Shoes

I love to see little feet in sandals in warm weather.  They always look so sweet and summery.  My girls don’t get to wear them much because of all the mulch at school and daycare, but I always love to look at them just the same.

These original Salt-Water Sandals by Hoy Shoe are especially nice.  They have been a summer staple for many families for quite some time, and even celebrity parents like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are fans.  Available in infant and toddler sizes, these shoes are made of high-quality leather and are constructed to last.

You can buy a pair for $35 to $47 at Zappos.com.  Sizes for older girls and women are also available, as are a wide range of colors and styles.

Rumored to be among the baby gifts Nicole Kidman received for her new daughter, moccasins from Nowali are as practical as they are sweet.  Made from a cotton blend knit upper with a suede sole, these shoes are toasty for little feet and skid resistant to help keep new walkers safe.  They are also machine washable, so you don’t need to worry about keeping them spotless.

These cute little shoes are available in pink, blue, and ivory, and and sizes from 6-18 months.  The company also makes a wide range of other fun moccasins for little feet.  You can purchase a pair for $28 from MilkShop.com.

Rumored to be among the gifts Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie received for their new twins, these slip ons from Sweet Shoes certainly make a statement.  Made from leather and canvas, these shoes have a layer of phone for added support and are designed to allow for maximal ventilation.  Easy to slip on and off, these shoes are great for casual summer wear.

A favorite of other celebrity parents such as Brooke Burke and Jennifer Lopez, Sweet Shoes slip ons come in sizes from 0-6 months to 18-24 months.  You can purchase a pair for $24 at UrbanBabyRunway.com.  A number of other fun styles are also available.

Fans of organic girls’ clothing will love this sweet little dress from the European company hessnatur.  This organic infant dress is made from 100% certified organic cotton and no chlorine bleach is used in the process.  It has a simple, sleeveless cut with gathers at the neck.  The red and pink floral print is very feminine, but this is one dress that will not restrict your daughter’s movements.

The dress can be worn by itself in the warmest weather, or layered, as shown on cooler days.  It comes in sizes from 3-6 months to 12-24 months.  You can purchase one for $25 at hessnatur.com.

I like this picture. It looks like they’re holding something green from the good earth! These days moms are more aware of how their household and family products are manufactured, especially products that our children will be using. Even more so when it’s a baby product, like bottles.

I thought as long I sterilized them between feedings that I was doing the most for my child, but I could have been doing more. Green to Grow Baby Bottles are free of phthalates and bisphenol A (a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic from which most baby bottles are made). They are also free of lead and PVC. Whew! How did we survive?

It’s a little scary but it’s important to know. The replaceable nipples are also made from non-toxic, heat-resistant medical grade silicone. Comes in Beginner (slow-flow), Intermediate (medium flow), and Expert (fast flow) speeds to choose from. Dishwasher safe. Price: $8.99 at cheekymonkey.com. Be safe.

My longtime commitment to vegetarianism leads me to buy non-leather shoes for myself, but my one cheat has always been shoes for my kids.  I have just encountered so much difficulty trying to find quality non-leather footwear that will support their growing feet.  That’s why I was so excited to stumble upon this line of toddler shoes from Soft Star.

I love these sandals, which clearly have a foot-friendly design.  The soft soles are perfect for foot development, and they look airy and comfortable.  I love the contrast between the blue and pink.  The shoes are hand-made from simulated leather.  You can purchase a pair for $46 at wilddill.com.

Converse sneakers are not just for the basketball court anymore! Especially these Swingtime Swarovski All Stars with pink Swarovski crystals around them. These come in infant sizes 2-5 which means these are mostly for show but still, they do serve a purpose besides fashion.

The high-top feature is perfect for delicate ankles. When you place baby in a bouncer, stroller, swing, anywhere where they can push off with their feet you might feel better knowing that they have a little extra protection. But these All Stars are so darling in pink and crystal, I’m sure they’ll be a keepsake for your memory treasure chest.

Price: $45.00 (sale) at rubyskids.com.

I guess this is a throw back to the 60s and 70s but the message is timeless.  What makes this even more of a blast from the past is that they’re handmade. Remember when we were buying handmade shawls and bags from the sidewalk boutiques?

Maybe you young moms don’t know what I’m talking about - but it was good back then because it gave the product a touch of uniqueness - and that’s still good! Hat and booties sold separately. Available in 6 month size.

Yellow Label products are 100% made by hand by an artisan who is paid living wages, in accordance with Fair Trade practices.

Buy one for $31.00 at bellydancebaby.com

Here is a sneak peek at a fun shoe from Pediped’s soon to be released Fall/Winter 2008 line. The Natasha shoe features a houndstooth pattern in black and white. A black bow completes the look. I love the sophisticated style of these shoes.

They could quite easily be dressed either up or down, and they will go very well with a lot of the black and white outfits that I am seeing in many upscale children’s lines for the fall. As with all of Pediped’s shoes, you can count on quality construction and durability. The shoe is from the Flex line for sizes 6-12.

The Natasha shoe will be available soon. In the mean time, check out pediped.com to see the company’s many adorable styles on sale now. Through July, use the code hapr08 to receive free shipping on any order.

Here’s a way to dress up your infant’s outfit without paying for expensive and often impractical dress shoes. These faux dress shoes are made from soft and comfortable cotton/spandex, with non-skid bottoms. The set includes six pairs of baby socks in six colors packaged in a very sweet shoe box.

Now, infants don’t need to wear shoes (because they’re not walking yet!) but when they’re dressed in an adorable, dressy little outfit for a special occassion, you just have to put something on their feet! Try these Mary Jane style socks by Trumpette.

These are a reasonable, practical and fun way to dress up your baby. Price: $24.50 per set, fits 0-12 months, at apeainthepod.com.

If you feel like splurging on some attention-grabbing footwear for your baby, you might want to check out these Gucci Baby Sneakers. These shoes are made in Italy out of the famous Gucci fabric and brown suede trim. A green and red stripe adorns the side of each shoe.

I usually find Gucci products to be a bit ostentatious, but these are actually fairly subdued. They also look like the would stay on fairly well. If you are a big Gucci fan and/or you want your little one’s feet to be the center of attention, you can buy a pair for $195 at bergdorfgoodman.com. They are available in sizes from 2-4 months up to 10-12 months.

Do you have one of these at home? You should. I should have. Shopping for shoes at the department store with one or more toddlers was no easy task. If you can get them to stop running around the aisles then you get to try and measure their shoe size - if you can find the sizer at the store (if there’s a sale going on - forget about it!).

Make your life a little simpler and have a shoe sizer at home so you can eliminate that step at the shoe store. It precisely measures left and right feet by both length and width up to children’s size 5. Price: $8.95 at onestepahead.com.

Here’s a great pair of rainboots that is surprisingly affordable. Made from 100% natural rubber and decorate with pastel lotus flowers, these are sure to be a hit with any little girl. I love the attention to detail in the flowers and on the stylized top. They definitely look like they cost far more than the $25 retail price.

These boots are available in sizes from 5-13. They would be perfect for all kinds of wet weather. You can purchase a pair from duckduckgooseboutique.com. They would also make a practical but fun gift idea.

Pediped is one of the biggest names in children’s shoes at the moment. Strangely enough, I have yet to purchase any for our family. After stumbling upon this pair of pink flower Mary Jane shoes, however, that is about to change. I love the design of these shoes. The cheerful flower print would coordinate well with a lot of the clothes in my daughter’s wardrobe.

Made of 100% leather, Pedipeds are made to be soft and cushion growing feet. There are tons of styles to choose from for both boys and girls. Their cool styles and high-quality construction have made them a favorite with celebrity parents such as Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and Denise Richards.

You can buy this particular pair for $38 at shopkitson.com.

I don’t often see shoes for baby and toddler boys that capture my attention, but these certainly did. I love the attention to detail on these shoes–from the googly eyes to the little white tusks. I think any little boy (or girl) would love to have these shoes. I think the friendly elephant faces would even draw in the most resistant shoe wearers.

The shoes have a flexible sole to help little feet develop naturally. They have Velcro closures that make them easy to get on and off. All and all, these look like very kid-friendly and well-made shoes. The company has made fans of celebrity parents such as Katie Holmes, Madonna, and the Beckhams. You can purchase a pair for $37.50 at livieandluca.com.