Is Barefoot Walking the Best Option for Toddlers?

Toddlers learn to walk in their bare feet by using their toes to grip the floor and keep their balance. The best environment for barefoot walking is inside your house on a carpet. If your indoor floors are hardwood or tile, then it becomes impossible for your toddler to grip the fllor. And if these floors are also cold, then footwear is needed for warmth and protection. If your toddler goes outdoors to run on a deck, patio or grass, then shoes are necessary.

The best shoe option for mom is Stride Rite shoes. Stride Rite has been manufacturing children shoes since 1919, and in the past 100 years have fit more children in kids shoes, and have done more research on how kids best learn to walk than any other company in the USA. Tootsies Stride Rite, a Stride Rite distributor, has been fitting children shoes in Richmond, Va. at its retail store since 1985.

For more information on Stride Rite shoes and Tootsies Stride Rite, visit our web site by clicking on our store name, Tootsies Stride Rite.

Healthy Shoes means Healthy Feet

Healthy Shoes

Learning to walk is a milestone in a child’s development. From the first step and throughout a lifetime, we will walk about 115,000 miles. That’s equivalent to about 9000 steps per day. It is not surprising that three out of four Americans will experience serious foot problems at some point in their lives. Keeping your feet healthy starts with your first pair of shoes. When selecting kids shoes , special consideration should be given to fit, soling, design, breathability and comfort.

Fit

Most shoes are built on plastic molds called lasts. Lasts are designed to replicate a size and a width of a human foot. Developing a good fitting last takes time and technical “know how”. Last sizing can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. One companies size 7 may be another companies size 6 ½ or 7 ½. Over the past ten years, many manufacturers have replaced traditional lasts in B,C,D,E,EE and EEE with generic lasts in narrow, medium and wide. In addition a quality children shoes manufacturer offers whole and half sizes.

Flexible soling

Children’s feet are tender and flexible. Each foot has 26 bones, 19 muscles, 107 ligaments and 33 joints. The outer sole provides traction, cushioning and flexibility for the feet. Young children need smooth bottom flexible soles to prevent falling. Our children’s shoes have age appropriate soling for correct foot development and flexibility.

INNER SOLE

Each foot has 250,000 sweat glands. As much as ½ pint of moisture can be generated by our feet in one day. The inner sole should be made from an absorbent material that will remove moisture. Insoles should also have cushioning properties capable of absorbing 2 to 3 times a child’s body weight.

Breathability

It is a well known fact that leather breathes. Attractive looking shoes made from nonbreathable material may look good but will not dissipate all the moisture created by our feet. In addition, a shoe made from leather with a nonbreathable lining will trap moisture inside the shoe. All of our childrens shoes are designed and made with breathable linings and leathers.

Comfort

Each pair of feet is unique. Most people have one foot larger than the other. Throughout the day our feet are subject to a great deal of impact, perspiration and swelling. Keeping you child’s feet comfortable and healthy depends on the experience and knowledge of the manufacturer. Here are a few guidelines that may help when you purchase the next pair of shoes for your child.

• A good fitting children’s shoe allows room for growth in the toe area (about 1/2 inch), some extra room at the ball area (widest part behind the toes) and a close fit at the heel.



• Soling and insoling should be flexible and shock absorbent.



• Upper and lining materials should be breathable.



• Choose footwear available in widths



• Have your child’s feet measured by a professional. Make sure your child’s footwear is breathable, flexible and fits their feet properly.

This information was brought to you by Tootsies Stride Rite, a children's shoe retailer and etailer since 1985 in Richmond, Va. For more information, visit us by clicking on our store name, Tootsies Stride Rite or call us at 1-866-235-0626.

Why should I choose Stride Rite shoes for my child?

Stride Rite has devoted over 90 years of research and experience to bring tested and proven technology to our baby, toddler, and kids shoes. Only stride rite shoes has introduced a first walking shoe that is clinically proven to reduce the number of stumbles and falls when learning to walk. With SRT Toddler technology, you can help minimize stumbles and falls while promoting a healthy walking pattern that your child will have for life. Only Stride Rite infant shoes are constructed with SRT Technology. Most other children shoes are developed on adult walking technology simply brought down to toddler sizes.

And when your toddler does finally take a rest, you can rest too knowing you've made the rite choice in kids footwear.So whether your baby is starting to cruise or is on the move, our Stride Rite shoes will be with you through every step.

Stride Rite shoes are available online at Tootsies Stride Rite, where we always have are shoes on sale for at least 20 percent off manufacturer's suggested retail price. To go to our online store, simply click on our store name, or for immediate assistance, call us at 1-866-235-0626.

How do I Know When to Purchase a Larger Shoe for my Child?

Since the bones in your child's feet are still forming up until age 5, it is important to have proper fitting kids shoes to make sure that the bones are protected and not being manipulated in any way. If your child has grown in size since the last time you frequent a children's shoe store, then you need to consider purchasing a new shoe not only for proper foot growth and development but also for comfort. Even though you child may not articulate it, tight fitting shoes can cause blisters and overall discomfort. As you know a child’s foot grows very quickly, which is why getting measured by a fit specialist every few months or using our online fitting tools to keep track of your child's foot growth is important. Different children shoes brands fit differently and it’s difficult to know when to change shoe sizes simply by the size of your current shoe. Here are some things that you can do to see if it’s time to see a fit specialist: • Check the toe box or area around the toes and confirm that it’s roomy and make sure the shoes are not bulging at the sides: (and make sure your kids aren’t curling their toes when checking!) • There should be a thumb's width of space between the largeest toe and the front of the shoe. • A shoe should fit snugly at the heel and instep, and be wide enough to prevent rubbing or squashing from side to side. • The shoe should be deep enough so the toes do not push against the upper section of the shoe. • The shoe should bend at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the foot • Make sure that’s there is no forcing when putting on shoes • Watch to see if your children are trying to tug at or take off their shoes • Listen if your children start to complain that their shoes are hurting or uncomfortable. • Look at your child’s feet after they wear the shoes to see if there is any redness or marks, which may suggest that the shoe is too tight Tootsies Stride Rite has been fitting Stride Rite shoes in Richmond, Va, since 1985. You can visit us online by clicking on our store name, Tootsies Stride Rite, or calling us at 1-866-235-0626.

Interesting Shoe Facts by Tootsies Stride Rite

Interesting facts brought to you by Stride Rite, one of the most recognized kids shoe manufacturers

1. Children's feet should be measured at least every 2-3 months until the age of 3 because their feet grow so fast.

2. Shoes that do not fit properly in childhood can contribute to poor foot development which can lead to bone, muscle an back problems later in life.

3. The heel is the one bone in the foot that help's to balance baby's entire body.

Did You Know? by Stride Rite

The following is an interesting fact that is brought to you by Stride Rite:

Did you know that children's feet should be measured every 2 to 3 months until at least the age of 3 and every 4 to 6 months from age 3 to age 10. From birth until age 10, children's feet grow about 6 inches.

That is why having you child measured by a Stride Rite trained fitting is extremely cricital to maintain proper fitting kids shoes. During these years, expecially ages 1 to 5, your child will not inform you that their shoes need to be replaced, so you as the parent have to be pro-active.

For more information on Stride Rite shoes and assistance in properly fitting your child, please visit our web site by clicking on the following: Tootsies Stride Rite or call us toll free at 1-866-235-0626.

Tootsies Stride Rite Sale -Save 20 Percent or More

Tootsie Stride Rite is having a year end clearance sale with savings on every shoe in stock! A selection of our kids shoes have been reduced by as much as 40 percent off Stride Rite's suggested retail price. In addition to our "up to 40 percent off clearance product list", the rest of our Stride Rite shoes and socks have been reduced at least 20 percent off Stride Rite's suggested price.

And finally, you can save even more off our already reduced prices with our coupon for $10 off a total product purchase of $100 or more. The $10 off coupon code is Save10. Simply type the code Save10 on our order page where asked 'What is the coupon code?' and an additional $10 will be subtracted when you product purchases exceed $100!

To shoe our online Stride Rite store and take advantage of our year end closeout prices, simply click on any product pictured above or on our store name: Tootsies Stride Rite

Tips for Buying the Best Toddler Shoes

Tips for Buying the Best Toddler Shoes:
When your toddler becomes mobile, protecting his or her feet requires Mom and Dad know a thing or two about buying the best toddler shoes.

Here is some advice from the experts on navigating the baby shoe market:

Hard soled vs. soft: Just like adult shoes, toddler shoes with soles that are too soft can cause slips and falls. "You want a shoe with a little bit of a sole, to minimize accidents," Cox says. "Usually, a leather or rubber sole will help provide the traction your toddler needs."
Sneakers vs. boots: "Sneakers are good because they generally don't constrain the foot and allow for proper development," says Steven G. Tillett, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist in Portland, Ore. Also, sneakers are usually constructed out of canvas and pliable leather, allowing the shoe to mold to a child's foot for a good fit, he explains.

Cheap vs. expensive: "For young children who are just learning to walk, inexpensive shoes are OK," Cox says. The key is not so much cost -- it's that the shoe fits.

Open-toed vs. closed: "Open-toed shoes don't offer a lot of foot protection for a child just learning to walk, so closed-toed shoes are generally better," Cox says. And the same goes for shoes like Crocs -- kids can easily trip on these types of shoes if they're just learning to walk and not entirely stable, so hold off on these until around age 2 or later, Cox says.

New vs. used: Although it might be tempting to use hand-me-down shoes from friends or family to save a few bucks, this is one area that requires you buy new. "Kids' shoes mold to their feet," Cox says. "If you use a hand-me-down pair of shoes, you are forcing your child's foot into a shoe that has already molded to the shape of someone else's foot, which means your toddler could end up with blisters."

Tootsies Stride Rite has been fitting children shoes since 1985 in Richmond, Va. Over the past 25 years, we have properly fitted tens of thousands of children. We now bring that expertise to the internet. To visit our site, simply click on our web site name: Tootsies Stride Rite