Back-to-Preschool Shoe-tacular Review and Giveaway - Rileyroos

I can't believe how quickly time flies. Isaac was such a grumpy baby at first that it was all I could do to make it through the day, and don't even get me started on the nights. But, here we are with a wonderfully chubby and incredibly happy 6 month old who now sleeps through the night and is doing his best to start moving. Already, footwear for him is no longer going to be strictly about looking cool, it's going to need to be functional as well. Rileyroos baby shoes were designed by two parents who wanted stylish shoes that could also imitate barefoot walking and protect the developing little feet of their child. This is exactly what we are looking for in a first shoe as well.

The feature that I appreciate the most in the Rileyroos design is the soles. They are made of the most amazingly flexible leather and include rubber padding on the bottom. The padding will provide the necessary traction on our hardwood and tile floors that Isaac will need when he learns to crawl and eventually to walk. They also curl up just a little bit over the toes to provide extra leverage for little crawlers which I really love. You'd think with the rubber padding and leather soles that these shoes would be on the heavy side, but honestly, they are as light as a feather. I can't speak for what they are like to wear because even though my feet are pretty tiny, they aren't quite small enough to get Isaac's Rileyroos on, but I have to imagine that it would almost feel like not wearing a shoe at all which I think is what Rileyroos is aiming for.

Rileyroos also have all the other comfort and convenience features that seem to be standard on high-quality baby shoes. They have padded collars to prevent sore heels. Maybe I make too much of this feature, but like I've said before, I wish my shoes had padded collars. I'm not a huge fan of buckles on shoes for my kids and forget shoes that lace. Lucky for me, all the Rileyroos styles have velcro closures. I appreciate being able to open the shoes up as far as I need to in order to easily maneuver Isaac's feet in and also the fact that I can do it in a matter of seconds. I know that velcro is easier for my children to get on and off which can be frustrating when I have to keep putting them on over and over, but considering that I am perpetually running behind, most of my concern is about simply getting out the door on time. The faster I can get shoes on, the better. The velcro also seems to help provide a snug, but not too tight fit as well which is important.

As for style, Rileyroos hasn't gone overboard in offering a ton of different options, but what they do offer is a handful of stylish options in a variety of attractive colors. For example, Isaac will soon be sporting the Jakester in the saddle brown color. The Jakester comes in three other versions as well, a gender neutral sky blue color, a navy/royal blue version geared towards boys and a very pretty mulberry color for girls. None of the styles are overly cutesy, just simple lines and a lot of contrast stitching which if you've read some of my other posts, you know I adore! The styles are pretty classic which makes them easy to match up to any outfit which is nice. I like shoes, and I like them to match, but considering how quickly little feet grow, especially in the first months, it's nice to know that with a pair of Rileyroos in the line-up, we won't need 10 pairs of shoes to cover all our fashion needs!

Now for the "official" review-based on a 4-star scale:

Design and Ease of Use **** - I really can find no fault in the design of these shoes. They feature velcro closures which are a necessity in my book, the soles are super-flexible and include rubber padding to help provide extra traction, and they are also specially designed to help beginning crawlers which is unique. They seem like the absolute perfect first shoe!

Materials and Durability *** - Honestly, Isaac has not had much of a chance to wear his out because he's just not mobile enough yet to really be hard on them. However, we do have a hand-me-down pair that our friend Milo wore last fall and winter, and even as hand-me-downs they still look great. Isaac will definitely still be able to get some good use out of them. Clearly, the shoes are designed to last.

Cost $$$

$ - under $20

$$ - $20-30

$$$ $30-40

$$$$ over $40

Rileyroos are priced very competitively with all the other first shoes out there. Their cute Caters boots are even cheaper than the other first boots that you see everywhere, are really cute and machine-washable. Definitely worth checking out as you're looking for warm footwear for you little ones this winter.

Rileyroos are available in 4 sizes: 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months. Speaking from experience, do NOT rely on the ages to tell you whether or not these shoes will fit your child. Visit Rileyroos sizing page to help you determine the size that will provide the best fit for your child.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - There's not much more I can say about Rileyroos. They are shoes that are designed to support developing feet, but also offer added protection for those first steps which is important. The styles are classic and they are affordable. I think that they are a nearly perfect first shoe option you should definitely should consider as you shop for shoes for the little feet in your home.

You can purchase Rileyroos online, or use the online store locator to help find a store near you.

Would you like the chance to win a pair of Rileyroos for your little one? Go check out the Rileyroos website and choose your favorite style and color. Come back here and leave us a comment about which one you like best, not including any styles mentioned in this post, and you will be entered in our contest to win a pair of Rileyroos 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. You can view all of our official rules here. Thanks for reading and Good Luck!