| 1. Quality Of Construction | | | | The trend several years ago was to buy toddler |
| It makes a lot of sense to buy inexpensive shoes for | | | | shoes with very thick soles. The theory was that the |
| your toddler. After all, toddlers and older children | | | | thick, hard soles will help support the child's feet so |
| definitely outgrow shoes faster than adults do. You | | | | that they can learn to walk. However, recently a |
| may wince at spending $20 or more on a pair of | | | | new style of shoes for toddlers has become very |
| shoes that your child will only wear for the next six | | | | popular in the market. Flexible soles allow your child to |
| months. However, cheaply made shoes will wear out | | | | feel the ground beneath them which helps contribute |
| much faster than shoes that have quality | | | | to their balance. Since they can balance more easily, |
| construction. Even if you save a few bucks on the | | | | they learn to walk faster. |
| shoes to begin with, you'll have to replace them | | | | 4. Plain Designs |
| faster than better made shoes. Quality shoes can | | | | You can find a lot of toddler shoes out there that |
| even be passed down from child to child. The easiest | | | | feature cartoon and movie characters. However cute |
| way to tell if the shoes are made well is to check | | | | these characters might be, you're going to have a |
| the stitching. If the stitches are glued instead of | | | | hard time coordinating these shoes with your child's |
| sewn, they'll be more likely to fall apart. | | | | clothes. When you look for shoes for your child, |
| 2. The Right Fit | | | | especially when you are getting quality shoes, you |
| Finding shoes with the right fit will make a difference | | | | should find shoes that will work for a variety of |
| in how long your child can wear the shoes. This is | | | | outfits. This way you'll get more use out of one pair |
| especially important if you are buying your child's | | | | of shoes. When you find a plain design, your child will |
| shoes online. You can have your child's feet | | | | be less likely to refuse to wear their shoes because |
| measured at a shoe store without actually buying | | | | they are suddenly over their favorite character. |
| shoes there, or you can use one of several sizing | | | | When you keep these four characteristics in mind |
| charts found online. Once you figure out your child's | | | | while shopping for your toddler's shoes, you'll be sure |
| exact size, you should buy a half size larger so they | | | | to find a pair that will last and that your child will feel |
| can grow into the shoes. | | | | comfortable in. |
| 3. Flexible Soles | | | | |