I have been so happy with Pediped shoes. If you place your child's bare foot on top of the shoe, you can see that these shoes do not push his big toes over, as many other shoes do. In addition, these shoes bend easily. I've noticed that many other shoes by other makes are stiff and hard to bend, which must be a strain on the bottom of the foot. In addition, these shoes are very well made. We live on a ranch, and spend a lot of time running and playing outdoors, and these shoes have held up. I've washed them a few times with leather wash and they've come out clean.