The September 2009 issue of Parents magazine ticked me off! How? Well, in an article published called “39 Things Every Mom Should Know” the author writes about 39 things that new moms can take it easy on – a “don’t sweat the small stuff” for moms, if you will. Great idea, except when the advice given goes against what experts tell us. Tip #9 “Buy cheap shoes when kids are little. Feet grow faster than you think” had me shaking my head. It’s advice like this that lead me, being a frugal mama, to purchase very cheap and poor quality shoes for my oldest when he was a toddler. I cringe now thinking of the hard soled cheap plastic shoes he wore. I know better now and am annoyed that magazines that parents turn to for information and advice would post a tip that discourages parents from taking proper care of their children’s developing feet. Thankfully, I and other moms do their own research and know that it is important to purchase quality shoes for our children that allow their feet to move, grow, and breathe. Companies like Stride Rite are working to continually improve the quality of their shoes, and their latest line of shoes, the SRT Collection hits a home run.
Sensory Response Technology™ improves the way a child learns to walk via a sensory feedback system, an ultra-flexible design that allows for more freedom of movement, and a unique construction that reduces the number of stumbles and falls.
Developed in conjunction with the Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, SRT Collection is the result of a multi-phase study commissioned by Stride Rite.
SRT’s features promote a healthy lifelong walking pattern and improve baby’s ability to respond to their environment. Highlights include:
• Greater feel of terrain: Sensory pods in the forefoot of the outsole move independently of each other offering multiple reaction points, increasing a baby’s feel of the ground beneath them. This allows a baby to stabilize their gait and better respond to their environment.
• More natural support: Unique “hourglass” construction in the midfoot mirrors a baby’s foot structure to help supporting bones and muscles that are not yet fully developed. A smooth, rounded transition from outsole to upper prevents catching an edge, reducing the number of stumbles and falls.
• Freedom of movement: Ultra-flexible design allows the foot to move in many directions to help baby learn how to adapt to uneven surfaces.
We were sent the Maddy shoes from the SRT Collection! I ordered a size 6 based on the size my daughter currently wears, and was happy to see that Stride Rite’s sizing is bang on. Moms of toddlers with chubby-feet will be happy to know that Stride Rite shoes come in a regular and wide width option.
The color on the shoes are perfect for fall – a mix of pearlized pink and tan (or BearCub/Dune according to Stride Rite). I immediately noticed a small detail that really is a nice touch – the veclro double strap closure has a floral design on the end, making these shoes even more feminine and dainty looking. The shoes are created from lightweight eco-friendly materials and the upper portion is leather (yay for breathable materials!) Another little feature that is a big perk – the removable fit check system which enables parents to tell when it’s time to get a bigger size (because having the proper size shoe is also very important to foot development and walking).
I know that when my little one is wearing these shoes she’s benefiting from research done by experts on foot development and walking and that’s important to me – more important than saving a few dollars by purchasing cheap shoes as Parents magazine suggested.
1 very lucky reader is going to win a pair of SRT Collection shoes (available in size 3-8 with half sizes and regular or wide width) from Stride Rite. To enter, just take a look at the selection of SRT Collection at Stride Rite and tell me which pair is your favorite.
For additional entries:
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Please ensure your profile is public or leave me your email address in your comment. This giveaway will end on October 2nd at 9:00pm CT. I will use Random.org to choose the winners, email the winners, and post the win here. Giveaway is open to Canadian and US addresses.
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