All of a sudden I am finding the best boys shoes all over the place. I think I’m seeing more great shoes for boys than girls. I guess that is only fair since there are so many more clothing options for girls! I love the look of these bright blue and brown Rileyroos. They are made of soft leather and look very comfortable. Designed for little ones from 3-24 months, they are perfect for new walkers. They look like they’ll hide soil well, too–something I can’t say for most shoes for girls. You can purchase a pair on sale for $24 at tinysoles.com

These Mary Janes are designed to imitate barefoot walking. Made by Rileyroos, these shoes have a flexible rubber-padded sole to protect little feet. The sole curls above the child’s toes to provide leverage as your little one makes the natural gravitation from crawling to walking.

When I’m buying a shoe for a child under two years old, the first thing I have to keep in mind is how safe and practical is it for the child. It doesn’t matter how cute and pretty or how perfectly it matches a certain outfit, if the shoe doesn’t meet the child’s physical needs than I just won’t buy it.

Here’s why these Mary Janes would be a good choice for your infant: they are soft and lightweight — not stiff or having a heavy sole; made from durable leather so you know the shoe can take a lot of bumps and scrapes as your child learns to walk; Velcro closures so you’re not fussing with laces or worrying about untied laces tripping your child; flexible rubber padded soles for comfort and practicality; and you don’t have to choose between practical and looks because these Mary Janes are adorable.

Mary Janes come in  Bubblegum, Cherry, and Licorice colors and in sizes: 6-12mos, 12-18mos. for $28 at Mypumpkindoodle.com.