Help-need sandals for 5 yr. old

[ceecee]

I have been searching all summer for a pair of sandals for my daughter. She is 5 and in a sz 13....most are slip ons or cheapy looking uncomfortable. I found a pair of Nike and Tevas, but she said they looked like "boy shoes" Quite honestly, they did. Black and navy are the color choices. We tried her in tennis shoes and she complains all day about hot feet. HELP, does anyone have any suggestions????????

[Kermit]

You're right that they need to be very well made. They especially need to have really good arch supports.

The sandals should be made by a good company. If she won't wear the ones you found, see if you can find Tevas or Birkenstocks for kids. I'm not sure because I don't have kids.

If you can't find anything, try to convince her to buy the ones that look like boys' shoes. Style isn't quite as important as comfort at WDW. Just make sure she breaks them in first.

[skeezixspud]

... for kids that are a bit less 'rugged' looking, also Hush Puppies kids. If there is a Stride-Rite store near you, they have some nice fisherman-type sandals that are made for girls; I bought a pair last year for DS; he's 4, and he does not care for really clunky shoes, as he tends to drag his feet and trip when wearing them. This will sound odd, but try Marshall's or TJMaxx; they often have high-end brand for kids at decent prices, though the selection is hit or miss.

[calmax]

We bought our DD a pair of Sketcher's sandals which she wore to WDW in May. She loved them - very "girly", and never had a sign of a blister and she said they are very comfy!!
:) :) :)

[bobcat]

Nike does make their sandles in girl colors! I think they were teal and pink. My local Sears carries them, and places like footlocker and such should also.

[Tiger Fan]

Lands End is your best bet! Our 4 year old loves her pink sandals and they are well made and very comfortable. She wears them all over, including two weeks in June at WDW. The bottoms are like tennis shoes, top similar style to Tevas. They were around $20 and worth every penny. Enjoy.

Lisa

[DisneyFix]

If you can't find "girly" looking good sandals, how about painting her toe nails a real pretty color to "dress up her feet." She might like that idea - I know my two girls would! In fact, you gave me an idea - I better get them some good sandals before the summer is over so they can break them in for our November trip.

[andkat]

This is another vote for Lands End. My 9 year son has a pair and it is all he will wear. Had them last and he wore them everyday we were at Disneyland.

[ceecee]

Thanks for all the tips. I did see the Land's End and almost ordered them, but no half sizes. How do they run??True to size?

[andkat]

They tend to run a little large. My son wears size 7 sneakers and the sandals we have are 6 and there is plenty of room in them. Hope this helps.

[ceecee]

thanks andcat!!! I will order the 12's since she is 12.5....

[2boys'mom]

No problem with blisters and they do run large. I haven't had as much luck with the stride rite recently.

[elgerber]

I bought Stride Rites for my 5 year old dd. Granted, hers are unisex, brown leather, but they are very soft and have great cushioning. They have many other styles as well. However, being this time in the summer, most of them are very picked over with very limited sizes left. It can't hurt to look though.

Erika

[MBW]

Along the Land's End line, LL Bean Kids also has great sandals. We bought a pair 2 summers ago, for my then 3 year old, and now her 3 yo brother is wearing them. She has a new pair this year, and has worn them all summer to camp.

MB

[Augustheather97]

My 4 year old has Bio Bottoms ones that are wonderful....got them at marshalls:D

[BethC]

Sandals are a great way to take care of the "hot feet" factor. As long as they are well made and offer some cushioning, they will work great!

Just be sure to buy those sandals WAY in advance and have your child wear them on several occassions before your trip. As much as we're always tempted to buy new shoes for our trips, we always take our old, comfy ones so we don't have to worry about any unwanted blisters from new shoes rubbing our feet the wrong way. You want to make sure any shoes you take with you are good and broken in.

Have fun!

[Schmeck]

We're living in the Land's End sandals this year - but they run extra-large! I'm a size 7, and I wear the 'big kids' size 5 sandal. My size 2 dd is wearing the 13. My size 11 1/2 dd is wearing the 10, but they are a bit big on her. They are also wide, and the velcro strap at the toe area isn't really adjustable. There wasn't any need for a break in period with these shoes, though. We wore them during our month long trip across the USA, not a blister or sore foot between the three of us! And the bottom is very 'grippy', we climbed Devil's Tower boulder field in them, hiked Yellowstone, and boated around Lake Powell with ease.