Hellobee

The mama perk I was most looking forward to was dressing up Little Marbles. I had visions and a closet full of the cutest outfits with matching accessories (namely, shoes, my poison of choice!). Much to my chagrin, LM, does not like shoes. Let me rephrase that, she does not like wearing shoes. LM is very content to play with shoes when they’re not on her feet, pulling the velcro straps, mashing in the oh-so-cute leather animal designs, and even attempting to taste them. But don them on her feet? It’s a struggle and most of the time not worth it. So despite the minor collection I amassed for her, I had to whittle it down to ones that I could easily get on her feet but wouldn’t fall off, and now ones that are good for her to transition into walking.

I’ve also been lucky in scoring good deals for LM’s shoes. (I really can’t warrant spending more than $15 for a pair of shoes she’ll barely wear!) I wait for end of season sales in both brick and mortar and online shops and buy the next size up for the following season. I usually measure LM’s feet and size half an inch up.

Here’s a down and dirty guide for first shoes.

1) Freshly Picked Moccasins 
I’ve been following Susan’s blog for the longest time and when I was pregnant, I discovered she made these adorable leather moccasins for kids! They now come in a rainbow of colors and designs. Admittedly, they are steep  for a pair of children’s shoes (we bought ours when Freshly Picked was having a huge sale last year), but I love that all the shoes are hand cut and stitched by Susan herself. They’d make a great gift if you’re looking for something very special and want to support independent/handmade businesses.

2) PediPed
I don’t know anyone who is not a fan of PediPed, the go-to children’s shoe. Little Marbles has several pairs of the Classic line, which were great for her pre-walking days. They’re stylish and durable. Now that she’s learning to walk, she’ll have to transition to the Originals line, which feature a rubber sole.

3) Zutano Cozie Fleece Booties
LM got a pair of these as a gift and they’re still our favorites for winter dressing. They go with practically everything. They’re warm. And most importantly, the snap buttons make them very easy to get onto LM!

4) Robeez
Robeez are very popular among moms and kids alike, but for some reason LM didn’t take to the soft sole slip ons. She would continually try to pull them off. I think LM’s problem is that she doesn’t like anything very form fitting on her feet so the snugger slip-ons, which are easy to get on and stay on, were bothering her. Such a shame, because Robeez are beautifully made shoes with some of the cutest designs.

5) Livie and Luca
Over the holidays, I found the cutest pair of Livie and Luca t-strap elephant shoes for LM, and had to get them out of necessity since she was slipping all over the house in her socks when we didn’t pack shoes with grip soles while visiting grandparents. The soles are soft and supple but have wide rubber sole coverage underneath. They were perfect for LM while she was getting the courage to stand up and cruise.

6) Trumpette
Clearly these are not shoes, but they might as well be when you have an infant or newborn. We were gifted a set of these when LM was wee and rarely left the house.  She wore them all the time. They look just like shoes and more importantly, stay put! LM would get lots of compliments. A bit pricey, but worth it if you’re not investing in shoes, but want to keep little toes warm.

7) See Kai Run
I’ve been a fan of See Kai Run designs before I even conceived. I wish they made adult shoes! I love the whimsical designs and bright colors. They’re also very well made. LM currently wears the Smaller line– they have a soft leather sole with rubber treads– perfect for early walkers.

What are some of your favorite resources for shoes? Does your LO keep their shoes on?