Pediped: The Next Best Thing To Bare Feet!

The pediped Flex Adrian

As the mother of a toddler AND an infant, I am very picky when it comes to my babies' footwear. Actually, for the first several months of life, I do not put shoes on my babies at all. Ever. If it's cold, 2 pairs of socks and some footie-pajamas does the trick just fine for me. Why don't I use shoes on smaller babies? Simple! I don't feel that confining baby feet to shoes they're not ready to walk in is ideal for their foot development. Babies' feet are shaped differently than an adult's foot, and their shoes need special construction in order to preserve and encourage proper foot development. So in my mind, bare foot is best, as long as possible. Once a baby is standing and walking, that's an entirely different story, as shoes protect those tiny tootsies from the elements, sharp objects, ooey-gooey gum on the sidewalk, and any other hazards that come along with mobility.

However, something has recently changed the way I look at baby footwear. My daughter is 18 months old now and needs to be wearing shoes whenever we are outside running around and in public when she'll be walking. So naturally, I wanted to find the best suited shoes for an active toddler that would allow her feet to breathe and would not hinder proper development. That's when I learned about pediped. Sure, they are plenty of childrens shoe manufacturers, but not many are committed to bringing adorable shoes that actually HELP with foot development as well!

What makes pediped a step above the rest? (No pun intended!) From its inception, pediped® has designed footwear to promote healthy foot development. Their  mantra has always been comfort, quality and style, in that order. This is why pediped® shoes were among the first children’s footwear to be awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for promoting healthy foot development. You can rest assured that pediped® is a footwear company that cares about the health and well being of your child’s growing feet.

pediped offers three unique lines of shoes, each specifically tailored to different stages of your child's growth. Please note, these stages overlap to allow for a seamless transition between styles!

Originals: Ideal for ages newborn-2 years.
Grip n Go: Ideal for ages 9 months- 3 years.
Flex: Ideal for ages 1 year-7 years.

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to review a couple of wonderful summer styles from pediped! Sophie loves playing outdoors and is always on the go. We received an adorable pair of sandals and a cute pair of athletic style shoes to test on our little monster!

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My chocolatey girl in her Flex Adrian pedipeds!

The first pair of pedipeds I would like to share with you is the Flex Adrian in Fuchsia and Light Pink! These shoes are absolutely adorable, and are perfect for summertime play dates and trips to the park. These mini "sneakers" are fun, feminine, and go well with skirts, shorts, and jeans alike! There are great casual shoes that can be dressed up or dressed down easily.

I immediately noticed that the Flex Adrian is a very well constructed shoe. All of the stitching on the fabric uppers was expertly done, and there were no loose threads of crooked seams. The soles of the Adrian are a flexible, durable rubber that offers great grip on all indoor and outdoor surfaces. These shoes are easy to put on and take off, since they feature a wide velcro closure.

Another thing I love about these shoes is that they also come with the Flex-Fit System, which provides additional insoles that can be inserted for a snug fit then removed for room as your child's foot grows. These insoles can reduce shoe size by almost half a size, extending the life of the shoe. This is great, since I can order a size larger than Sophie needs, and there will be plenty of room to grow. I hate buying kid's shoes and having them be outgrown in less than a month. pediped has this problem covered with their Flex-Fit System!

Sophie seems to love her pediped Adrians. They offer fabulous support for her little arches and ankles, and she can run around comfortably wearing these without tripping over her own feet. That's pretty impressive, since my Sophie is like a little Tazmanian Devil and never looks where she's going! I love these shoes! Not only are the colors beautiful and fun, these were made with active kids in mind. Oh, I should probably also mention that you won't have to keep the kids out of mud-puddles in these great shoes. They're machine washable! So you can let your kids make a mess and just be kids while wearing their Flex Adrians. My daughter has gotten hers muddy, sandy, and chocolatey, and they have come clean beautifully every time and still look like new!

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I also received the Grip n Go Daisy in Light Pink Multi for review. Oh. My. Goodness. These are the cutest little sandals! I truly think these are a must have for any little girl. These offer a classic, yet modern design that is fun and super feminine. These sandals are cute with casual play clothes,but can easily be dressed up by pairing them with cute little sundresses!

The Daisy is also very well constructed, and I love the pale pink leather upper and the fun, colorful daisy design that adorns them. These Mary Jane style sandals are easy to put on, as there is a velcro closure.They feature durable, natural rubber soles to ensure good grip on walking surfaces. The Grip n Go Daisy also features pediped's advanced G2 Technology. G2 Technology™ is specially designed for children transitioning from early walking to walking with a more confident stride. G2 Technology™ includes a soft rubber sole, rounded edges that mimic the natural shape of a child’s foot, heel stability, and a soft toe box that allows toes to curl and grip the floor. So with this great technology, your baby can walk in a way that feels natural to them, rather than being forced to feel awkward due to improper footwear for their foot's developmental stage.

But the thing I love the MOST about the Grip n Go Daisy are the Memory Foam Technology  insoles. Yes. I said Memory Foam. I don't know if any of you have a Memory Foam mattress, but this material is the best thing since sliced bread. I have had a Memory Foam mattress for a few years now, and no other bed has ever given me the comfort of this one. And pediped is putting this miracle-material in their shoes?! I'm sold! I cannot imagine how comfortable these shoes must be for Sophie, since I am already a lover of this technology. Why is memory foam in kids' shoes such a great addition? They behave just like a custom insole by shaping perfectly to your child’s foot and supporting it in all the right places. Memory Foam Technology also provides excellent absorption, prevents foot slippage in the shoe, and ensures a secure, comfortable fit.

Sophie really loves her Grip n Go Daisy sandals. She often brings them to me for no reason at all because she WANTS to wear them! This says a lot, because when my daughter was first introduced to shoes in general, she would fight me tooth and nail to avoid having to wear them, and would then try and rip the offending footwear off of her feet. Now she is bringing me her pediped Daisy's because she wants to have them on. If that doesn't convince you how great pediped is, I don't know what will!

Take a look at a very happy Sophie rocking her Grip n Go Daisy sandals from pediped!

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Loving her Grip n Go Daisy sandals!

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with pediped's line of products. I love that they cater to the ever-changing needs of growing feet and promote proper foot development with their thoughtful design. I also love the quality of these shoes. They are not flimsy or poorly constructed. These shoes are made to withstand the activities of even the messiest and most active of children. (Even my crazy Sophie-Monster!) And if those weren't enough reasons to pick up a pair (or 3) of pedipeds, just look at how stinking CUTE their designs are! From traditional to trendy, pediped offers something to cater to the tastes of all boys and girls! I can't wait to add more shoes to my pediped collection. I may even get Xander a pair of his own...Even though he's only 6 months old and is not walking. With pediped, I can feel secure knowing that covering his little toes with their shoes will not hinder his development in any way. After all, they ARE the next best thing to bare feet!

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can purchase pediped shoes on their website. Be sure to sign up for their exclusive newsletter while you're there!

You can also connect with pediped on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their newest products and promotions! I hear their upcoming Fall Line is going to be amazing!


***Disclosure: I received sample products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***