Even though kids shoes don’t last more than 2 seasons, it is still very important to choose the right ones.

If you follow my blog, you know that I am an Internet junkie; I basically live online and do most of my shopping while sitting on a bed with my laptop. However, when my children need new shoes, I force myself to change from pajama pants to jeans and head to a store.

I learned the hard way that different brands have different sizing and when my daughter could easily fit into size 6 of X brand, but size 7 of a Z brand was too small?! I remember ordering 3 pairs of shoes from Endless (dress, sneakers and casual), assuming that the sizing should be standard and ended up returning 2 pairs out of 3. Thankfully, shipping and returns were free. Gotta love Endless, because they ship for free overnight, so I didn’t have to wait 2 weeks to find out that shoes didn’t fit.

Always go shoe shopping in the evening, because feet swell over the course of the day and will be slightly bigger. If you buy shoes for your child in the morning, don’t be surprised that he or she will start complaining that they are uncomfortable after wearing them for half of the day. This simple tip will save you peace and money.

When choosing the material for your kids shoes, use common sense. No doubt that when it comes to comfort and quality, leather shoes are the best choice. They are more durable; they will keep your child’s feet cooler, prevent smell and blisters.

If you are on a budget, buying leather shoes may not be very practical. Kids feet grow very fast, so unless you have other children who will inherit their older sibling’s shoes, you will end up retiring nice leather shoes after just one season.

Man-made shoes are not as good quality-wise, but they are certainly cheaper and there are usually more styles available.

If you are buying a certain brand of shoes consistently and know what size fits your child, I recommend shopping for shoes online. Online shoe stores always have sweet deals and shipping is often free. I already mentioned Endless, which ship for free overnight. If you don’t mind the hassle of returns, order a few pairs or sizes, keep the ones which will fit and send the other ones back. Endless has free returns as well.

Zappos is good too. Their customer service is fantastic, although prices are not as great. But money is not an issue and you don’t mind spending a good amount of money on shoes, Zappos is the way to go.

You may also check good ole Amazon. It always has great deals on kids shoes and the selection is pretty good..