Buying as good pair of shoes for your baby or toddler can be a difficult business, and also an expensive one. Trying to squeeze your fractious child's foot into yet another pair of shoes whilst listening attentively to the assistant explaining the virtues of this particular brand, style and shape can become a monumental task and one liable to cause you to lose your nerve very easily. When faced with the astronomical cost of shoes for toddlers it can seem tempting to purchase cheaper alternatives. Certainly supermarkets offer a wide choice of children's clothing lines, including shoes, and for a very good price.

However, the problem is that shoes for toddlers are of paramount importance. Two things will be happening to your toddler at the same stage that they need shoes. The first is that they are learning to stand, walk and run, all of which require good balance, control, grip and confidence of movement. The second thing is that their bones, muscles and joints will all be growing, developing, strengthening and prone to being easily misshaped or damaged if the wrong type of shoe is worn. Cheap shoes offer little support, and it can lead to the child developing bad posture, or even weakened or distorted joints, including bow leggedness.

As far as children's shoes are concerned, particularly in the early formative years, it is well worth spending the extra money on a really good quality pair of shoes. Not only will they provide much greater support and encourage good posture and walking technique, but they are far more likely to last.

Cheaper shoes tend to have glued seams, whereas more expensive shoes are sewn. Seams on shoes that are sewn are very much stronger than glued ones, and with the rough treatment likely to be encountered on a toddler's feet, durability is important.

Another aspect to consider is how the shoes will be done up. Laces look classic, and are harder for the child to undo themselves, especially if they are tied in a double knot. The laces can also be used to pull the sides of the shoe together evenly, and creates a better chance of the shoe remaining on the foot. Velcro on the other hand is much quicker and easier to do up and undo. However, your child will quickly realise this themselves, and along with the incredibly satisfying ripping sound they discover they can make with it, they'll be undoing their shoe faster than you can put it back on their feet, and this can lead to all sorts of problems.

The style and pattern of the sole of the shoe will be important too. Having a good tread will help enormously in providing s good grip, especially when they try their hand (or foot) at mountaineering, wanting to climb up every step, get up on to every object they can and generally try getting everywhere. A deep, reliable tread will help them to gain their balance and learn to trust their judgement more when walking and running.

If in any doubt, use two critics when buying your toddler shoes. Use the trained professional who will help you choose shoes which are appropriate, supportive and the right size. But make sure you listen to your toddler too. If all they want to do is sit, or take their shoes off, then maybe another choice might be worth a look.