Back-to-Preschool Shoe-tacular Review and Giveaway! - Smaller by See Kai Run

As you hopefully read on my post yesterday, I'm a huge fan of See Kai Run shoes. I think they are well-designed and super comfortable in addition to being incredibly stylish. Unfortunately, little Isaac isn't quite ready for them, as he's not even crawling yet. I would have just had to be patient and wait for Isaac's little feet to grow into his See Kai Runs. Not anymore. See Kai Run now offers a new brand, Smaller, for babies 0-18 months. Now there is no foot too small to experience the awesomeness that is See Kai Run!

Nadia wore a lot of Robeez style booties when she was small. They were cute, but never lived up to their "impossible to get off" claim. I don't think she was any kind of gifted Houdini, I just think that getting them off is all part of the challenge for little ones. As easy as it was for her to get them off, I actually found it quite difficult to get her feet into them, especially when she wore socks. I've had a couple of pairs for Isaac, but while the designs that he's worn were clearly "boy" patterns, I've never really felt like he looked right in them. They just don't fit with the clothes we pick out for him. That's why I was initially drawn to the Smaller booties by See Kai Run. They aren't your typical booties. These look like real shoes, complete with velcro closures which makes them SO much easier to get onto the fat little baby feet that Isaac's sporting these days. You can pull the velcro as tight as you need it which means a comfortable and secure fit regardless of how fat your child's foot is. Isaac has the Lewis pair and they are super cute with the jeans and overalls that he has to wear this fall. I know, I know, he's a baby, but we dress him like a little man, and he needs the shoes to go with the look!

As for quality of construction, Smaller booties are handmade from the same "buttery" soft sheepskin leather that the original See Kai Run shoes are crafted from. You really have to touch it to appreciate how much softer they feel than other booties and shoes out there. There are no laces on any of the styles, unless you count the faux laces which are just for looks. The soles of the shoes are made of suede and feature non-slip leather soles which are very important for helping provide security for those exciting first steps. And, for your own piece of mind, just like the original See Kai Run brand, Smaller shoes also come with the American Podiatric Medical Association's prestigious Seal of Acceptance. You can feel comfortable knowing that your child can look ultra-hip and still have healthy feet!

Now for the official review (based on a four-star scale)

Design and Ease of Use ***1/2 - These booties have a great design. Chubby baby feet can be difficult to get into shoes, but the velcro closures on the Smaller booties allow you to open them up as wide as you need to to get those fat little feet in. You can then adjust the tightness to be comfortable for your child. Is Isaac eventually going to annoy me by opening up the velcro and taking the shoes off? Of course, but I've yet to put a shoe on a baby (or at least my babies) and had it stay on indefinitely. Babies are curious, it's all part of the game. For now, they stay on great and look so cool.

Materials and Durability ***1/2 - The materials used to make these shoes are incredibly high quality. Don't be fooled by the softness of the leather, they are still very durable. The suede soles will be super important as soon as my little Tons of Fun is able to hoist himself up and start moving around on his feet.

Cost -

$ under $20
$$ $20-$30
$$$ $30-$40
$$$$ over $40

$$$ - These sell for around the same price as most baby booties.

Smaller by See Kai Run makes booties in for babies in sizes 0-6 months, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-18 months. I personally like that the shoes are offered in a greater range of sizes. Yes, you might have to buy more pairs, but you will get a better fit than when you buy the typical 6-12 month booties size that other brands offer.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - I love these comfortable, well-designed booties. I especially love them for being cute without being too cutsie. There are no dinosaurs or trucks which I really appreciate. They stand-out without standing out!

Do you want to win a pair of Smaller booties by See Kai Run for your little one? Visit the See Kai Run website and choose your favorite style of Smaller bootie, not including any styles mentioned in this post. Come back here and tell us which one you like best and you will be entered in our contest to win a pair of Smaller booties in your choice of style and size. All entries must be received by midnight on Wednesday, September 17th. Please only one entry per household and you must be 18 or older to win. We will choose one winner using random.org. Feel free to leave your email so that we can contact you when you win, but also know that we will be submitting winner info to Prizey Winners. Thanks for reading and Good Luck!