Though my kids’ feet are all bigger (and smellier) than the days when they had cute toddler toes, back then I loved buying them Stride Rite shoes because I liked how they fit my kids’ feet and–quite simply–trusted the company that has been fitting kids’ feet for almost a century. But, their feet grew so fast, and I know how costly high-quality shoes can be, so I’m thrilled that Stride Rite has found a way to produce a great line of kids’ shoes exclusively for Target that will save families a few dollars too.
Related: 7 fun, fashionable, rain boots for kids all under $50.
The new Surprize by Stride Rite collection at Target includes sneakers and maryjanes for babies and toddlers for summer and fall, along with some boots styles for cooler weather. At at under $30 — or under $20 for some infant styles — this is a pretty big savings for a pair of high-quality shoes.
The Surprize collection features nice flexible soles with the sturdy construction newer walkers need to stay on their feet. I’m kind of intrigued by the fact they use memory foam for comfort, and while I’m a little scared to give the anti-stink lining a try myself, let’s hope that if you don’t notice it, it means it’s working.
Also, all these shoes go on easily–meaning there is hardly a sholace in sight–which is great for stubborn toddlers who “do it myself” whenever you’re trying to fly out the door.
They styles look pretty cute, especially when it comes to the mary janes and the sneakers. The boots could use a little work in our opinion as far as the styling, though the infant boys’ Abraham Boots have that rugged Timberland look for just $22.99, and the fuzzy faux fur toddler girls’ Del Ray boots look cozy for the cooler weather.
I also wish that the display of boxes I saw in my local Target wasn’t all about that traditional “blue for boys” and “pink for girls” thing, mainly because I’m so tired of the message this sends to kids with other favorite colors. And, I’d love to see Stride Rite branch out beyond pink and soft purple for the accent color in their girls shoes, and maybe liven up the boys line with a bit more color too.
Good tip: Those cute navy blue Darion sneakers make awesome neutral footwear for little girls too.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you won’t find all the different widths in the Surprize collection that you’ll find in a Stride Rite store, nor does Target offer the same personal fitting that kids with hard-to-fit feet may need. But that’s what keeps the prices down, and for plenty of parents who just want to grab a couple of pairs of new shoes for the next season at a great price while they’re shopping Target anyway, this is a nice addition to the Target shoe aisle.
Hey, it’s always nice to see more high quality shoes for young kids priced so that they’re available to more parents.
The new Surprize by Stride Rite collection of shoes and boots for babies and toddlers is available at Target both online and in stores now. CMP is an rstyle affiliate.
