Robeez Shoes are Good for Little Soles

I had to make a tough call. The dancing red crab or the pink dragonfly? Which pair of adorable shoes would better suit my 10-month-old daughter's footwear needs? At least the choice of a brand was easy…Robeez. Soft, comfortable, colorful, these shoes are all the rage at playground and preschools across the country. Robeez shoes are soft leather moccasin style shoes. Thanks to a special elastic ankle band, they're known for their ability to stay on squirmy, wiggly toddler feet. Comfortable and secure, these shoes stay on even the most active tot.

Most pediatricians recommend babies spend as much time as possible in bare feet to improve balance and foot strength while mastering the art of walking. However, sometimes going barefoot is impractical. On visits to the swings, or other journeys outside of the home, it's nice to have a bit of protection between your child's foot and the pavement. That's where soft-soled shoes like Robeez come in handy. Made of genuine leather, these shoes are breathable and skid resistant helping to facilitate the walking process. As a parent, I like having a layer of leather between my baby's gentle feet and the hard, often dirty, ground.

Robeez shoes are available in 70 whimsical designs suitable for boys or girls. According to company press materials, the most popular designs include: Dragonfly, Kitty, Monkey, Lion and Puppy. To keep things interesting, two to three new styles are introduced each fall and spring. These shoes make great gifts and limited availability holiday designs are offered each year. Price ranges from $26-$28 for a pair of Robeez (they are seldom discounted). The shoes work with or without socks and come in a variety of sizes for children 0-24 months.

While the shoes universally appeal to kids and parents alike, the story behind the shoes speaks to crafty Moms everywhere. In 1994, Robeez's founder, Sandra Wilson, whipped up the first pair of Robeez in her basement for Robby, her then 18-month-old son. Started as a small home-based business, the Canadian company has grown to 400 employees. Robeez can be found in more than 5,000 stores in the United States. Sales topped $20 million last year. Just five years ago, the company was reporting $5 million in sales-that's impressive growth.

Robeez shoes are widely available at department and specialty stores. Some suggested shops include: Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomindales, Saks, Stride Rite and www.babycenter.com. For more information or photos of the most current designs visit www.Robeez.com.