I am a barefooter, and I encourage my toddler to go barefoot as much as possible. Since he’s gone barefoot all summer, he only has 2 pairs of shoes that fit him. His Xero shoes, and some bed slippers. His Xero shoes work great for when he needs protection from thistles and prickers, but they won’t work when it’s wet and cold. I am on the look out for winter shoes for him that are very wide in the mid foot and toe, and very flexible. Both a pair of snow boots and a pair of shoes for when it’s just cold, and not snowy. I found some water shoes called Nerf Toddler Boy’s Lagoon Water Shoes that I loved! They are wide and flexible, with no heel. With a pair of socks they would keep his feet nice and warm. Only problem is, they only have one size, that is too small for him. Any others like them, or other shoes I could look at?

If you are wanting cheap shoes as you won’t be using them much, Payless has wides for a decent price. I am a Wal Mart/Target/K Mart/Payless kind of shoe mom when my kids are little, but then to put that into perspective my just turned two year old is already in size 9 1/2, so for the last year we have been lucky to get two months per shoe size out of her’s. I just can’t justify Stride Rites since she doesn’t wear them inside at home and her HDCP let’s them go barefoot unless they are outside there too. Her’s are literally just for walking to and fro and for outings so she probably wears shoes for an average of four eight hours a week, if that some weeks.