Shoe Health Part 1 - Pediped

We start our series on Shoe Health to give you more information about the brands of shoes we sell in our store. First up - pediped® footwear! pediped® Originals, Grip 'n' Go, and Flex have been officially recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) as being beneficial for children's growing feet. Their shoes were among the first children's footwear to be awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for promoting healthy foot development. pediped® comes in 3 ranges:

• Originals
• Grip ‘n’ Go™
• Flex

Originals is available in 3 sizes in our store: S for 6 to 12 months, M for 12 to 18 months and L for 18 to 24 months. We use the age only as a gauge because we find that some girls have smaller feet and can still fit size S even after 1 years old. So it's best to measure your child's foot size and see which size fits best.

(Tip: If it's a challenge to go shopping with your young child in toe, you can measure your child's foot with your palm when you shop without him/her!  We offer a 14-day exchange policy at our store so if the size doesn't fit when you bring it home to try, you can come back swap it for the correct size.)

One of our earlier posts talked about why soft sole shoes are good for your child, mainly because they mimic barefoot walking. Like all soft-sole shoes, Pediped Originals are flexile and will not constrict your toddler's foot growth. The added advantage it has is that unlike those with suede or cloth soles, these Originals are extremely easy to clean. Take a damp cloth and simply wipe the sole clean after a walk in the park!

Grip ‘n’ Go™ include all the benefits of Originals® but also have special G2 Technology™, which includes a soft rubber sole, rounded edges that mimic the shape of a child’s foot, heel stability, and a soft toe box to allow toes to grip the floor. Grip ‘n’ Go™ provide active toddlers with the ideal combination of protection and flexibility as they improve their walking ability.  The Grip ‘n’ Go™ range is available in sizes EU19 to 23. Do note that not every child may wear the Grip n Go series because some children go from Originals straight to Flex systems (since there is an overlap in size between Grip 'n' Go and Flex shoes).

Flex® 3 reasons why parents like the Flex system:

• Flex Fit System™: Most Flex® styles include this system which provides a customizable fit with the use of additional insoles. These insoles can be inserted for a snugger fit at the beginning and then removed as the foot grows. They reduce the shoe size by half a size and that extends the life of a pair of shoes up to two months! The Flex® styles which do not come with insoles are the open toe designs (i.e. sandals) and the adventure sandals such as these:

    

• Machine Washable: Yup that's correct. After running on muddy ground on hikes or school excursions, selected styles such as our all-time favourite adventure sandals can be thrown into the wash!  We recommend that you remove all insoles and put the shoes in a laundry bag before tossing it into the machine. Do not use bleach. For best results, wash shoes alone in cold water, on gentle cycle. Look for the "Machine Washable" sign on the tag when you're choosing the designs!

• Memory Foam Technology™ - a memory foam insole that shapes perfectly to a child’s foot, thus acting like a custom insole and supporting the foot in all the right places. MFT™ also provides excellent absorption, prevents foot slippage in the shoe and improves the fit of every shoe. MFT™ is available in select Grip ‘n’ Go™ (for active toddlers) and Flex® (for confident walkers).

pediped designs tend to be bright, colourful and great for children who just want to have fun in their shoes.  Children who started with Originals tend to grow up with pediped and we totally can see why!

*Photo credit: Pediped Singapore

x, Audrey