Before I had my son, I used to say that my younger daughter was as much of a boy as I could possibly handle. She’s extremely physical - running, jumping, and climbing much more than my older daughter ever did at the same age - and she prefers to wear shoes that don’t get in her way. Thick-soled shoes are a total no-go, and even shoes with flexible soles are usually kicked off at the earliest opportunity. Apparently it’s much easier for her to scale the kitchen counters with bare feet.

Up until now, her shoes of choice have been a pair of Robeez - her “monkey shoes”, as she calls them. But Robeez are no match for wet and snowy sidewalks and grass, so choosing shoes has become a battle this winter. Plus, now that she’s three, she’s outgrowing the Robeez offerings.

I think I’ve found the perfect solution in the new line of shoes from pediped - pediped Flex. They’re rubber-soled shoes in a larger range of sizes than pediped Originals (EU 22-29/US 6-12), and while the soles are more substantial than the Originals or other soft-soled shoes, they are surprisingly flexible. That means my little monkey’s feet are protected outside, but she can still run and jump and climb with ease.

But what did she think of the shoes? When she came home from school, instead of immediately sitting down on the floor to remove her shoes and socks like she usually does, she left them on. It was only when, hours later, she decided to put on her pajamas that she took the shoes off. That’s the best indication of comfort that I could possibly expect from her, and it’s a guarantee that I’ll check out the rest of the pediped Flex line.

pediped Flex is available as of February 28 in nine styles for girls and six styles for boys.