Cheaper options than New Balance shoes?

[MrsSpendyPants]

My 21 month old began walking with the use of leg braces and insurance paid for New Balance shoes to fit around the braces.  He no longer uses the braces but we have continued to purchase New Balance sneakers for him.  His physical therapist says they are the best shoes for support and he strongly recommends them.  We're going through a size every three months though and at $50 a pair, they're expensive.  MrSpendyPants says it's worth it but I'm hoping someone might have suggestions for similar shoes that might be less expensive?

[ysette9]

If your PT recommends them then I’m in the camp of buying them. This sounds like a legit need and not a vanity purchase. Can you buy them used on FB marketplace or Craigslist or even eBay? Then sell the ones that he has grown out of on one of those sites also so at least you are recouping some of the purchase price.

[Mariposa]

Totally agree that you should continue buying New Balance. My 4yo has wide flat feet and wears New Balance too. If you've found a $50 pair that works, that's not too bad, since some of the ones that come in XW are more like $80: https://www.zappos.com/p/new-balance-kids-990v5-little-kid-grey/product/9195031/color/401

I've scoured ebay and the neighborhood buy nothing group, but my kid can only wear specific shoes, and clothes and shoes for kids his age get really beaten up. The only consolation is that he only needs a new pair every 6mo or so now; at the end of that time, not only has he outgrown the size, the soles are worn down, and the seams are busting.

[Sibley]

Another vote for buying the appropriate shoes. See if you can find coupons, rewards, buy used, sell outgrown but in good condition, etc. It might help with the cost.

Alternatively, if the PT or other medical professional approves it, go the opposite direction and do bare feet/socks/soft moccasins that will protect the feet but otherwise are basically bare feet. Not knowing what the medical issue is that might not be appropriate, but if is ok it would be a lot cheaper.

[kanga1622]

Having been a kid that had to go to the podiatrist as a kid and I still don’t have a truly correct gait, good shoes have a HUGE effect on every part of your body.

My kids have New Balance sneakers quite often just because they like them. Even if we switch brands, we pretty much always spend $50 per pair of shoes. Luckily my kids need shoes 1-2 times per year so overall it isn’t the worst expense. Once my kids hit about 3, their feet didn’t grow quite so fast.

[PMG]

Could selling the outgrown sizes to recoup a bit of the money spent help ease the cost?

[MissPeach]

Also bringing up Costco. I usually see them there but not sure about kid sizing options. I know I usually see them in adult sizes there.

Another idea if you're sure about sizing is checking out Amazon or 6pm and look for previous year's models/styles.

[LazyDavy]

Did PT have anything to say about how close the fit needs to be? I had orthodics and supportive shoes in grade school (often New Balance) and I remember my mom checking where my big toe was at the shoe store to make sure I had room to grow into them. I was older when I got them though.

This does sound like a medical need, though, and possibly much cheaper than not doing it and then having more medical costs.

[fuzzy math]

Online shopping portal like Ratuken + signing up for coupon deals at online retailers (like shoes.com or zappos or 6pm) + waiting for a sale. If that means buying 2 pairs of shoes and putting one on the shelf for when he grows because the deal is so good, then do it.

Shoes are not something to mess around with especially if he had walking issues to begin with.

[trygeek]

Suck it up and keep buying new balance.

[secondcor521]

Just spitballing here, but you might be able to claim that the shoes are a medical expense and therefore pay for them via an FSA or HSA and get some tax benefits that would offset the cost.

[EricEng]

My wife's background as a nanny for dozens of toddlers taught her the value of StrideRite shoes for toddlers.  They are soft enough to let their feet flex naturally unlike the bricks a lot of kids get for shoes.  Normally these are expensive new, but we visit consignment sales and consignment stores where we can snag several future pairs for $4-7 each instead of $40-50 new.  You might find NewBalance shoes there too.

Obviously I'm not a podiatrist, so I can't determine if those meet whatever needs he is trying to via NewBalance.  I can however tell a huge difference in my children's ability to learn to walk and when running when they use StrideRite vs other brands.