A long time ago, parents would rush to get their children into hard stiff shoes to start them walking. Research now shows that the best thing is for a child to walk barefoot. This is not always an option in today’s busy world. In comes Pediped. Pediped makes shoes that are the next best thing to walking barefoot. Pediped have soft soles that protect little feet while giving them the protection they need. They were created by parents and always think of your child’s foot health first. They are soft-soled and mimic barefoot walking and the natural shape of your child’s foot. The originals are for pre-walkers and the Flex line has harder rubber soles for the more confident and older walker.
I know my daughter always had on Pedipeds , and they were shoes she took her first steps in. The designs are amazing and they are the shoes that always get you the most compliments. Now she wears the Pediped Flex which have harder rubber soles for her more active lifestyle. The shoes come with extra 2mm insoles, so that the child can have both insoles in the beginning if needed and they can be removed to grow with your child – extending the life of the shoe. Of the children’s shoes on the market, I can say that Pediped’s are unequivocally the most durable with no cheap materials used. Your child can literally wear the shoes until they no longer fit (or if they are like Product Baby, they keep trying to smoosh their feet in). The Flex line, as the name would suggest, are very flexible. The soles are super flexible and support natural foot motion. The heels have shock absorbing cushioning for comfort and foot health. My daughter has been wearing the Giselle style (shown) from when she was a baby in the originals to the now in the Flex as a 2.5 year old. Why spend more money buying lots of cheaply made shoes when you can get one amazing pair to last.

KEEN Shoes

Ever since my daughter started walking, I was on the search for shoes that were tough and that could handle an active child who liked being outside. The cutesy shoes available either fell apart at the seams, leather peeled, or the soles were not made for being outside. I knew I loved KEEN shoes, but was not sure about their line for kids. I took a chance, and I am so happy I did. KEEN makes shoes that have plenty of room for growing feet. They are comfortable and the most durable and cute shoes she has ever owned.
We have had her in the Calistoga since she was walking well on her own, and we get more compliments. They have soles that can be worn on most terrain, but they are flexible for little feet. We recently got the Shay. It has a knit top and the flexible outsole lets them keep on trucking. They have an EVA footbed. EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate and is a dense foam polymer widely used in a number of applications. It is a durable shock absorber. EVA is eco-friendly because it does not use chlorine in production and less toxicity is released during degradation in land fills when shoes are discarded. It is man made and animal friendly. MY child has not taken them off, and she wears them every time we go anywhere now. She told me they "feel like slippers."
KEEN is focused on the Environment, Community and Growth. They place special emphasis on sustainable product development, strategic sourcing options, impactful community outreach, and a progressive work environment. They are eliminating materials that use toxins, and are reducing the amount of waste in manufacturing. They also harvest their waste to use for new shoes and bags. They try to use as many sustainable resources as possible.
KEEN also have a social conscience. KEEN gives both time and finances to environmental organizations. They call this Hybrid.Care™. Since 2004 KEEN has donated $1.5 million to non-profit organizations.
You can feel good about the shoes not only being best for your child, but better for their future world. There are plenty of choices for boys and girls, and I know you will find the pair that works for you.