2014 Spring Fling Event – Pediped Spring Collection

I just love this mommy phase where I can still get to choose shoes for my kids. But while it is both challenging and fun to find shoes for myself that beautifully flatter my feet and match my outfits, finding shoes for kids is more than just that because of the sensitivity of their growing feet. As much as I want to get all the cute pairs in kids’ shoe displays especially if they’re ridiculously cheap, I don’t want it to end up unwanted by my kids later on as they insist on removing them because of intolerable discomfort.

I have been seeing a lot of celebrities (Jennifer Garner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Charlize Therone, Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, etc.) whose kids have been spotted wearing Pediped. I of course had the impression that it’s definitely not a cheap brand, though I have tried them several times and known them well. Recently I was able to have two free-to-try pairs for my toddler and my kindergartener. My first point of admiration upon getting my hands on them is the brand’s seal of approval by the American Podiatric Medical Society, which ensures healthy foot development and safe walking that minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries. I also particularly liked their tagline, “Pediped: next best thing to bare feet”, which the pediatric society believes to be the best way for infants and toddlers to walk.

Pediped has three product lines, according to the three phases of a child’s foot development: the Originals for infants and toddlers who are just learning to walk, Grip ‘n’ Go for toddlers in transition from cautious to confident walking, and Flex for kids who can already stride confidently. I got the fuchsia lavender Flex Sahara shoes for my senior kindergarten girl, and the white Charleston variant under the Grip ‘n’ Go line for my 16-month old son. They’re very perfect now for spring and summer, but actually great for any season.

My daughter liked the color of her Flex Sahara very much. I’m glad that she likes wearing it too because it’s so lightweight, and very easy to wear and remove by herself. Its packaging says that it is water-safe, and is thus ideal for sand, mud, and water splashes. It makes sense because of its protective toe caps, and breathable openings for the sides of the feet. For me, pairing them with socks would still look cute, as long as the color choices won’t look funny. The soft rubber soles are very flexible, which is true to its line name, Flex. It’s machine washable too, dries well without getting damaged, and would always look line new for a very long time. I got it one size bigger, but it still fitted fine because of the inclusive extra inserts and the easy strap tightening. My daughter loves it and I’m very impressed, so I feel like a winner on this one.

The Grip ‘n’ Go Charleston for my toddler boy is still a little big for him right now but I can see him wearing it by late summer or probably earlier as his feet really grow so fast. Since the Grip ‘n’ Go line is specially designed for toddlers in transitional walking stage, it has G2 Technology which makes use of soft rubber soles, heel cushion for support, round edges that are also shaped like a toddler’s round foot, and soft toe boxes that allow little toes to comfortably curl and grip. I particularly like the simple but versatile design as it can look sporty but also suit perfectly for casual and semi-formal attires. It’s also easy to put on with the velcro closures. I am soon to see how this will go with my son. But with my daughter’s delight in her Flex Sahara, I am positive that my son will not have any problems in walking with his Grip ‘n’ Go Charleston since its convincingly skid-resistant.

If you don’t want to compromise the possible negative effects of poorly designed footwear to the foot development of children, I would highly recommend Pediped because it lives by its simple mantra: comfort, quality, and style. These shoes are really meant to be used (and abused) by the most (hyper) active kids without getting worn out. A great plus for eco-friendly families is that Pediped uses non-toxic material. Also, I love the packaging of the shoes that it’s tempting to have them as gifts, and I’m sure that no kid will dislike it. The price range is mid to high but its a smart investment as kids will definitely benefit from it for the longest time possible. I suggest getting a pair with some size allowance because closed-toe shoes come with very useful inserts, and their straps or closures can be adjusted. In case my kids outgrow them (I hope not too soon!) and if I wouldn’t be able to find any other brand as amazing as Pediped, I won’t hesitate buying new Pediped pairs again.

*Disclaimer: I received two pairs of Pediped shoes for review purposes, and I received no other compensation for sharing my views and experiences on them. The opinions here in this post are purely honest and all my own.