Stores and Baby Complaint

[Cllong75]

Ok we just returned from a wonderful trip, but I have one small complaint that really annoyed me. We were traveling with ds who is 19 mos. old, one day while we were in MK he fell asleep in his stroller, he had previously taken his shoes off so we left them off while he napped, we figured this was a perfect time to shop since he wouldn't be grabbing anything and it would be cooler, 3 different stores would not let us enter because he didn't have shoes on. Give me a break, ok I get it if he's walking around or if he's older, even if he was awake, but I was very irritated because one girl was so completely rude about it,

 

[amarberry]

You have got to be kidding! That is so crazy, but good to know. I'll keep DD's sandals on her while she is napping so I'm not denied access to Disney shopping by the shoe police.

 

[flminivanmama]

wow that is crazy! you couldn't cover his legs with a little blankie so they wouldn't see them??

 

[VSL]

Hmm.. weird.

But maybe it's because he is a toddler?
Maybe out of respect for other guests? (no, I don't understand this either)

Maybe someone in the know can tell us?

 

[rchristiansen]

That is really silly -- and I totally agree with you.

However, on more than one occasion in Pooh's Playful spot the "Shoe" police had to tell parents to have kids put their shoes back on while playing in the fountains. And the "police" told the parents that they are just telling them what they were told to say.

So I guess the moral of the story is keep your sandals on

 

[crisi]

That's making me think Disney has had an "incident" involving no shoes, injury and someone suing or threatening to sue.

 

[Vickie46]

are you saying they had to keep their shoes on playing in the water?

 

[disneyandme]

Usually the shoe rule is from the health dept. and they can get in lots of trouble if an inspector comes in.

 

[Nini]

Usually the shoe rule is from the health dept. and they can get in lots of trouble if an inspector comes in.

A sleeping toddler w/no shoes poses no health threat. Maybe the fountains...but asleep in the store!?!?!?! What if it was an INFANT that does not walk!?!?!?!

I would take the issue to the store manager just to make my voice heard about sleeping babies needing their shoes on in the store!!!!!

They would hate my ddturning4atWDW as she LOVES her flip flops especially since they "flop off my feet" all the time!!!!

 

[laughinplace199]

Wow - that's crazy! I can see if it was a child walking around, but not a baby in a stroller. When DS was 15 months, I often took his shoes off at WDW because it was so hot and his little feet were sweaty. He was in the stroller or in someone's arms at all times, but I never thought twice about it and no one said anything to us.

 

[Cllong75]

My SIL had my neice also who is 4 weeks old and she was so sweaty in her stroller we stripped her down to her diaper, and we got told she couldn't have her picture taken with Mickey, I kinda get this one with all the sickos out there, but they let us wrap her blankie around her as good enough.
I get the safety issues but come on

 

[Kermit]

You're not the first person to have that type of thing happen. I remember reading a few years ago on a trip report that someone had multiple CMs come up to them because their baby in a stroller who couldn't walk yet didn't have shoes on. They ended up having to buy a pair of socks in a gift shop. They must be getting pressure from someone higher up because no normal person makes it a priority to make sure babies in strollers are wearing socks.

I'm actually glad I saw this. My 13 month old is allergic to synthetic materials, like polyester, and we're struggling to find shoes and socks he can wear. I've let it go for a while because it's warm enough here that he can be barefoot right now. I need to find something that will work for him so we can go to WDW!

 

[stm61]

guess the shoe police didn't make it over to Epcot. We returned the 17th and noone was telling the kids to put their shoes on to play in the fountains over there.

 

[MrsPete]

3 different stores would not let us enter because he didn't have shoes on.

I'm all about safety, and I believe that when you're a guest you should follow the host's rules . . . but I just don't see the problem with a barefoot sleeping toddler! Regardless, there's no reason for rudeness in this situation. Perhaps they thought he'd wake up and jump from his stroller?

I agree with the other poster who suggested a lightweight blanket to cover his feet.

 

[crisi]

You're not the first person to have that type of thing happen. I remember reading a few years ago on a trip report that someone had multiple CMs come up to them because their baby in a stroller who couldn't walk yet didn't have shoes on. They ended up having to buy a pair of socks in a gift shop. They must be getting pressure from someone higher up because no normal person makes it a priority to make sure babies in strollers are wearing socks.

I'm actually glad I saw this. My 13 month old is allergic to synthetic materials, like polyester, and we're struggling to find shoes and socks he can wear. I've let it go for a while because it's warm enough here that he can be barefoot right now. I need to find something that will work for him so we can go to WDW!

Try Robeez

http://www.robeez.com/EN-US/default.htm?lang=EN-US&PriceCat=2&

I never used them for my kids, but my girlfriends did and absolutely loved them. My nephew is getting a pair from us for his first birthday.

As to rules, laws and health codes are seldom written in such a fashion where the common sense exceptions are itemized. i.e. no one says "shoes must be worn indoors in a public place, unless the person is a sleeping child under 24 months old. And if they were, the person with a 28 month old toddler with their shoes stashed under the stroller would yell.

 

[Schmeck]

Maybe he had really stinky feet and you just didn't notice...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Crazy!

 

[RRBB]

You're not the first person to have that type of thing happen. I remember reading a few years ago on a trip report that someone had multiple CMs come up to them because their baby in a stroller who couldn't walk yet didn't have shoes on. They ended up having to buy a pair of socks in a gift shop. They must be getting pressure from someone higher up because no normal person makes it a priority to make sure babies in strollers are wearing socks.

OMG, I'm so glad I read this. My baby hasn't worn socks since last April because it's been so hot. And since he's not walking yet why bother. But when we head to WDW next month - when he'll be 10 1/2 months old - I guess I'd better pack a few pair of socks for him.

 

[Lesley]

Ah, so the shoe gestapo is on the move again....

Sorry to hear it. I also recommend Robeez or similar shoes (Wee Steps, Soft Star, there are others...). Comfy, don't fall off and when they are up and walking they don't interfere with foot development as much as a structured shoe. In the pic below my dd is wearing Wee Steps...and really only because she was beginning to walk and it was December. Actually she took her first steps on that trip!

We usually just keep the shoes stashed in our bag, but with the sleeping incident I would have just assured the cm that we had shoes and that they would be put on if the baby woke...and casually continue on my merry way. Honestly I don't care who is telling them to make sure babies are wearing shoes...they don't have to choose to be obsessive about it. Any reasonable person would choose to look the other way. As someone else said, its a common sense exception.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Some little ones can grab stuff with their feet just as well as with their hands, maybe they were worried he would wake up and have a free for all? just a thought