So I started looking around at various orthotics which were advertised to help relieve my pain.

There are truly a dizzying number of options on the internet and catalogs, but I opted, just as a trial, to pick up some Dr. Scholl’s heel pain relief inserts for a few dollars at my local mega mart.

To my surprise, the pain nearly completely abated. It’s not perfect and I still have an occasional day of discomfort but nothing like the misery I was in before. I wear the inserts in all of my shoes including sneakers to make sure my arches are supported and my heels are cushioned.

I was really surprised and give Dr Scholl’s a nice big prop on this reasonably priced solution!

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

I’m pleasantly surprised after reviewing the new Robeez 2008 Fall Collection of soft-soled shoes! Honestly, I’ve always stayed away from purchasing the Robeez brand because of the price and instead went for other types of soft-soled shoes. However, now that I’ve actually used them and compared them; I realize just how different the Robeez are.

I really like them a lot! They’re incredibly soft on my daughter’s feet and they don’t leave any elastic marks around her ankles (and we have had issues with this). So far I haven’t noticed the toes getting scuffed up from so much crawling either.

The selection is great, and not just for girls. It’s hard to find adorable boys shoes, but they have everything from animals, sports and music to your classic loafers and more. Of course the girls selection includes shoes with ribbons, hearts and bows. Plus they have the classic Mary Jane’s and just about everything else you’re looking for. The new fall collection is superb as there is truly something for everyone.

You can’t go wrong with soft-soled shoes. Robeez is approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association and recommended for baby feet; don’t miss out on these great shoes. I’ve certainly changed my opinion on them.

Written by Andrea, who is a stay at home Catholic wife and mother. She strives daily to perfect her vocation as wonderfully as possible. Andrea has two young children and hopes someday to have more. Her interests stem from being a mother and living her faith. She blogs for fun about things that interest her at Momma In Flip Flops.

I hate buying baby shoes. There, I admitted it. They never fit the way they should. Lets face it, most kids have anatomically weird feet. They are either way wide, very thick or abnormally small, or a combination of the three. My kid has thick and small feet, so when Stride Rite sent me a pair of Natural Motion Walkers to review, I was skeptical. The only shoes I have ever really loved before were the soft sole ones that stayed on with elastic, and these shoes had leather sides, rubber soles and a tongue. There was no way they were going on, or if they did go on they would fall off right away.

I could not have been more wrong. These shoes have the widest opening for a foot I have ever seen. They are incredibly easy to put on, even when your baby is less than thrilled with being laid down to have shoes put on. Even more miraculous, they don’t fall off. Period. And the rubber on the soles is so flexible that it’s like having suede sole shoes. My son will wear them all day, can’t take them off, doesn’t pull on them and they really seem to help out in his daily endeavor to learn to walk. I am overjoyed with their performance, and the fact that they are some of the cutest shoes I have ever seen only adds to my immense satisfaction with this product.

If all that were not enough, they have fantastic customer service. I was initially sent the wrong size and one simple phone call remedied the problem and my new pair arrived post haste. Stride Rite, I’ll be coming back and bringing some friends.

by Andi

I’ve pretty much always been a fan of Stride Rite shoes since my son started wearing them a couple years back. They were the only brand I could find that carried xxw that fit great. I was excited to get the chance to try the Natural Motion Walkers from Stride Rite for my 14-month-old daughter who is just starting to walk.

I don’t think that these shoes help your child learn to walk that well. They have great skid protection on the bottom, but because of this my daughter seemed to get them caught easily since she doesn’t pick her feet up perfectly yet and discouraged her from continuing to try. They are also a bit heavy on her feet making it harder to get around with her just learning to walk. I found that when she wore these she definitely would try to crawl to get where she wanted to go or would easily take them off with the Velcro.

I think these shoes would be great for a child that is still a beginning walker but has already learned the ropes of balancing and getting around that way. However, for a child that still wants to crawl with a few steps here or there, it’s better to go with something lighter like a soft-soled shoe.

by Andrea

If she can use something as a footstool to help lift her on to higher ground, it is fair game. The dog is none too happy about that, let me tell you. Since we are obviously so close to full blown walking, it was time to consider getting her a pair of shoes. I know that often doctors recommend that babies are better off being barefoot, or sock-footed as opposed to wearing baby shoes, but Robeez Footwear shoes for babies are nothing like the stiff hard baby shoes of years past.

Robeez Soft Sole Shoes carry the American Podiatric Medical Association’s “Seal of Approval” which means that the American Podiatric Medical Association recognizes Robeez as a product that “promotes normal foot function.” Robeez shoes have soft soles which are very important for pre-walkers and walkers to help promote healthy foot development.

I recently received a pair of Robeez Mini Shoez Marigold Dark Brown Boots to review and so far they live up to my expectations. I received the 12-18 months size for my daughter. She is 9 months old but has very big feet and I thought we’d get much more mileage out of the larger size. They are a little too big for her length-wise, but that didn’t stop her, nor did it affect the fit and function too much.

My daughter has never worn shoes until this pair of Robeez and at first it actually hindered her getting up on to her feet. Not physically, but because I think they confused her. Five minutes after having them on she was back to her normal monkey-like behavior, cruising and climbing as if the shoes weren’t even there.

The Robeez Mini Shoez Marigold Dark Brown Boots are made of brown suede with fuchsia, light pink and lime accents for the flowers. They have an elasticized back and an adjustable strap for just the right fit. They come in sizes 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months and have cushioned, flexible soles that are appropriate for indoor or outdoors. They sell for $34.95. Inside and out, these shoes are soft and simply adorable. I love how this style looks like real boots and that they stay on her feet. They appear to be durable and made with quality materials. Their flexibility and fit really do make them an ideal first shoe for those precious first steps and beyond.

Written by Kim, who is a “recovering former working mom” and used to play an Architect (not on TV), but now plays a mommy (much more fun – than architecture, not TV) to 2 kids.  When she’s not bossing people around, she spends a lot of time on her personal blog What’s That Smell? or trying to find the source of some foul odor or another.

Be forewarned, the following product is addictive. You will look at it every single day, morning and night, and sometimes will even stare at it for extended periods. The “it” in question is the Grobag Egg from Keen Distribution. The Grobag Egg is a digital thermometer for your child’s bedroom which changes color based on the temperature, telling you if the room is too hot or too cold.

Why is it addictive? I find myself adapting behaviors according to the egg. When it turned red (too hot) I added a fan to my daughter’s room. During a cool spell last week the egg turned yellow, so I decided it was time for pajama bottom pants. I’ve even carried it around the house to watch it change color! It’s like my own personal Goldilocks, and I always know the temperature in my children’s rooms are just right. This is a must-have for your home!

by Cecelia

When I first heard about the Fit Flop, I was both curious and skeptical. Could a shoe really help improve my fitness and shape my leg muscles? I was willing to give it a try to find out. The Fit Flop is now my favorite pair of shoes. I literally wear them everyday, everywhere I go. They are very comfortable, and offer quiet a bit of support to the foot. And yes, they do give your leg muscles a work out!

On the website they do recommend that you start out wearing them a little bit at a time, and I have to agree that if you were to start out wearing them 8 hours a day, you would feel it a lot. The first day I wore them, I didn’t notice any leg muscle soreness, but my feet did have a bit of soreness in adjusting to the different angle. It’s not a high heel by any means, but if you are used to completely flat sandals or shoes, you will feel a difference in the angle of your foot.

I am already saving up to buy another pair (or two) because I love them so much. They look great (I have the black pair, which goes with everything), they are very comfortable and easy to keep clean. And the fact that they actually do help tone my legs is an added bonus! I don’t know what I will do in the winter months when snow is on the ground and sandals are no longer an option!

by Aimee

To enter visit Robeez’s new boys or girls collection and leave a comment here telling us which new style you would pick and why. The contest is open until August 22, 2008.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

I really like them a lot! They’re incredibly soft on my daughter’s feet and they don’t leave any elastic marks around her ankles (and we have had issues with this). So far I haven’t noticed the toes getting scuffed up from so much crawling either.

The selection is great, and not just for girls. It’s hard to find adorable boys shoes, but they have everything from animals, sports and music to your classic loafers and more. Of course the girls selection includes shoes with ribbons, hearts and bows. Plus they have the classic Mary Jane’s and just about everything else you’re looking for. The new fall collection is superb as there is truly something for everyone.

You can’t go wrong with soft-soled shoes. Robeez is approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association and recommended for baby feet; don’t miss out on these great shoes. I’ve certainly changed my opinion on them.

Written by Andrea, who is a stay at home Catholic wife and mother. She strives daily to perfect her vocation as wonderfully as possible. Andrea has two young children and hopes someday to have more. Her interests stem from being a mother and living her faith. She blogs for fun about things that interest her at Momma In Flip Flops.

If you have done more than your fair share of picking up dropped sippy cups, then you will love the No Throw leashes. The design allows you to keep cups or bottles from been tossed and retrieved continually, because babies and toddlers like to throw things. These simple to use, whimsical printed leashes fasten to the drink container and then the stroller, car seat, high chair or shopping cart. The goal is to keep your child from being able to drop them.

You can stash the leashes in the diaper bag for on-the-go usage. These worked great on our recent Disney vacation when the kids needed to have drinks all day and I could not keep track of all the cups, tickets, purchases and snacks. With the No Throw straps I never worried about missing cups.

by Helene

Do you love flip flops as much as me? I can’t seem to live without them. My feet, however, ache after a day of flip flopping around. After years of aching feet, I have finally found a remedy to the whole situation. Croc flip flops are my new best friend and definitely a warm weather must have.

The Crocs come in a huge selection of colors and variations. Best of all, after wearing them all day (even all day at an amusement park recently) my feet don’t hurt! The footbed conforms to your foot for a custom fit and they are odor resistant. I will never wear cheap flip flops again! To check out all of the styles and colors available go to their website now!

by Jaime

You’re all dressed up and looking nice, because for once you finally had time to iron your clothes and look nice for the family outing (too wherever). Then, you hit a bump in the road and spill coffee or juice on your outfit. Of course you don’t have extra clothes for yourself in that huge bag of children’s things. For times like this it is great to have the Tide to Go instant stain remover.

Yes, it works and being so small it fits easily into your purse or car for those quick touch ups. Don’t make one little stain ruin that great moment. Keep this stain remover with you for all the future messes to come. It has certainly become a must have for me!

by Andrea

I’ve tried many pairs of flip flops and was recently disappointed by a pair of LL Bean ones that just weren’t comfortable. They looked great online and I had big hopes that the red dog pattern might be new favorite, but upon sliding my toes between the webbing, I discovered they were no match for my Tevas. The foot bed wasn’t squishy and comfortable as I’ve grown to expect. There was absolutely no arch support which means they wouldn’t be comfortable for a walk to my neighborhood grocery store, a trip to the beach, or a park playdate.

Sorry LL Bean, I love many of your other products but I’m a big fan of the Olowahu and Mush Tevas. The newest addition to my collection is a pair of Mush in the super cute Shirley Rose pattern. I love the pale and dark pink flower pattern that also comes in a blue floral and a myriad of other stripes, patterns and textures. While Mush are the more traditional flip flops, Olowahus morph from casual to dressy with a great criss cross pattern. I have a pair of solid black ones that I can wear to the pool and then out to dinner with a sun dress. Just beware, wearing Olowahus too many days in a row can result in criss cross tan lines on the tops of your feet.

Teva also makes great flip flops for men. My husband got his first pair of Mush (solid black) last year. They are his only pair of Teva flip flops and despite wearing them all day everyday last summer (can you tell he works from home?), they are as good looking and comfortable as when he first got them.

These flip flops are a steal for $22 a pair. My first pair was bought three years ago and are still going strong. For the best selection go directly to the Teva website. Major props to Teva for such fine flip flops!

Now that you know what I’ll be wearing on my feet this summer, do yourself a favor and pamper yourself by ordering some peppermint foot products from The Body Shop to bring your feet out of hibernation, replacing that cheap polish with a couple of good bottles of OPI in fun colors and slide those feet into comfy some comfy Teva’s! You’ll look marvelous and will be ready for a great summer!

Written by Leticia, a part time working multitasking mama who loves spending time with her husband and two children, exotic vacations, and cooking great meals. Leticia writes about technology products and technology issues affecting children through her blog, Tech Savvy Mama.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!