Products I Love -- Pedipeds

Whether or not to have your infant wear shoes can be a controversial subject.  On one hand, it is easier for infants and toddlers to learn to stand and walk in bare feet so that they can maximize sensory and proprioceptive input and use the small muscles in their feet to make adjustments in balance.  On the other hand, shoes serve both a protective and an aesthetic purpose and can provide stability in children with weak muscles, abnormal muscle tone, or poor balance.  The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following article regarding this matter:  Shoes for Children: A Review.


A wonderful compromise can be found in Pedipeds!  These adorable shoes have thin leather soles which help protect feet, but allow for children to feel terrain beneath their feet and are flexible enough to be similar to walking barefoot.  My two younger sons both learned to walk in Pedipeds!

Pedipeds in action on an 11-month-old

Pros:

• Pedipeds come in many cute styles for both boys and girls
• Pedipeds offer flexible rubber-soled shoes for toddlers and preschoolers
• They are light and comfortable
• They are surprisingly durable!  (below is a photo of the sole of one of my son's shoes, which he has worn as his sole pair of shoes for nearly 6 months)

 Cons:

• They are a bit pricey
• The smooth leather soles can be a bit slippery on certain surfaces, notably sandy pavement and some carpets
• The sizing is by age, not traditional shoe sizes, which may be confusing for some