tips for getting shoes onto a toddler

[softymom]

I've just bought a pair of Clarke's cruising shoes for dd (12 months) so she can step out in the park. Unfortunately, I'm having real trouble getting them onto her (she curls up her toes as soon as the shoe comes close). Once the shoes are on, she's very good at getting them off (she goes up on tip-toe and they slip off) - probably because the shoes aren't on right in the first place.

This is something really basic but I'm really struggling! Any tips?

Tickle the arch of her foot. That part is very sensitive when they're babies.
(Tip from ex clarks manager!)

put her to stand on the floor. she can't curl her toes then.

put shoe on and tighten- make sure its tight enough (without being too tight)

try not to laugh when she curls her toes otherwise you'll turn it into a game says one who learnt this the hard way

Thanks for these replies!

pf: when I stand her on the floor, she goes up on tiptoe to look at the shoes (she's just so exited by them - proper girl ). ??

put her on your knee on the couch .. tip her backwards so she's lying flat behing you and pull her legs up .. the tickling thing at the same time works

it sounds cruel but its a fun game ..honest

can you hold the shoes in front of her while you put one on? I had to put my dd on the floor as she curled her toes. The other way is to put them on and then put her down on the floor. once she's on the floor she has to straighten her toes and then you can tighten the buckle

thanks again for your help. hopefully tomorrow we'll actually get the shoes on so we can go to the park (unlike this morning!). lol

My dd is 11 months and I usually give her something to hold to distract her - like her old shoes or the remote control - otherwise she tries to grab the shoes I'm trying to put on her and it takes forever! Don't know if that's any help.

Have you tried sitting on her and applying super glue to inside of shoes

Put her in her pushchair first, then give her a toy and go away for a few moments. When you come back she might have forgotten her shoes a bit.

wcl: when will they invent spray on, wipe-off shoes?

Thanks for the tips ladies. Time taken to put on shoes:

sat:15 mins
sun: 10 mins
today: 5 mins ...so it is improving!

but that's with 2 of us at it! Boy there's so much to learn with parenting....

Shoes and clothes in general are a nightmare in this house. I am getting my just desserts though as I was a naturist as a child too