My pediatrician informed me that I should still purchase shoes with the flexible, bendy type of sole, and these shoes have a nice pliable sole. I like that they have rubber bottoms because they wipe clean easily. My son stepped in seagull poo at the pier, and I just wiped the bottoms clean. They're also more durable than the leather soles on the original Robeez shoe. I'm going to buy another pair with the same sole again.