoes (she is very into
sparkly). Thanks. Katherine
Your best bet might be online. We often found stores had to
special order shoes anyway, which was more of a pain than
just ordering online and it was difficult for my daughter to
go to the store and see so many pretty shoes and be told
none of them came in wides (or extra wides). We found a few
brands that worked-- Stride Rite, New Balance, and some
kinds of sandals, but none were under $20. Lands' End has
one line (maybe more?) that comes in wides and in lots of
colors and they are often cheap, especially since they are
constantly having sales and promotions. (FYI they run on
the big side) We've been very happy with the quality for
the price, and even though they aren't sparkly, or as cute
as some, they do have lots of colors and can count as
'fancy' while still being suitable for running around.
When we've bought my daughter shoes not in wides, she only
wears them once because they hurt (even though in the store
her enthusiasm for them made her say they were fine). Boots
have been an exception-- not sure why. It's a bummer, but
she's just had to have fewer shoes than otherwise because
they are expensive and there's less selection. But online
at shoes.com, shoebuy.com, zappos.com, or the like,
probably has the most options in wides. -No Emeldas here
Try shoebuy.com. You can search by size and width (they
offer wide and extra wide). Shoebuy.com offers free
shipping to your home as well as free shipping on all
returns. In addition, you don't have to pay sales tax.
Also, if you search for coupons online, you usually can find
one w/10-20% off. Once you purchase from their site, you
will receive coupons 1-2 x per month and I have found that
as a returning customer, I have rec'd an additional 10% off.
Not sure if they are still doing that as I haven't had to
purchase shoes in awhile. Hope this helps. anon
My daughter who is three, also has wide feet.
Unfortunately, all the girly styles she likes do not come in
wide sizes. I found the only shoes that really fit her and
has girly styles is Stride Rite. They are expensive so I
buy them at Nordstrom during their sales events. I've
bought the 'Natalia' Light-Up Mary Jane shoe now twice -
it's a sneaker style mary jane that's pink, has glitter, and
lights up (it's subtle, not too flashy) with each step and
is currently under $20 on sale. I've found that they have
more styles online than in the store, but if you go in to
the store and order it, they will ship it to you for free.
Nordstrom has a sale going on right now so hurry! Tiffany
I have the same challenge with my daughter, who is now 7.
Several brands market wide, and sometimes even XW shoes,
namely Striderite and Jumping Jacks. They are both
expensive at full retail, but there is a Striderite outlet
store in the outlet mall on HWY101 in Petaluma. Its hit or
miss there, though. Another company Tsukihoshi, market
great tennis shoes, machine washable with velcro and
removable liner, also expensive at full retail, but often
available on the web at lower cost. The run very wide, but
aren't labeled 'wide'. They also run about 1/2 size
large. The strategy that has mostly worked for me is to
find a shoe that fits from one or all of these companies,
and then keep buying it in the next size, different colors,
as my kids' feet grow. I use eBay often, buying new and some
used shoes. The shoe store I used to go to on College Ave
closed, any my experience has been that wide shoes in a
conventional retail store are pricey..$50 and up, unless you
hit a sale. Liz
The only place I know of where you might regularly find wide
kids' shoes for under $20 per pair is Payless Shoe Source.
The quality matches the price -- they're a pretty good value
and the shoes can be quite comfortable (especially the
'Smart Fit' line) but don't expect them to last a long
time or hold up to playground abuse as well as more
expensive brands would.
My other suggestion is Lands End -- which you can buy at
Sears stores as well as online. Their basic kids' shoes
tend to be about $25 or $30 so they are just a bit over your
budget, but if you shop online you may find end-of- season
deals or discontinued colors for under $20. Free shipping
codes are easy to get if you sign up for the catalog and/or
e-mails. The shoes are pretty good quality, their girls'
styles are cute but practical, and they do offer wide sizes
in many styles. Holly
Aug 2008
My 16 month old has very wide feet. The only shoe I can seem to
get on him are Crocs. Anyone have any recommendations for a good
toddler shoe for kids with very wide feet? Thanks!
heather
I'd recommend going to Shoebuy.com or Zapatos.com and
searching by size (you can search by size and width). After
the smallest sizes, there are only limited options in
extra-wide. Or, stores will often special order extra wide
shoes for you, which takes longer but does provide some added
confidence about fit. We had some sad scenes in stores when
my toddler realized that almost none of the really flashy, fun
shoes came in her size, so we switched to ordering online.
Most online options have free returns. Striderite and New
Balance carry extra wide shoes and we have been very happy
with the quality of both brands.
Caroline
My son also has a very wide foot and the only shoe that fits
him are the slip on Merrils (REI) or See Kai Run (you can
order them online directly from them).
Good luck.
kim
Have you tried Keens? They are very wide and very sturdy, and
come in closed shoes as well as sandals. You can get them at
REI and Zappos.com. I've bought them at Cotton and Company in
Rockridge too. I always had good luck with Stride Rite for my
wide-footed boy - I think Cotton and Company carries them.
There are more suggestions on the BPN website here:
http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommend/where2buy/shoes.html
Ginger
We have a 21 month old toddler who has wide feet. So far we've
gotten by with some pedipeds, but I see that they are starting
to be pretty narrow on her. We recently got some Teva sandals
which were great for wide feet, but perhaps not good for every
day shoes.
Last week, I got a Lands End catalog with their children's
line and noticed that most of their shoes were available in
wide. Perhaps it is worth trying them since they have such a
good return policy.
I've been very happy buying toddler shoes from Zappos and you
can search for their shoes by narrowing on wide (E) or extra
wide (EE).
Good luck!
Steve
I have been buying my son extra wide Stride Rite shoes at
Cotton and Company. They are very well made and last a long
time. If you need sizes 6.5-7.5, I have shoes if you don't
want to pay full price.
Jane
Stride Rite has shoes that are wide, double wide, and extra
wide, at least for that age. They are about $50 if you get
them at a retail shop and $30 if you go to the outlets in
Vacaville. Believe it or not, I've had significant better and
more knowledgable service at the outlets, though they are on
our way to my parents' house, so not out of the way for us.
My kids have wide feet too
Oct 2007
My daughter (age four, size 12.5 feet) has very wide feet (also very big for
her age). We have a really hard time finding shoes that fit. Pretty much all
shoes from Target are way too skinny. Even ''wide'' sandals like Keens have
not been comfortable for her. We've had some luck with wide widths by Stride
Rite and New Balance, but are looking for comfortable some non-sneakers (we'd
love to find some mary janes, for example -- sporty or dressy). We'll take
any recommendations we can get -- brands or stores. Thanks so much!
Jen
We've got the same problem! I have found that our best choice has been to
buy online through Zapatos.com or shoebuy.com because stores don't stock
extra-wides. We have also special ordered shoes in wider sizes through
shoe stores, but our daughter sometimes gets upset if we shop in stores
because she can see all the pretty shoes that don't come in her size, and
last time we ended up being pressured into buying shoes for her at Stride
Rite that she won't wear because they are too tight. You can search by
size and width online. Stride Rite and New Balance have been the only
ones we've had luck with, except for velcro sandals that have a lot of
flexibility and Crocs. We've had several failures trying to buy dress
shoes and have never actually gotten a pair she'd wear since she outgrew
the toddler sizes.
Shoe-challenged as well
My son has wide feet and we've never had a problem when we've gone to shoe
stores that specialize in children's shoes. I don't buy shoes at Target,
though...I mostly buy from Carlins in Alameda or Howards in Walnut Creek.
Nordstrom (but not the rack) has a great selection as does any actual
Stride Rite store.
Momma loves expensive shoes
Lands End is now offering many styles of kids' shoes in Wide -- including
casual and sporty mary janes!
Prices are reasonable, and returns can be made at a Sears store (saves on
shipping costs).
You can also try the ''search by size'' function at major online shoe
merchants, like zappos.com, shoes.com and shoebuy.com. Prices are
generally higher but shipping is often free -- even for returns.
Holly
Go to Howards Shoes in Walnut Creek... in Broadway Plaza. They carry many
brands of shoes and have many styles and colors. The staff is always
pleasant... even when it is crowded. They measure BOTH feet! If the right
shoe isn't in stock, they will order it for you... sometimes from one of
their other stores, otherwise straight from the manufacturer. I had to
order my son's tap shoes from them (no one stocks boy's tap shoes) and
they placed the order, fit the taps, and then shipped them to my home for
no additional charge. I've always been very pleased with their service...
though the prices are a little higher, it is definitely worth it when you
have special needs.
Rose
Feb 2009
My son, who has always had big feet for his age, has outgrown the traditional ''kid shoe'' store (the last time we were in Cotton & Co, before they closed, they said they pretty much didn't have shoes any bigger than the ones we bought then). He's only 7, but is wearing size 5 or 5 1/2. He really needs someplace that will provide a good ''fitting'' for him, so Target and Payless are out -- the times I've tried to buy shoes for him there, it's never been at all successful. He refused to wear them after a time or two, saying they hurt his feet. I'd rather spend more money on shoes he'll actually wear. Also, he really needs a very sturdy shoe, and he'd still prefer a velcro closing (though we might insist on laces; it would be good for him to learn to tie his shoes well).
Any suggestions?
Karen
Nordstrom's is a great place for kid shoes, both bigger and little
kid. They will measure and they have a great selection as well as
some good sales every once in a while. Also, Howard's Shoe's in
Walnut Creek.
happy feet
we've had good luck at REI.
R.K.
My big kid likes the velcro-close shoe options at the Skechers
outlet in El Cerrito (and I like the prices). The workers there
did an ok job of fitting him. If you want a really great fitting
and service, and don't mind heading to Walnut Creek, try Nordstrom.
They have a women-and-kids shoe sale a couple times a year that
makes the prices more palatable.
Shoe-Shoppin' Mama
Feb 2009
We used to buy all of our kid shoes at Cotton Company and now that they've
closed are looking for other places, ideally in the Oakland Berkeley area
that have knowledgeable sales staff and a good selection of quality shoes.
Any suggestions?
sana
Hi- I was also a loyal customer of Cotton & Company.I can recommend
Howard's Shoes for Children in the Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.Now you
may not get the deals that C&C used to offer, but they have a good variety
of shoes in stock and the staff is very attentive. They also offered the
children stickers and a comic book, after we purchased shoes. If you get
on their mailing list, they do send a coupon postcard for discount shoes.
Hope this helps!
Denise
Jan 2009
Now that Cotton & Company is gone, where do you buy your children's
high-quality shoes? I am looking for an alternative place to buy
Naturino, Ricosta, Geoxx or similar brands for my 2.5 and 5 year
olds. Strite Ride does not fit them. Any leads?
Thanks!
A new shoe store recently opened in Alameda, called Happy Feet.
I think they have all the brands you mentioned. I'm so excited
they are there now!
2311 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 748-0524
Courtney
Actually we've gotten most of our shoes for
toddlerhood-preschool at Stride Rite, which doesn't help you.
But another place we've gotten high-quality shoes, in our case
mostly when our kids were babies just starting to walk, is
Nordstrom.
Matt
I'd like to second (or third?) the recommendations for Carlin's in
Alameda. We went there today to get shoes for my girls (1 & 3). I
loved that we weren't presented with just shiny pink/princess
shoes. Also, the salesman was really good about helping us find
very soft/flexible shoes for the 1-year old and really nice about
helping her be comfortable with the shoe sizer, etc.
Sofia
Dec 2008
Hi,
I've always got my children's shoes from Cotton and Company
on College. They've now closed and I'm looking for a store
which will carefully measure my children's feet (ages 18m to
7 years) and have a good stock of shoes (Stride Rite has
worked well in the past). I've seen a store in Walnut
Creek, but wondered if there was somewhere nearby that was a
favorite? I'm not looking for an online thing or Target.
Thanks
Shirley
For kids' shoes try Alameda. There's a great mom and pop shop in
SouthShore shopping center (back behind TJ's) and a brand new store
that looks great just off Park across from the Beauty College, near
the theater I think. Sorry I can't remember names! Good luck!
shoe fiend
Hi Shirley, We were also loyal customers of Cotton & Company, and
were saddend and at a loss when they closed. I can recommend Howard
Shoes for Children in the Broadway Plaza behind Nordstrom's in
Walnut Creek.They are a family run store with a large assortment of
good quality shoes(ie.Stride Rite) for babies to adolescence.The
staff is very nice and attentive,(we recently purchased shoes there
for our 4 and5 yr old children.)Although I didn't notice any
ongoing sales, so we had to pay full price. Oh well, my kids are
worth it. Hope this helps.
Denise
Happy Feet in Alameda a half a block off Park Street. It is a
children's shoe store that has great shoes and good customer
service.
2311 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 748-0524
Alameda Mom
Carlin's Shoes in Alameda Town Centre. One of the best kid shoe
stores in the Bay Area. They carry Stride Rite and other great kid
brands and definitely know how to help you find the right fit. You
can find the mall online for info on how to get there and for more
info on the store.
Carlin's fan
The shoe store you are thinking of in Walnut Creek is Howards (in
the outside/walking mall near Nordstroms). I believe they have a
second location, but I am not sure where. I have had a lot of luck
buying shoes at Nordstroms for my toddler daughter, and you can
frequently find sales. Nordstroms has a good selection, and they
know how to measure children's feet. If you get on Howard's
mailing list, they do send coupons. I also frequently buy at
Striderite and have been happy with the selection and quality.
Careful about shoes also
May 2008
Are Cotton and Company and the Stride Rite at Hilltop the only
places around Berkeley to buy kid shoes? I just can't find
anywhere else and these two places never seem to have a good
assortment of sizes and styles. Any recommendations for
anywhere else for kids aged 2 and 7? Also, I prefer to have help
getting fitted. I do not have the confidence to fit my kids
myself.
Thank you.
Howard's Shoes in Walnut Creek! Hands down, they are the best.
They are a family run store and there are two or three in the bay
area-- this one's the closest. It's in the outdoor mall in the
back end area near Nordstrom's. They have a huge variety, they
measure your kids feet and they will send reminders to you to
come in and have your kids shoes measured again. The reminder
always has a coupon for a % off next purchase. They are slightly
expensive, but so is Cotton and Co!! It is worth it to have good
shoes on your kids feet!
LogicalMama
Couple other options for kid's shoes. There is a Stride Rite
store in the mall in Alameda, where Park St. hits the bay.
Smallish store though.
McCaulou's (sp?) has kids shoes as well. There is one in
Montclair Villiage, but we find the one in Lafayette has a better
selection.
Bryan
December 2006
I am looking to find great, reasonably priced holiday gifts for my young nieces
and nephews and thought that sending shoes might be a good option. Any
recommendations for affordable, cute, baby/kid shoes? melanie
hi melanie: the following site has unique and adorable baby/kids
shoes sold by a group of bay area moms: www.livieandluca.com. my
1 1/2 yr. old has a pair of shoes from this company and they
constantly get compliments. they are also soft and (from what I
can tell!) comfortable.
you can also see their products in this month's issue of Real
Simple magazine where they are featured as a ''great gift for kids''.
Vanessa
Sizing is so precise and demanding with shoes -- I'd skip it, or give Zappos gift
certificates.
Anon
I would definitely recommend shoes at www.livieandluca.com. I
got two pairs for friends' kids and they're great--cute,
flexible soles, and not too expensive. Friends said they get
lots of compliments. Also nice that the company is run by
moms, one of whom is a local--you can order on line or call
888.LIV.LUCA
lisa
June 2006
I need to find steel-toed workboots or shoes for my son. He has
a small foot, so I'm looking in the size 2 to 3 range. Does
anyone please know where I might be able to find footwear like
this? Big 5 Sporting Goods has them in larger sizes for
children, but I need smaller sizes. Thanks in advance.
Amy
Give Red Wing a call. I know they have one in Alameda but I
think they're everywhere
Karen
Try the ''Red Wing'' shoe store in San Rafael. I don't know if they're still there, but work
boots were there specialty when I was a kid, and they did carry kids' sizes. They were on
4th St. or 3rd St.... I don't remember. Otherwise, there's a store in SF called ''Stompers''
that I would call and ask if they know anyone that carries kids' sizes or if they could get
them for you. They are on 8th St. I think, south of Market, and their storefront doesn't
look very welcoming but they may be knowledgeable. anon
June 2006
My 4-1/2 year old really wants shoes with wheels that pop out of
the bottom. I'm not sure where he first saw them, but I can't
seem to find them in small sizes (he wears a 12). Does anyone
know where I could find some? Are they safe for a little guy to
wear?
JF
Try ebay. Though, I do believe Wheelies are suggested for kids 6 and up
-Anon
I just saw an ad on tv for these, go to www.heelys.com. My 6
y.o. really wants them too after seeing the commercial -- power
of marketing, and I am sure it only gets worse!!!
Courtney
June 2006
We would like to know where is a good place to buy children's shoes. We used to go to
Cotton and Company but last time we were there, and after spending a considerable
amount on clothes, the older lady who we believe is the manager asked not to return.
She would not give us an explanation as to why, but obviously we have no desire to
spend any more money there.
kennerley
We buy our children shoes at Howard's in Walnut Creek (near
Nordstroms). It is family owned. They measure and fit the shoes
well, and are very customer friendly. Examples: One time my
son's light up shoes stopped lighting up after a few weeks and
they were very pleasant about trading them in. Other times we
have found the style of shoes we wanted, but they didn't have
the color in stock, so they ordered the shoes and mailed them to
our home for no additional charge
mom of 2
We go to Howards Shoes in Walnut Creek. They also have a shop
in Stonestown Mall in SF. They specialize in children's shoes
and we've been happy with the service. They also send out
coupons during the year, for $5. off, or ''buy one pair, get the
second at half price'', etc. They also have a good selection of
rain boots, umbrellas, rain jackets, and socks
Kim
Wow- that is bizarre, I really hope that there was a
misunderstanding or something at Cotton and Co. But anyway, I
like the shoes and service at Howard's Shoes for Children in
Walnut Creek. They don't have a super large selection for
toddlers, but the shoes they do have are awesome and they know
them very well. My son's Perfection shoes by Jumping Jacks have
held up for 6 months thru countless series of mud puddles,
absolute drenchings in streams, hoses, and fountains, and they
are still soft, flexible and wearable. My son also has long
skinny feet, hard to fit in toddler shoes. The other place I
like to go is the Children's shoe dept at Nordstrom's. It is hit
or miss if you get a knowledgeable salesperson- the experienced
ones are good. Just trust your own knowledge about your
children's feet
I like good shoes, too
Nov 2005
What are the other stores to look for good toddler girly shoes
(purple, flowers, glittery is best)? I did check the website
first, and didn't find quite what I'm looking for. My very
particular and very girly toddler needs some shoes for the
winter. We got a great pair of sandals that she's worn all
summer at Nordstrom rack, which is hit or miss in terms of style
& size, and same thing with Payless Shoes and Ross, which often
have nothing that works, surprisingly, and they aren't
convenient so I can't look all the time. I went to Cotton and Co
on College Ave, thinking if I was willing to pay the $$ we would
at least get good service and a good fit, but I had to ask to
get her feet measured, and 2 salesgirls came up with 3 different
possible sizes for her shoes.
I can't really do on-line, since she
needs to try them on, and seems to have difficulty with the way
many shoes fit. And most of the shoes at Target, for some
reason, don't seem to work; the sneakers have never been a hit
regardless of how pretty or girly. I'm also interested in the
used places, since her favorite shoes seem to be primarily those
she has found at rummage sales. Places like livie & luca would
be great if they had larger sizes (currently she is about 7-8).
Those girly Elefanten mary jane styles or something equivalent
would work, if they fit (which is why I tried cotton & co.).
Any other good shoe stores out there, or have I
covered it? Or, ok, any online places with cheap shipping rates
and good return policies? Any favorite used places?
I'm so suprised to hear about your experience at Cotton and
Company. I've always been well treated there. Maybe you
caught someone on an off (ok, WAY off) day?
While at the fruitvale day of the dead event I noticed a shop
on E14th that had some over the top girly shoes. they're a
little grown-upy in a baptism/special event shoes kinda way
but your child might really love them.
I'm not sure of the name of the store or the actual address
but its on E14th somewhere between Fruitvale and 34th.
There are some frilly special dresses in the window along
with the shoes. good luck!
S
Have you looked at the Sweet Potatoes outlet on lower Solano?
They occasionally have girly shoes in a variety of colors (you
may be on your own in terms of sizing). And across the street
and down a bit, still on Solano, is a great new consignment store
called Solano Kids. They also have new shoes, and had some mary
janes and boots in fun colors.
Donna
Both garnethill.com and Hannaandersson.com have adorable shoes.
If you can't find anything there, maybe you can get something
plain and glue your own stuff onto them. You can buy/make
little leather flowers (I don't know where or how), and
little ''jewels'' (beads) and glue them to the shoes.
anon
Aug 2005
My seven-year old son needs a pair of black dress shoes for his
choir uniform. In years past, I've bought him black oxfords from
Payless Shoe Source but every year he complains that the shoes
are stiff (hard leather? not leather?) and hurt his feet and
doesn't want to wear them at all. So this year I told him that
I'd try to find a more comfortable pair of dress shoes for him.
Can anyone recommend a store or brand (preferably online) where I
can get a pair that's not more than $40 or $50? I already tried
the Land's End suede oxford but my son's complaining about those
too.
Shoe shopping mama
Have you tried striderite?? Last year I got a pair of black
Oxfords from JC Penny's that where striderite brand for my then
18 month old. He loved them and always choose to wear them
over any other shoes he had including his sneakers. we got
them a little before Halloween and they where on major sale but
I just looked on striderite.com and they seem to run between
40 - 50 dollars.
http://www.striderite.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=489&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=5&iSubCat=37&iProductID=489
Good luck
Melinda
Try StrideRite.com they have a larger selection of dress shoes
for Big Boys. I have always purchased my now 10 year old sons'
shoes from Stride Rite stores and have had to move on to the
website now because of his shoe size. You can also try
Nordstroms!
Hope That Helps!
My son wears the Stride Rite Cooper shoe available online at
www.striderite.com. It comes in a dress black color. He walks
for miles in them with no complaints even on the first
wearing. They are a little pricey at $45, but much more
comfortable than the Nordstrom ones we tried once. I've been
ordering him a new pair every September since he turned three.
Howard's Shoes in Walnut Creek will order them in for you, if
you don't want to pay shipping on the Stride Rite web site or
if your son needs a fitting.
Been there
Try Zappos.com for shoes. Free shipping most often.
internet shoe shopper
I usually end up buying my son's dress shoes at Sears, but what
popped into my mind reading your post was, are you sure you're
buying him shoes that FIT? I would take him to Stride Rite or
Nordstrom and have his feet measured -- including the width. If
his feet are wider or narrower than average, that will affect
the comfort of even shoes with the best materials and highest
quality construction.
Holly
Aug 2005
a while back, someone recommended an local (i think albany)
online store to buy toddler/baby shoes. i can't find it
referenced on the website. does anyone have the website?
liz
I think the website you are looking for is
http://www.livieandluca.com/.
June 2005
Any recommendations out there for cute/affordable shoes for an
active almost 2 year old?
ellen
You can find many cute and cheap shoes for toddlers at
Target/Sears/JCPenneys/Payless etc., but the question is, are
they good for your toddler's feet? Because their feet are still
so unformed and developing so quickly, I bite the bullet and buy
more expensive and hence, well-made, shoes for my 19 mo. old
son. I used to use Robeez, but he needs more support now that he
is running and climbing. I have tried Preschoolians, but they
did not have enough shape and made him move around awkwardly. I
keep coming back to Stride-Rites, and you can find them on sale
if you keep looking and sometimes they are very well-priced in
Ross and Nordstrom Rack. Howard's Shoes for Children (in Walnut
Creek)is expensive, but if you get on their mailing list, you
can get $10 off a pair of shoes every 4 months or so. I have
found that he really only needs 1 or 2 pairs of shoes at a time,
as the best thing for toddlers this age is to be barefoot or in
grippy-bottomed socks in the house. What I have done to cut
costs is buy 1 expensive pair of shoes that he wears most of the
time, and a couple ''cheapies'' that look really cute for special
occasions when he is dressing up to ''show off'' to the relatives.
Because his feet grow so quickly, he grows out of the good shoe
before ever wearing it out. Hope that helps-
Practical shoe mama
I recently had a fun shoe party by Mitzi! She came over during
one of my Mom's group outings with tons of shoes and the babes
tried on shoes. It was a lot of fun! She is great at finding the
right sizes and answering any questions you may have. I highly
recommend checking her site and contacting her. Her shoes can be
found at: http://www.livieandluca.com/?%20Maybe
Shoe Momma
I've bought shoes at cotton & co (nice, but very expensive). I
recently went to a shoe party run by an East Bay mom and found
a good alternative. Her stuff is online at
www.livieandluca.com and is very cute and reasonable. I think
she's also available to do shoe parties for groups.
Noreen
Feb. 2005
My daughter's feet have gotten to the size where she can't find
many selections in the children's shoe department. She has
narrow feet, so the size 4.5s and the 5s tend to be too wide.
She is a size 6 in teen and womens shoes, but the styles aren't
usually appropriate for an active 8 year old. Any suggestions
on where to shop for shoes for her?
Shoeless in Berkeley
thought I saw kids' narrows at lands' end kids online.
Chris
Try Nordstrom's. It's the only place I've consistently found
narrow widths. Also, try the Nordstrom rack in Marina Square
in San Leandro. Good Luck.
I've walked in your shoes
Aug 2006
Hi,
My grandson who is almost 4 has to have his shoes on all the
time. (He's with me during the week) He had a fungus infection
and finally was convinced that at night he couldn't go to bed
with socks or shoes on, but at nap time, I have to wait until
he's really asleep before taking them off. He screams when I
ask him to run around barefoot or take them off for a while. In
winter he has to have socks and slippers. Anyone with any
suggestions, please let me know
Karen
Our daughter is sometimes this way and there is nothing we can do about
it to avoid the screaming. But sometimes it works to take our own shoes
off (without making any demands or suggestions to
her) and then raving about how good it feels to wiggle our toes.
(Then we wiggle them and giggle and laugh like it's just so much
fun.) Often then she will want to do the same. The alternative which
will probably work over the long term is to disallow them to be on at
certain times and mentally prepare for the tantrums and the screaming.
Once he realizes that shoes on/off state is controlled by you and not
negotiable, he will probably just give up with the willful behavior
about it. Might take a while, though, and I realize it wouldn't be
without some pain for you to do. Good luck
- shoe-wearing stickler's mom
My son did this when he was younger. He would wake up in the middle of
the night and request his shoes be put on. (I told him to go back to
sleep.) He still mostly wears his shoes. I make positive coments to
him if I notice he has been bearfoot for a while. For a few years now
he won't wear shorts, only long pants. (he is four and a half now) He
says that he doesn't like how his legs look. I think he doesn't like
his skin exposed or
something.
It sounds like your child might have fungus, like athletes foot in his
shoes though. You might want to buy new shoes, and insist on socks.
There is a foot treatment that I have bought at Berkeley Bowl called
Lavalin that works well for about 5 days per application on stinky feet.
It is a bit expensive $11 for a small pot. I don't know if works on
fungus though, if your child does have it. Tea tree oil and GSE work
great on foot fungi now sometimes shoeless
June 2004
Our son has pulled off his shoes ever since we first put them
on. When he turned one and walked, we put Robeez leather slip-
ons on him, and those worked well. But then after that, he
disliked any shoes we tried. Now at three years old, he yanks
them off at every opportunity -- outside in parks and around
our neighborhood, in the car, in shopping carts, in
restaurants, libraries, ice cream parlors, etc. While I'm
careful to get his feet measured, and I've purchased all kinds
of quality shoes, sneakers, and sandals, he rejects them all.
My husband tells me that he hated shoes too, but not to this
extent. I'd love to hear any suggestions.
amy
My two cents: My son just turned three and only a month ago we
got him to wear his first pair of running shoes. We used to
live in Japan, where you are always barefoot indoors, so he
really hated wearing shoes. The only type of shoes he would
wear were those very soft water sandals. He would wear them
even in the winter (with socks). I think kids just feel more
comfortable barefoot or wearing very, very soft shoes. The
running shoes I got him to wear are from Payless Shoe. Yes!
they were only $9 and I got them in the wide size. If this does
not work, you can buy good non-slip socks that he could wear
even outdoors. GAP's are good and come in larger sizes. I hope
this helps.
Maria
I have had the same problem with my son. For a long time he would
only wear slippers, which he was happy with thru 3 and 4 years old. I
would take him to a high quality shoe store, have him fitted, buy him a
pair that he picked out, only to have him never wear the shoes. He has
a wide foot, so I wanted to be sure that the shoes were a good fit.
Now at the ''mature'' age of almost 5 (!), he has finally picked out a pair of
shoes from Payless that he thinks are superbly cool, and he wears them
more willingly. He still takes his shoes off the second he can, and partly
I think it's because he has hot sweaty feet, and it just feels better to be
shoeless. But I can certainly sympathize with you, and I was so happy
when he finally found a pair of shoes that he was pleased with.
I remember a friend's child had a similar thing of not liking shoes and
during those pre-school years, he wore rainboots year round.
jewel
Feb 2001
I'd like to know, too, where people are going after the demise of
McPhee's.
We went to the Corte Madera Nordstrom's, and it was actually fine.
I didn't notice if they had shoes for smaller children, though. I'd
imagine they do.
--Chris
There's a Stride Rite shoe store in Walnut Creek at the Broadway Plaza
mall, near Nordstrom. Christina
If you're willing to drive into the city, there is a store that sells
nothing but children's shoes.
It is called Tuffy's Hopscotch. Located at 3307 Sacramento in San
Francisco. The
woman who opened it did so because she was disappointed with the selection of
children's shoes in the bay area. Shoshona
There is a fabulous new kids shoe store in San Francisco in Noe Valley. It
is called "Wavy Footprints" and it is on 24th and Sanchez? (Next to a
fabulous children's clothing store "little bean sprouts"). The owners are
the nicest women who show genuine love for fitting children in shoes. Many
times I have been in there and one of them will entertain my son with a
puppet while he is being fitted. The carry all the top of the line brands
like Stride Rite and Elfanten. The have the best selection I have seen in
this area.
Hadley
Cotton and Company's does carry shoes larger than size four. In their new
location (across the street from the old ones), the infant/toddler and
older children's shoes are no longer separate. Perhaps the old
maternity/infant shop only carried shoes through size four. Gail
When at McPhee's final sale, I asked where else we could shop for children's
shoes, and was told that there is a store just like it in the Coddingtown
Mall in Marin (or is is already Sonoma County?). One of the women who
worked at McPhee's also works there. It's a trek, but to have the range of
styles and expert fitting, it might be worth it.
Lorraine
I have always bought my son Elefanten shoes from Germany. You can buy them at
any Nordstrom. I used to work in a kid's store and sold these shoes and can
highly recommend them. They are extremely soft, both the leather (in and
outside) and the sole. Both me and my son loves these shoes; they never give him
any blisters or other discomforts. Sometimes his dad buys him other shoes and
he always ends up with blisters on his feet. Since they are quite expensive
($40-$60), I only buy him one pair of shoes until he outgrows them.
Jannette (6/99)
Oct. 2003
We have looked high and low for decent shoes for our 3 year old
son. We ended up going to Cotton and Co. and spending what
seems like a fortune for shoes. Somehow $50 seems a
preposterous price to pay for a 3 year old. Anyway, we've been
to target and ross and they either don't have shoes in his size,
no customer service or the shoes weigh more than a pair of
barbells. Am I a scrooge to think a decent pair of toddler
shoes could be as little as $20-30? Where in Berkely/albany/el
cerrito can decent and reasonably priced shoes be found? All
the recommendations involved driving to a different county (no
thanks).
thank you
adrian
Too be honest I am a little bit of an amelda marcos when it
comes to shoes for kids but here are a few suggestions. Payless
Shoes. I know there is one in the rockridge shopping center next
to Longs. Hannahs kids consignment store on Solano in Berkeley
has cute shoes new and used. You could try exchanging some of
your kids too small clothes for a pair of free shoes.
anon
Try the Sketchers outlet at Cutting and San Pablo in El Cerrito.
good luck
I've always gotten shoes from Rockridge Kids. Currently my 2.5
year old son is wearing their $24 ''Weeboks'' -- great little
sneakers with normal sneaker soles. They also carry another
brand (''Tumbler'', I think) which run about $15. We used this
brand for over a year -- they're a good, easy shoe.
Christine
I like the shoes at Rockridge Kids. They are all in the back
room near the windows. They don't have as big a selection as
Cotton and Co., but are more reasonably priced. Also, the
Weeboks are great for my 3 year olds wide feet.
Julie
Payless Shoe Source. Many locations including San Pablo Ave @
Central in El Cerrito.
Janet
Hi
Try Old Navy - I just bought a pair of sneakers for under $20 for my almost 3
year old daughter.
Target is also good.
Julie
I too agree that children's shoes should not cost $50+. However,
I have two things to say about this. All the shoes with decent
reputations and fairly large price tags (e.g. stride right etc.)
I bought for my first child are in GREAT condition for my second
child to wear. All the Target/Mervyen's shoes I had to throw
away after my first son wore them. Secondly, I hardly EVER pay
full price for my children's shoes...I hit the Nordstrom's half-
yearly and anniversary sales and get them half price!
Maya
Try Payless shows anywhere. They don't always have a large
selection but often there will be one or two pairs of very nice
shows. I'm not an expert on how important it is to have
exclusive shows for kids, but after testing the ''hot'' names and
trying to figure out what's so special about them, I think that
if you find flexible shows with a good sole, it's really fine.
anon
Two stores at the top of Solano sell reasonably-priced shoes for
kids: A Child's Place (at the corner of The Alameda) and
Hannah's (which mostly sells used clothing, but they have a
limited selection of new shoes). Both carry Angel brand shoes,
which fit our toddler well and cost about $15-20. Also,
Rockridge Kids carries some shoes, including Angel sandals in the
summer ($15).
Nomi
I just bought two pairs of just about brand new Nikes from a
used clothing store for children for a total of $8 (size 7).
Everything in the store is just about new and they have a great
play area for toddlers in the middle of the store. It is located
on Fruitvale, just east of its intersection with MacArthur in
the Dimond district of Oakland. It's called Making Ends Meet.
Best of all, if you can't find anyone who needs your kids used
clothes, they will buy them off of you and give you a store
credit.
David
try nordstrom rack in san leandro or san francisco - good brands
at low prices. or tjmax often has better selection then most
ross's but also located far away, only one i know of is in
dublin by the babies-r-us. or the better ross stores, like the
el cerrito plaza ross is better than the emeryville one.
finally, shoe pavillion. w/ all these places though if you are
shopper like me you know it's hit or miss. the best luck is to
check back when you're in the area and grab the good ones when
you can! with our 12 year old son we buy several pairs in
larger sizes to take advantage of selection and sales when we
can.
good luck!
bargain hunter
After reading the current posts for reasonably priced kid shoes,
I couldn't resist where I've had great success in buying my 2
year olds shoes - eBay! I've bought name brands (Weebok and
Stride Rite) shoes, both new and used, at incredible prices.
Maybe a tad more expensive than used stores when you include the
shipping charge, but the advantages are I don't have to waste
time shopping and the selection is outrageous! I recently did a
price comparison when my son outgrew his much beloved Stride
Rite sneakers with lights. I found the exact same sneakers,
brand new, in the next size up on eBay which I bought for $15 +
$5 shipping. I compared them to the sneakers with lights at
Payless for $19.99, which were NOT leather, and while I'm sure
he'll outgrow them before wearing them out, I think the Stride
Rite sneakers are much better quality for essentially the same
price. I've bought adorable hiking boots and Weebok leather
boots with lights for as little as $5-10!
Happy bidding!
I have found a number of reasonably priced kids' shoes in the bins at
Rockridge Kids; usually between $15-$25 for sneaker-type shoes. They
don't always have all sizes, but they do reorder frequently.
Karen
I always buy my son's shoes used at Childs Play or Lauren's
Closet. He grows out of them so fast, I really don't want to buy
new most of the time. I've also purchased Robeez and some simple
tennis shoes for him at Baby Gap which I thought were reasonably
priced.
Susan
Athletic Shoes for preschooler
Elizabeth 10/99
I just wanted to pass on an experience I had shopping for my preschooler's
tennis shoes. I was on Telegraph with my 3 year old whose shoes had just
disintegrated, so we decided to check out the new Althetes Foot that has
opened there. They display kid's shoes, so I figured they could help us. We
had a terrible experience. Our clerk mis-measured my child's foot and then
walked off in the middle of helping us after pointing us to not very well
ordered wall of tennis shoe boxes. The shoes in the boxes were not laced.
There were staff standing around chatting, but no one was available to help
us lace the shoes, much less fit them. When I complained, they were utterly
unresponsive.
We went next door to Foot Locker. A lovely woman quickly figured out
Aaron's size, whipped out 3 styles of inexpensive shoes, and helped us try
each pair on. We left with a pair of shoes for $10. The least expensive
pair of (on sale) kid's tennis shoes at Athlete's Foot was $25.
Shoes for a big 8-year-old
2001
I have read all the wonderful statements about the shoes for your children.
My problem is that I have a 8 year old daughter that is
currently wearing a womens 7 1/2 (almost at the toes). To top that off, her feet
are narrow. I want her to continue looking like a little girl and not have to put
grown up styles on my eight year old's feet. Please, anyone out there help me.
I am thinking of wrapping them soon. (Little humor)A Parent Crying Out For Shoe Help!
Renee
Try Tuffy's Hopscotch on Sacramento Street in San Francisco. They carry
a lot of great European shoes that come in larger sizes
Kristi
I would imagine that you can find casual shoes for your daughter in adult
sizes that are very similar to kids' shoes. For good weather, "saltwater
sandals", a flat sandal that is worn by many kids around here, are available
in women's sizes To my untrained eye, it doesn't seem as if there is much
difference between girls' tennis shoes and women's Also, if your daughter
doesn't mind wearing a boy's shoe, I believe that boys' sizes go up to a 6
which is actually equivalent to a women's 71/2 or 8 Finding a dressy shoe
that's age-appropriate would seem a bit more of a challenge. If you have
access to a store that sells dancewear, you might be able to find a dancer's
flat that would fit her. Good luck.
Nancy
I'm an adult who prefers low-heeled shoes. Consequently, I know that there
are a lot of shoes out there right now that are not necessarily
adult-styled even though they are in adult sizes. Look especially for
"mary-janes"--those rounded-toe shoes with straps over the instep that we
all wore as children. They've been quite popular recently. And of course,
plain tennis shoes are ageless, and you can find those at the Target or
Walmart. If you can't find what you are looking for in the stores around
here, consider on-line or catalog shopping. I know that the Newport News
catalog (for instance) has had several styles of "ballerina flats" or
"maryjanes". They also have some low-heeled boots that might be good (the
sort of thing one might want for a Peter-Pan or Robin-Hood costume). One
caveat is that if you order from one of their sale catalogs it is often the
case that there are no shoes in any sizes larger than 5 1/2 or 6. But
sometimes there is limited availability in larger sizes. And getting used
to shoe shopping by catalog might come in handy as your girl gets bigger,
since you can't usually find anything bigger than a size 10 in a regular
store.... ;^)
Good luck!
Dawn
Wide Shoes
Nils 9/99
We need help finding good wide shoes for our 5 year-old son. He needs
square-toed, flexible-soled shoes, for his wide, square-toed feet.
We have had no luck at Carlin's or McPhees. Does anyone have a
recommendation
either for a shoe store, or a mail-order outfit that carries wide shoes
for
kids?
John
With regard to the wide shoes for the 5-year old, we have had success
with
Nordstrom's which carries the Elephanten line of shoes. These shoes are a
bit pricey but have all of the recommended features such as flexibility
in
the sole and a firm part around the ankle (I forget what this is called).
Generally, the salespeople in the kid's shoes are very used to dealing
with
kids and can work with you on getting the right fit.
ludewig
I also have two boys with wide feet. The only brands of shoes that I have
found for them are Elephanten(German) and Stride Rite. THere is a Stride
Rite
shoe store in the Hilltop Mall and you can purchase Elephanten in
Villager
Shoes on COllege Ave., & Nordstrom in Walnut Creek and Corte Madera -
Walnut
Creek has a better selection and nicer sales people. You can also find
ELephanten on the internet www.kidsnshoes.com.
July 2002
Does anyone know where to get sparkly gold and red shoes for a three
year old (preferably a Mervyn's/ Target etc. priced kinda place rather
than a more expensive kids shoe store)?
Thanks,
Andrea
I saw both sparkly gold and sparkly red shoes in pre-school sizes at Target
last week. Also Payless Shoes had white sparkly ones, but the heel seemed a
little high to me for young kids.
Cathy
I have seen sparkly shoes in many colors at Hanna's on Solano Avenue in
Berkeley. Their prices aren't bad - perhaps not as cheap as Target, but
reasonable all the same.
Awaldstein
Target in El Cerrito (San Pablo & Potrero) carries those shoes.
Tikva and Yoram
I saw red sparkly shoes at Target in El Cerrito last week, but the size
selection was pretty bad in the sparkly shoes. You could try Target
online, but also the used childrens store at the top of Solano has had them
continuously (these are new shoes \) for the past year or so. They aren't
very expensive.
Elizabeth
Target has sparkle shoes.
urthlink
I just got a used Dorothy dress and slippers at a used
toy store (on Solano). The dress and slippers looked
perfectly new. I would try there. I have also seen
red shoes that would work at A Child's Place and at
Hannah's, on Solano.
Mary
Regarding the red glitter shoes (aka, the Ruby Slippers,
which I have always wanted, too - great idea for a party!),
I have seen them fairly regularly at consignment shops
such as Lauren's Closet (Lafayette) and They Grow So Fast
(Lafayette). You might check there.
Lori
We get ours at Target. Approx $10.00
Vivienne
Tomato Brand Shoes
Hi there;I know this seems silly,but I am looking for a particular sneaker
for my son.the vendor is tomatoe,and i've only seen them onother peoples
kids!I must have them,i've looked everwhere.can anybody help?He is a size
10 1/2 (Pre-schooler ) Danielle (4/00)
I bought a pair of Tomatoe sneakers for my son at A Child's Place a
while ago. As I recall, they had several different styles. The store's
on the corner of Solano and The Alameda in Albany. You might give them
a call. 510-524-3651
Barbara
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