If the Shoe Fits

{Photo Credit: mommycouturedesigns.com}

Eva's sweet little feet have been growing so we recently went on the hunt for shoes. I  had a very specific picture of what I wanted for her shoes. I didn't want to spend more than $10/pair since her feet will grow. She needed the feet to have soles that would grip well as opposed to her previous soft sole shoes that weren't made for walking and were too slippery. I wanted a pair with some pink in it and a black pair that could be dressy but were also normal shoes. I wanted her shoes to be sturdy to support her wobbly toddler walking skills. I also knew that at home she'd still be barefoot most of the time and that often in public places she is still in her stroller, so I didn't feel like I needed the world's most amazing toddler shoes (although I get spending a little bit more once your kid is running around all the time, especially if they're in daycare and bare feet aren't an option). Also I'm practical enough to keep in mind that my one year old doesn't have to have the most stylish, baby courtier shoes, although something that somewhat matches is good since I do take the time to make her look cute.

I took her to Kid-to-Kid to search for a pair that was slightly used but affordable and in good condition. Eva hates Kid-to-Kid. Every single time we stop by she gets frustrated quickly. I think there is too much to look at that she can't play with and not enough movement of the stroller and I pause to look through everything. I tried to try on a pair of shoes with her and it wasn't worth the screaming fidgety response. So instead I would try to hold up shoes to the sole of her feet to see if the size was approximate. I ended up selecting a pair of black, some cute pink tennis shoes, and a pair of brown boots (because I love boots for fall!). When we got home I tried the shoes on - the boots worked great, but the black and the pink tennis shoes were both way too big. Side note, baby shoes are just like women's pants - you can have two pairs that are marked the same size that are very different in length. I decided that since the store wasn't near by and the shoes were under $5 it was worth it just to put them aside until she grew into them. But she still needed shoes for now.... so over a week's time I browsed through Walmart, Payless, Children's Place, Old Navy, and Target. I discovered that the cutest kids' shoes start when they wear a size 5 shoe. I also realized that Eva has really tiny feet for her age. She could still comfortably wear a size 2 in some brands, but I was looking for size 3's that would fit her with just a bit of growing room. Most shoes in her size were like her old ones that were too slippery on the floor. In the end I got her 2 more pairs at Target - some fancier black ones and some light pink ones that are more casual. I'm sure she'll have a growth spurt and outgrow them in a month because that's how life works, but at least she can get down and walk in public places for now.

PS I absolutely did not buy the shoes in the above photo. They are $195 and have real Swarovski crystals. Crazy.