As a mother, I am always looking for something cool for my son to wear that’s hip, not too costly and preferably made with natural fibers.  I’m sorry to say that’s not always the case when accepting hand me downs from the neighbor next door.

That’s why when I saw these trendy sandals from Monkey Toes, I just had to share. The Buzzy Bee MJ’s-9 are truly charming.   These comfy, hand-painted (in the U.S.A.) sandals are perfect for a little one’s feet .The easy open design of these make them a breeze to slip on and off, which is great for kids who cannot quite tie their shoes yet.  Designed to look like smiley bumblebees, they are the perfect “what shoes should I wear?” shoe.

Sporting a nice rubber sole, they are terrific to wear almost anywhere.  Just throw them in the washer when they get dirty. They also come in other cute insect designs as well as assorted animals.  Monkey Toes are like little friends for your feet and are gender neutral which makes them perfect if you’re the one passing them down. Appropriate for ages 6 months to 5 years.

Don’t be surprised if your kids won’t give them up!

The Seventies are back in a big way.  From Maxi Dresses’ to the Peace sign.

Enter the beloved Converse Kids All Star Hi-Top sneaker.  Every basketball player in my school wore them, and they’ve been restyled for this generation.  From tomboys to girlie-girls, everyone wants a pair.

My 12 yr. old niece has a pair of “Chucks” (that’s what they call ‘em) and she confirms they go with everything she owns.  From shorts to leggings and even her Easter dress. Less clunky than skate shoes and more fashion forward , the look is clean and cool. They look great with low socks or no socks and with summer around the corner a cool canvas shoe is a great alternative to flip flops. (Lets face it, you just can’t run around and play if your shoes keep coming off)  These sneakers are lightweight and and boast a durable rubber outsole

If you check out the marketplace, every store has some version of this shoe, but if you want to be authentic, go for the leader in athletic shoe design.

Reasonably priced, they won’t break your budget either so get a couple of different colors. You know they’ll outgrow them, but they’ll have fun in the meantime.

Your kids will thank you.

Before heading to the beach footwear must be considered. Now, that’s obvious of course since we do consider footwear every time we leave the house, even though we often make terrible choices. (Remember those gorgeous 5 inch heels you only wore once?)

If you have children the issue of appropriate footwear multiplies, since children’s’ considerations are different that adults. Will they find the first mud puddle in which to jump? Are they planning to climb on monkey bars? Do their beloved slip-ons still fit? And my favorite, are they the ones that always come untied?

Going to the beach has it’s own set of concerns including realizing that sand can and will get into any shoes worn there. Though the logical choice when going to the pool is flip flops, these rather flimsy shoes work less well at the beach which is why we always wear water shoes.

These Stay-Put water shoes slip on, not easily but snuggly and give added support for walking on sand. They can be worn right into the water which is perfect if you frequent rocky beaches or those wonderful few still left that feature shells.

You can even wear them to and in the pool where they keep hot pavement off tender soles.

As much as one can, I try to go organic. With prices up and work down, that’s not always possible, but sometimes you see something so cute, it’s hard to pass up.

These Baberoo Organic Cotton Socks are delightfully sweet and perfect for a newborn’s sensitive skin. My experience with children has been one of sensitive skin. While others dressed their babies in hand-me-downs or frilly new clothes, mine developed rashes at the drop of a hat: rashes from diapers that were changed on the hour, rashes from sun hats that touched the ears; rashes from just about anything that wasn’t organic.

So socks made from organic cotton with grown without herbicides, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers make me smile.

Though I’m not a big fan of shoes for infants, they aren’t walking anywhere and the more the foot is free, the better it is for them…so I’ve been told, I am a fan of socks. Socks keep tiny feet warm, but don’t constrict and are great of for the quick walk outside when you’d rather not have bare feet.

These Baberoo socks come in a box of four pairs, which is also handy since infants have this bad habit of dispensing with just one sock while out and about. Though I’m a big believer in mix and match, it’s nice to stay in the same family at least!

I’ve always been a bit conflicted about Crocs. They are of course, cute, cool and comfy. They are also ubiquitous.

I however, have always been a bit leery because of the fit. Too often I see children running in them, only to trip and land face first because of the backless design. And so, I have not purchased Crocs for my son. He is quite clumsy enough thank you without adding another hazard.

These new Mary Jane Crocs, though, I really like. The dual strap provides the extra safety that I like while maintaining all of the comfort of the original Crocs. And like all Crocs, the footbed conforms to a child’s feet- creating a custom fit – something that just doesn’t usually happen without spending quite a bit of money.

These Crocs are available in a number of really cute colors. I, of course like the pink version, but they come in everything from stylish black to fuchsia. Since they are available in black does this mean they can be worn for a dress occasion?

Sure, kids can wear anything to a dressy event, as increasingly we all can. It’s just that kind of world these days- a Croc world.

I have to admit, while I’m not usually a fan of expensive shoes for children, ( I know, I know, growing feet, spend the money) Uggs are one shoe that I will shell out the dough to buy.

My son has had Uggs for the past few years and talk about getting the wear out of them…and we live in a warm climate! Each morning from November to well into April he grabs his Uggs and pulls them on…by himself! He runs all day at the playground – no laces to come untied; not slipping off as he runs. Then at night, he kicks them off …all by himself and even, occasionally, puts them carefully on the shoe rack.

The natural shearling
wool lining breathes, making these boots comfortable in both freezing cold and moderately temperate weather. When we venture into cold climes, they keep his feet warm. Back home, they don’t heat him up too much and they are, fortunately easy to clean…and dry. A few hours under the radiator or over a heating vents and they’re ready to go again – just enough time for hot chocolate and a short nap.

And did I mention they last? Our first pair was a hand me down from a neighbor – in perfect shape after her son wore them everyday from November until well into April. That’s quality!

Kick it up her heels with these bling-bling boots for budding cowgirls. These are just too cute for your fashion conscious little girl. Replete with flashy rhinestones, just like your favorite country and western star, your little girl can be pretty in pink no matter the weather.

These Princess Cowboy Boots aren’t just cute. They provide great traction for muddy and wet days. The square heel and PVU sole ensure that your little one won’t be slipping and sliding as she would in more authentic cowboy footwear. These boots also feature a padded footbed for added comfort.

I think it’s important to look for these types of features in shoes for children. It won’t be long before your budding princess is trying to squeeze her feet into pointy-toes fashionable heels, but while her foot is still growing, it makes sense to ensure that she’s comfortable. Unfortunately, there are just too many manufacturers that make shoes that disregard the hazards of a poor fit and an uncomfortable position and how that can lead to problems in the future. While feet are still growing it’s important to allow them to be in a natural position with good arch support

When you can provide comfort and fashion in one package… that’s the way to go.