I feel like we have tried many shoe brands since J became mobile. Over half were complete duds – as a crawling baby, it was hard to find shoes that didn’t fall off his feet. Given that he was around nine months when winter hit, he needed some type of feet protection. And now as a running, leaping toddler – supportive, quality footwear is even more important.

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1. Pedipeds: The first pair of shoes he ever wore were hand-me-downs from my nephew that were Carters brand. They never stayed on his feet longer than five seconds. His first real pair of shoes that we loved were his Pedipeds. They stayed on his feet so well, held up well as he learned to walk and looked cute! For his second pair, I bought him another pair of Pedipeds as well and the quality was so great that even on a newly-walking one-year-old, they still looked new by the time he outgrew them.

2. Stonz: For a non-mobile baby that needs winter protection, we loved the Stonz boots. We actually found them on clearance at a local store, which made them even more worth the expense. If you live in a cold climate like ours, or walk outdoors a lot with your little one, I highly recommend these boots!

3. Umi: A family friend gave him his next pair of shoes and I have fallen in love with them as well. Umi is a great, high-quality brand as well; the price point, however, is a little higher than even Pedipeds.

4. Converse: Concurrently we also used Converse Chuck Taylors because they are absolutely adorable, and we became big fans. I am excited to get him another pair.

5. Stride Rite: For his first summer sandal as a walking toddler, we bought some Stride Rites from a local children’s shoe store. Although they were great quality as well, they took a beating! My one-year-old was very clumsy last summer and by the end of the summer, the shoes were scuffed up. But they protected his feet very well and had a great look to them.

6. See Kai Run: We have had two different pairs of SKR’s and been impressed with the quality and craftsmanship. It’s important the shoes are easy to move in on little feet and these fit the bill.

Between these tried-and-true brands, I am always able to find quality shoes at good prices. To get good deals, I shop diaper.com sales and the sales on the websites of each brand. But I’ve had the best luck at a local kids’ retailer I found that has a constant cycle of shoes in clearance. I like to check out the selection each season. Occasionally consignment stores such as Once Upon a Child or Just Between Friends have some good steals too!

What are your favorite kids shoe brands?