Best summer shoes for a park touring Toddler

[harleyquinn]

I'd love to find some sandals that won't give our almost 3 year old blisters when we visit in August. I'm sure she'll do a fair bit of walking although we will have her stroller.

I ordered her a pair of Teva Mushes like the ones I swear by for myself and I also got her the more traditional strapped Tevas. She can of course wear some well made sneakers if we have to, but it really is unbearably hot in August.

So any recommendations? I'm finding that fit is actually a huge problem since she seems to be at a 7.5. 7s are a little too tight (blisters) and 8s are way too big (falls + blisters).

We've never tried Crocs with her. They used to be my go to shoes for WDW, but I've always had to wear socks with those to prevent blisters.

Thanks!

 

[jrtoastyman]

If you go with sandals, make sure you break them in before you go. That actually applies for any new shoe, actually -- new shoes + miles of walking can be a recipe for blisters. I would think that sandals would be more likely to promote blisters than something that doesn't have her foot directly in contact with the shoe, but that's speculation on my part.

Is the concern with sneakers that she'll get too hot, I assume?

 

[harleyquinn]

Is the concern with sneakers that she'll get too hot, I assume?

Yes! But I think they are probably overall better for her feet, so...

And to the other point, that's exactly why I'm looking now. I want to make sure she has time to break them in without buying too early and risking a growth spurt and need for more shoes.

 

[meljean]

My boys were 4 and 1 1/2 when we went and it was super hot! They both had a pair of Keens. LOVED these sandals! Neither boy had a blister and the sandals were never stinky. I did bring sneakers however, they never wore them. It was just too hot to wear socks and shoes.

 

[2binak]

Teva Psyclones are great! Our DD has never had a blister from them. We do check them throughout the day and loosen them if her feet seem to be swelling from the heat.

 

[harleyquinn]

My boys were 4 and 1 1/2 when we went and it was super hot! They both had a pair of Keens. LOVED these sandals! Neither boy had a blister and the sandals were never stinky. I did bring sneakers however, they never wore them. It was just too hot to wear socks and shoes.

I thought about Keens, but I found the Tevas so much cheaper, I thought we'd try those first. Any idea which style they had?

Teva Psyclones are great! Our DD has never had a blister from them. We do check them throughout the day and loosen them if her feet seem to be swelling from the heat.

That's good to hear. Hopefully the sizing will work out okay.

Thank you both!

 

[CarolineB]

DH 8 seems to like his sneakers over sandals but on days that he does wear sandals, I make sure to put sunscreen on his feet (he still gets tan lines but hasn't gotten sunburned.)

What about having the kids start the day in sneakers and then mid day switching to sandals or at night switching back to sneakers?

I would buy quality socks for the kids too -- I like thick, padded socks. You can get wicking socks too.

 

[meljean]

I thought about Keens, but I found the Tevas so much cheaper, I thought we'd try those first. Any idea which style they had?



That's good to hear. Hopefully the sizing will work out okay.

Thank you both!

http://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/product/ss12/shoes/kids/toddler/newport%20h2/navy

These sandals were pricey but I ended up getting them on sale at our local Sheels at the end of summer. I think I spent $30 on them. I wanted a shoe that wouldn't smell from the sweat and something that could also be wet or dry. These were the best. My older one is still wearing his this summer. I bought myself Teva sandals. They are brown leather. I wanted something that looked nice with any outfit and not to "outdoorsy." We never used the shoes we brought with. I never wore shoes either. If you need more info let me know! Hope this helps!

 

[ktlm]

When DD (now 6) was 2 and 3, she wore Merrells similar to these all over the parks (I think the ones we had were called the mesh relay tours, but I don't think they make those anymore). The mesh let them breathe so her feet didn't get too hot. We also used body glide all over her feet in the mornings to prevent blisters. Worked fine. She never got a blister at WDW.

http://www.shoebuy.com/merrell-waterpro-pandi/508069/1069211

http://www.zappos.com/merrell-kids-barefoot-pure-glove-toddler-youth-festival-fuchsia

 

[Wiloughby1]

Keens! No contest!

Worth every dollar. The only shoes my kids wear all summer. We wash them again and again and they look brand new. No need to break in- never one blister or hot spot.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. DD2 is on her 2nd pair and DSnearly5 is on his 3rd. We always pass them on to a friend bc DD won't wear "boy colors" I am sure they could go through 5 kids before showing wear, and my kids DESTROY other shoes.

 

[hammie59]

We've taken our kids to WDW twice. Both trips the kids wore standard crocs, no socks and no blisters.

 

[2binak]

That's good to hear. Hopefully the sizing will work out okay.

Thank you both!

I'm not sure how the standard Teva's run but the Psyclones run big. If your DD is in a 8 in regular shoes, they would fit in a 7 in Psyclones.

 

[Colleen27]

My DD3 wears Nike sandals that are actually marketed as water shoes. The wide strap across the toes adjusts, as does the narrower heel strap, and they're made of a very soft material that doesn't seem to cause as much friction as typical leather/imitation leather sandals. And because they're water shoes, they hold up well to all those fun little fountains and dry very quickly when she's done with the puddle-jumping.

The style name is sun ray (one word but for some reason the filter thought that was swearing ):

 

[meljean]

Keens! No contest!

Worth every dollar. The only shoes my kids wear all summer. We wash them again and again and they look brand new. No need to break in- never one blister or hot spot.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. DD2 is on her 2nd pair and DSnearly5 is on his 3rd. We always pass them on to a friend bc DD won't wear "boy colors" I am sure they could go through 5 kids before showing wear, and my kids DESTROY other shoes.

We also never broke our Keens in. I think I pulled the tags off that morning. I liked a breathing shoe that had a closed toe. I didn't want a scraped toe or rocks to get in the sandals on vacation when we are walking all day. Love my Keens!!!

 

[msheriffm]

Personally, I am a big stride rite fan. When my girls were little I would buy fewer pairs of shoes but of a better quality. We also have a Nordstrom near by and they have terrific shoes/sandels too. They carry some European brands that are nice.

 

[Vixster]

My kids will wear crocs all summer with no socks my 3 year old loves them and had no probs

 

[Tiger926]

My kids at at this age wear:

New Balance (hybrid water/land shoe)
Keen
Teva
Stride Rite

We only wear closed toe, and they are all waterproof, breathable and comfy.

No Crocs as they are very dangerous, no running shoes to parks as we go for 2 weeks each summmer and they are hot and sweaty, and no flip flops aka slip slops, as they are also dangerous and yucky.

Comfort, support, safety and waterproof are what we wear around here.

Currently, my kids are wearing all of these brands for the summer, Tiger

 

[SugarSpice]

Our whole family wears crocs at wdw. No blisters, good airflow, can jump in fountains, don't fall off, feet tops covered so no sunburn, no aching feet at the end of the day

 

[hookedonears]

We took our daughter when she was 2 1/2 and I don't recall what shoes she wore, but I don't think it really mattered, because in between the stroller and carrying, I don't think her feet hit the ground more than a minute or 2 during the entire trip.

 

[kerriemiller]

My boys were 4 and 1 1/2 when we went and it was super hot! They both had a pair of Keens. LOVED these sandals! Neither boy had a blister and the sandals were never stinky. I did bring sneakers however, they never wore them. It was just too hot to wear socks and shoes.

We spent 5 days in the park in 90 degree weather. Keens are the way to go for everybody really.