Shoes to toddle in

Curly Girl refuses to wear her sandals without socks. 'They hurt!' She says. This makes playing in the garden somewhat tricky. Not for her, of course, she has no qualms about getting socks and shoes soaking wet and covered in mud. But I'm a bit more reticent. After all these sandals are sparkling white and I'm trying to keep them that way for her third birthday party. (Yep, I'm my Mother's daughter.)

Then there's a ring at the doorbell. It's Postman Paul (no, not Pat, that would be silly) with a package for me. Inside, nestled into some paper with a nice note from the people at Little Dish is a pair of red plastic play shoes. They look comfortable, totally waterproof and decidedly rinsable. Just what we need, in fact.

You may remember that a while ago I ran a giveaway here with Little Dish and Sainsburys to win a pair of these toddling shoes. Little Dish sponsored Barnardos Big Toddle and offered the limited edition shoes in packs of their children's chicken and butternut squash pie. We were lucky enough to be sent a pair to review as well.

Fast forward a week and we're playing in the garden again. Curly Girl is shovelling earth from our flower beds into a pot (not any old pot, I might add, it's my smallest measuring jug from the kitchen *sigh*) and adding just enough water to make what she calls 'sticky water'. Her red play shoes are full of it and she's squelching around joyfully in them. There's not a sock or sandal in sight. The red shoes will be run under the tap soon and ready to play again another day. Curly Girl loves them, and so do I.

Does your little one have a favourite pair of play shoes? Do they refuse to wear certain combinations of clothes or shoes? Let me know how you deal with it in the comments... please!

Disclosure: Sainsbury's and Little Dish offered me four pairs of toddler shoes to give away and also sent Curly Girl a pair to review.