Review: Little Soles Shoes

I know that babies gravitate towards shoes and enjoy trying to use them as teethers, but honestly never thought about the fact that they could have toxins in their materials that could be ingested or absorbed through the skin while wearing them. Little Soles is the first shoe company I've encountered that has dedicated themselves to producing kid's shoes that are free from harmful dyes and toxins. And did I mention that they are stinkin' cute, extremely well-made, and very comfortable?

Canadian Mompreneur Jessica Jacobs created Little Soles with the hopes of providing "high quality, yet affordable, fashion-forward footwear for any parent seeking unique alternatives to mainstream fashion". I've spoken with her directly and she is extremely passionate about her designs and very proud of the fact that all Little Soles shoes go through rigorous testing to ensure that they are free of harmful dyes and toxins.
Click on "Read More" to learn more about Little Soles.

We have two fantastic pairs. My oldest has the "Superstar" Trainers and my youngest has the "Simply" Mary Jane Squeaky Shoes. Upon receipt my husband commented on how well-made they were and comfortable they seemed and he NEVER acknowledges stuff like that.

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

Ease of Use **** - These shoes look like they are stiff but the materials are actually quite pliable and bendy; thus making them easy to put on and take off. All of the styles are either slip-on or velcro with no annoying buckles or laces to deal with.

Materials and Durability **** - It is apparent that they are very intent on sourcing high quality materials and leathers that they then couple with top workmanship to produce very solid shoes. Not to mention the four levels of testing that their materials undergo before manufacturing even begins:

* European Council directive 2002/62/EC testing for AZO Colourants or Dyes
* All leathers along with the outsole are tested for the following:
o Formaldéhyde content
o PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonates)
* 7 Toxic elements (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Antimony, Selenium & Barium)

These are really well-made shoes that I anticipate lasting through a lot of wear and tear by both of my gals.

My youngest isn't ready for her "Squeaky" Mary Janes but I wanted to mention that they have an audible squeak that can help motivate timid walkers, help to promote the proper heel to toe step, and keep the parent aware of where their little one is wandering off to. I don't know if this will be annoying or not, but it is removable.

Style **** - I hate it when style suffers because of other factors (like safety). That is not the case with Little Soles. They have five lines of very cute shoes, with a balanced offering for both boys and girls. There's a great mix of funky, classic, and retro designs...they have designs that appeal to a broad range of tastes.

Sizing **** - Little Soles offers shoes in 0-2 newborn sizes, infant sizes 3-8, and young children’s in sizes 9-12 ½. They are one of the few shoe brands that seem to produce shoes that are actually the size that they claim. My oldest wears a size 5 and they fit her perfectly. Too often I get a 5 and it's either too big or too small. With that said, it's still safest to measure your kiddo's feet before purchasing.

Price *** - Given their material safety criteria I expected these to be more expensive than other children's shoe lines. However, these are right in line with others, with prices ranging from $30 for the "Squeaky" shoes to ~$50 for the "Children's" shoes. Not the cheapest options, but I feel much better paying more for a pair of high-quality shoes that look good and are totally free of harmful dyes and toxins.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - These are really great shoes that definitely deserve a look the next time you're in the market for some new shoes.