Embarrassing need for advice on shoes and a toddler.

[ppony]

Did they have the sandals on sale at robeez.com?? if so I need to get a pair...my ds had them last year and loved them!

I think so, but the sizes available on sale items were really limited. Limited mostly to the smallest sizes. I'm excited to get these and just git R done. CAn you tell I'm watching "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader" tonight w/ Larry the Cable Guy. LOL

 

[dyna]

I would not wear shoes either as a child not of any kind my feet was very hard to fit mom would take me to the 2 shoe stores in town an do her best always name brand expensive shoes but my foot is thicker than most from bottom to top many shoes are not made deep enough for my foot to this day. Extremely wide feet like 8 E's wide that 8 is not shos size my feet really are 8E's wide. Toes are double jointed looks like I have huge bunions at the joints of my big toes NO that's the joint sticking out there.

The teachers in school had a hell of a time keepin shoes on me too I was sent to the office etc over it but the shoes hurt my feet

Many times mom would take me shoe shopping I'd try on so many pairs of shoes I had blisters on my feet we'd have to go home an wait a week for blisters to heal an try again next week. Oh an while sales ppl was tryin shoes on me an me saying it doesn't fit here or here I was told oh the shoe will stretch well usually about the time I busted the shoe out it was comfy. Often only took a couple weeks for shoes that mom paid 30 to 40.00 for back in the early 70's that was a lot of money for shoes back then.

For years I wore Minnietonka moccosins NO SOLE summer winter snow rain it didn't matter. Even then I was likely to be barefooted at school in jrhigh an high school carried sandles with me that one was broke never mind they never fit me it worked if caught without shoes lol Remember school got out early 1 day due to snow bus got stuck an we had to walk out the road a good ways to meet another bus there I was barefooted which my moccosins wouldn't have been any warmer once wet.

As an adult for years I wore flip flops year round had to buy used flip flops that was already stretched out so I could get foot in them an stretch them out more to fit foot.

Finally I discovered New Balance shoes I have no trouble with them Mens Wide works well anything from a size 8 to 9 works. Good thing because now I have nerve damage to both feet prolly from bruisng feet as a kid an can no longer stand to go barefooted or wear moccosions. Love my crocs too.

Dress shoes that's a whole dif story we won't go there

So it very well be shoes just don't fit the poor little guy. Got to say there are many more options on shoes now than there used to be tho.

 

[karliebug]

I really don't have too much shoe advice other than to maybe take two pairs (that he has picked out himself at the store) and say would you like to wear the brown shoes or your sandals today? that way he has the power of making a choice but still the choice is wearing shoes. Is he this way with other clothing,too? does he care what shirt he wears, for example? I am more concerned that his dr. said he may be autistic. he should be putting words together by now to make short,telegraphic sentences. I would get him evaluated pronto by an early intervention program to see if he needs special services. Ask your dr. how to proceed with an evaluation or call your local office of mental health/mental retardation (at least that is what it is called here). You need to find out if speech services or something else may be able to help him and you.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

This post reminds me of something that happened on our last trip to the world. My then 18 month old hated shoes too and so every time he was in his stroller he would take them off. We were getting some shade in the store across from the magic carpets ride in adventureland at MK. Suddenly a door in the store opened and out walks Aladdin and the Genie. Aladdin took one look at DS in his bare feet, bent down and said "Ah yes there was a time that I had no shoes to wear either!"

Too funny! That's adorable.

My oldest (now 11) didn't like wearing shoes, either. Still doesn't -- first thing he does even now, upon walking into the house, is take off his shoes and socks. He even got stung two different times on his feet while barefoot outside, but it's worth the risk to him I guess.

When he was really little, I'd let him go shoeless when it was appropriate, but when he absolutely needed them, I'd just tell him, "Oops, gotta put your shoes on before you do <whatever>." If he wouldn't, he couldn't <fill in the blank...go down the slide...whatever>. It wasn't a power struggle; it was just a matter-of-fact thing. But those little kiddos sure are determined, aren't they?! Good luck!

 

[rt2dz]

1) I'd check for sensory issues, especially if autism might be a concern.

2) I'd take him somewhere you can have his foot measured properly. Most run-of-the-mill shoes stores do not train their employees to do this. I always know when DS#3 has outgrown shoes because he suddenly starts taking them off and throwing them. And it's not usually from length, but width. He also has a size difference in shoes. His left foot is a full 1/2 size smaller than his right. His left is also double wide, while his right is triple wide. I actually have to buy 2 pairs of shoes for them to fit properly as a single pair. The killer is, the only brands that make a shoe in his size that fit are about $65-$85 per pair. That can be $170 every time he needs shoes. Needless to say, he generally only has one pair of shoes at a time. And his shoes *must* fit properly because he has autism with some minor sensory issues. No problems with tags or anything, but problems if things don't fit properly.

3) If you can rule out the above, I'd try letting him pick out two pairs of his own shoes and then giving him a choice between which pair he wants to wear each day. Then make him wear them. Even in the house. It is probably just a control issue at this point. Be strong. Be consistent. You'll win eventually.

 

[ppony]

I wore Minnietonka moccosins

Those are actually made here. I used to work in Minnetonka years ago though I have no idea where the actual shoes were made. Funny coincidence.


We'll get to the bottom of the issue. No pun intended. I'm looking forward to doing just that. I have an appt to see his pediatrician in a month if I can't get things working. His Ped. is great. My oldest had delay issues in walking and running. Motor skills were delayed as well. He was very, very ill for his first 14 months. She got us into a good OT program and they also fit him w/ insert for his shoes to support his weak arch. LOVE his pediatrician.

THANKS everyone.

 

[Colleen27]

My DD is quite a bit younger, turning 1 at the end of this month, but we have the same shoe issues so I'm reading the advice you get with interest! She's only been walking for about 6 weeks, so I'm hoping that as she gets more confident and sure-footed they won't trip her up quite so badly and she'll come to tolerate them, but I'm not sure since she hated shoes even at Christmas when she wasn't mobile.

 

[ppony]

UPDATE:
We got our Robeez today and right now he's walking around the house in a pair w/o socks. I wasn't sure if I should do w/ or w/o socks at first and since these are a sandal type, I went sans socks. So far, so good. He's not griping and only picking at them a little. Kinda reminds me of taping a cat's feet and watching them walk. Not that I ever did that. But I have a brother and cousins.

He's doing VERY well actually. He's now walking around as I type, not paying any attention to having them on at all. I hope this continues!
THANK YOU guys!!!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

glad to hear he likes them so far!
My little guy always wore his w/o socks unless it was cold out...and then i bought him the fur lined booties in the winter...they were his favorite!

 

[ppony]

I took them off him after a couple hours. He didn't even seem to care about them. Go figure! We'll see if that was just today, or EVERY day. I'm looking forward to taking him out in public and letting him walk around. Not having to be in a stroller, my arms or a cart!

Next I'll probably need a leash for his new found freedom.