It can be difficult to find good quality footwear for young babies, especially something that is developed with children’s development in mind. The creators of See Kai Run have developed Smaller, a fantastic line of shoes that are perfect for the youngest of children.

The Smaller line sounds great on paper - made of a soft, flexible leather both inside and out, with a suede outsole with non-slip rubber pads for traction, a wider toe box for chubby feet, a Velcro closure to adjust the size of the shoe, and a padded collar to make the shoes more comfortable and help them stay on baby feet. So I was excited to try them out myself - as well as a bit skeptical of the use of a Velcro closure for infant shoes. Who needs the extra step?

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to put these shoes to the test.


The leather on these shoes is really soft and flexible. I have no doubt that my little one will be able to easily flex his foot and move around in these shoes.


I also really like the rubber traction pads on the bottom of the shoes. My older children wore another brand of shoe that was leather on the bottom, and I always worried about them slipping and sliding on tile or hardwood floors as they toddled around when we were out and about. That worry will be far from my mind with these shoes.


The biggest surprise of all is that now I'm a Velcro convert, even for infant shoes. For one thing, the Velcro helps make the shoes much more adjustable, making the fit more appropriate for each child. The main reason I have come to love the Velcro is that along with the padded collar, it makes the shoes difficult for babies to get off. I have a little Houdini on my hands - my six-month-old loves to get off his socks and shoes. The Smaller shoes? They stayed put, in spite of his most valiant efforts.


It should be noted, though, that these shoes may not be ideal for outdoor use for children who are pretty proficient at walking because they do not keep out water. At that stage, you should look into See Kai Run's original line of footwear.

Bottom line: These are great shoes, a fantastic choice for first shoes for young babies. Shoes in the Smaller line can be purchased at Amazon, where many styles and sizes are on sale for for anywhere from $14.89-$32. - Sara I.