Was that you covering the baby’s shoes with plastic bags in a last-ditch effort to keep them dry in the snow? Oh yeah…I saw you out there rock’in the Ziplocs. I don’t mind telling ya’, this frosty fashion faux pas must end my friend. I’d like to introduce Canadian made Stonz

booties featuring soft skid-resistant soles, multiple adjustable toggles, and durable water resistant nylon uppers. Their regular booties are equipped with warm fleece liners, but if you really need to keep those tootsies toasty you might want to turn it up a notch with a pair of Sherpa fleece Linerz. Now that wasn’t so hard was it?

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Bambino Goodies!

According to a recent piece in the New York Times, a sub-culture of high-performance runners are beginning to learn what the majority of baby shoe manufactures have known all along…less is more. Running barefoot or nearly barefoot with thin, flexible shoes is thought to reinforce proper biomechanics unlike many running shoes that allow athletes to

repeatedly slam down on their heels.

Much like developmentally appropriate baby shoes, running with thinner shoes (or completely barefoot) helps runners land gently with their feet under their torsos while building strength in all the muscles in their feet. Competitive athletes aren’t yet releasing what other secrets they’ve learned from their baby counterparts, but don’t be surprised to see Nike’s new full-sized reflective onesies running through a neighborhood near you.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

If you were born in the 70′s, chances are good that you were rockin’ a sweet pair of Sesame Street running shoes at some point. Thanks to a new collaboration with New Balance, your little track star can now wear Bert and Ernie on a pair of classic NB 574 shoes! If Bert and Ernie aren’t your style, you might be interested in Grover or and Abby Cadabby also available  New Balance’s shoe store online. Now for the bad

news…these classic kicks aren’t cheap. I don’t want to be the one to tell you how much they’ll cost you, but let’s just say that they’d be the perfect gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Mommies with Style!

There’s a new service for all the little fashionistas out there looking for that perfect pair of baby shoes to go with this Thanksgiving’s turkey onesie. Connecticut-based Preschoolians now allows you to design your own baby shoes, boots, and slippers! You’ll have 27 colors to choose from and 4 designated areas available for customization on over 50 types of footwear. I haven’t checked their math, but trend blog Springwise claims that this amounts to over a billion variations possible! Surely one of the billion baby shoe designs will match the turkey outfit, right?

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Halloween is only a week away, so I wanted to feature a collection of scary baby booties on Etsy worth screaming about before it was too late!

• Pumpkin Baby Booties:  Pretty Little of Portland, OR offers these 100% Merino wool booties in sizes that will fit newborn through 12 months. Handmade in the USA for $28!
• Skulls and Kisses Kimono Booties: It’s hard to be afraid of pink booties covered with smiling skulls with hearts for eyes, but I thought you might like an excuse to buy something cute. Halloween is a pretty good excuse, so check out Devilish Grin’s Etsy store for a fun collection.
• Vampire Bat Baby Slippers: Piddies of Salt Lake City, UT has one of the most impressive collection of baby slippers I’ve seen in years. In the off chance these Vampire Bat slippers don’t match the costume’s theme, check out their black cat and spider designs. (Note: look at their detailed images for super-cool stitching on the slipper sole.)

Let the record show, the faux word “spooktacular” has not yet been used on the Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog in 2008. A lot of things can go wrong as we approach Halloween, so wish me luck!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> Also see:  Dr.MOZ’s Soft-Soled Shoe and Bootie Primer, and Eco-Friendly Baby Shoes and Bootiesat MapleBaby.com

Trend Hunter’s “Top 30 Baby Trends” list of 2008 is out, so I thought I’d “share the crazy” because it really is a bizarre collection of trends and products. Sure…it’s

a little odd to post a “years best” list this early in the year, but it’s an odd list so you’ll probably forget that it’s June when reading about pregnant men.

Trend Hunter covers what could be described as extreme themes and products (not always family/work friendly content), so consider that your warning before following the links. I’ve covered a few trends mentioned in their list in past posts, but here’s a few from Trend Hunter’s top 30 baby trends that I didn’t know about:

• Giant Gurgle (World’s First Baby Rollercoaster): The Alton Towers theme pack located in Staffordshire, England is working on the world’s first baby rollercoaster being called Giant Gurgle. Babies six-months-old and up will soon be able to enjoy the 2 mph trek which lasts just over a minute. The ride is surrounded by a path allowing new parents to stroll along side their thrill-seeking infants.

• Wranglers (for Babies): I’m not sure how I missed the release of this product, but apparently Wrangler sells canvas diaper covers. Your little buckaroo will fit right in at the next rodeo thanks to the authentic back pockets and Wrangler patch!

• Her First High Heels (Heelarious): If you’re looking for a gag-gift for an upcoming baby shower, I think a pair of these baby heels would be perfect if the mom on your gift list was a shoe freak. These soft, baby-friendly shoes come in 0-6 months.

That’s your healthy dose of fun for this Monday baby fans! Click on the comments bubble above to share a bizarre baby-related trend or product of your own.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

::: Contest Closed: Winner Announced on Monday! :::

I’m celebrating Father’s Day with Dr.MOZ’s “Big Daddy” Father’s Day Giveaway worth over $160! This fun gift pack for new and expecting dads includes daddy gifts that the new father on your gift list will find useful from 0-24 months including:

• 1 Stork Tools Diaper Bag for Men in Slate/Silver by Dr.MOZ: Messenger-style daddy bag with an adjustable shoulder strap, gripped handle, three main baby compartments, double bottle holder, mp3 player pocket, earbud port, and many small pockets for baby gear and daddy gizmos!

• 1 GoodFather gift CD-ROM by Dr.MOZ : Teaches new and soon-to-be fathers baby skills to an interactive mobster parody men know and love. Also featuring the GoodFather’s Baby Card/Invitation Maker and the Baby Name Book with over 15,000 baby names and tips! (Win/Mac, made in USA)

• 1 GoodFather Daddy T-shirt by Dr.MOZ: Your new dad is about to became a “family man”, so Dr.MOZ thinks that it’s about time that he dressed like it! He’ll be burped-on in style with this super-thick 100% cotton daddy tee in “GoodFather’ black. (Printed in USA)

• 1 Pair IsaBooties “Chocolate Dots”: His baby will love these funky little soft-soled shoes by IsaBooties. Not only are they breathable, but they are also non-slip, machine-washable, and recommended by Pediatricians! (3-6 months)

• 3 Waterproof SuperBibs by Bumkins: It’s no wonder why these machine washable and waterproof bibs are loved by new parents everywhere. These super-cute, adjustable bibs have catch-all pockets and are made in the USA for ages 6 months to 24 months! (Vinyl free, PVC free, and Phthalate free)

• Blogger Bonus: Let us know in your comment if you posted about the contest or provided a link to Dear Dr.MOZ (http://www.deardrmoz.com) from your blog or website and your chances of winning will double.

This giveaway closed on Father’s Day (June 15th) at 5pm PST. Thanks to our giveaway sponsors and our prize blogging friends at :

Good luck!
Dr.MOZ

Regardless of how old your children are, the sight of baby booties will make you weak in the knees if you are like most parents. There’s nothing quite as cute as baby feet and parents just can’t wait to accessorize them! I’ve had numerous inquiries about baby booties and soft-soled baby shoes this week, so I thought it would be a good time to post an alphabetized primer of baby booties (and shoes) for pre-walkers and new walkers.

The collection below is just a primer, so please click on the comments bubble above to share your reviews of booties and favorite soft-soled shoes:

Me-In-Mind, www.meinmindfootwear.com
Based In: Nevada, USA
Features: Soft lamb skin leather uppers fully lined with 100% cotton fabric. Foam cushion inserts in non-slip suede leather sole, and reinforced heel pull for easy on and off.
Styles Shown: “Dragon” at right and “Skateboard” in main image above

IsaBooties, www.isabooties.com
Based In: Colorado, USA
Features: These soft-soled baby shoes are breathable, non-slip, and machine-washable and machine-dryable. Eco-minded shoppers will also be happy to know that their packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and printed with soy ink.
Styles Shown: “Graphite Racers” shown at left

Jack and Lily, www.jackandlily.com
Based In: British Columbia, Canada
Features: These soft-soled baby shoes are breathable, non-slip, and machine-washable and machine-dryable. Eco-minded shoppers will be happy to know that their packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and printed with soy ink.
Styles Shown: “My Boots” shown in main image above and “Hefty Hippos” shown at right

Joujoux, www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5428533
Based In: Minnesota, USA
Features: There are many great indie designers on Etsy and Joujoux is one you should definitely check out if you are looking for unique booties. Their handmade booties can be customized to include non-slip soles and a variety of sizes and styles.
Styles Shown: “Alien Invasion” shown at left

Rileyroos, www.rileyroos.com
Based In: Maryland, USA
Features: Soft leathers, velcro closures, flexible soles, and very lightweight designs are great for new walkers when protection is needed.
Styles Shown: “Jakester” shown at right

Robeez, www.robeez.com
Based In: British Columbia, Canada
Features: As you may already know, Robeez is the powerhouse in the baby shoe world with over 70 shoe designs and global distribution. Features vary with the style, but each design includes soft leather, flexible soles, and super cute themes making Robeez a best-seller around the world.
Styles Shown: “Octopus” shown in main image above and “Sporty” shown at left

See Kai Run, www.seekairun.com
Based In: Washington, USA
Features: Soft leather, pigskin leather lining, and insole with and flexible rubber-soles made of TPR (thermo-plastic rubber). Made to last with many fun and funky styles to choose from.
Styles Shown: “Oliver Striped Trainer Toddler Shoes” at right

Thanks for visiting Dear Dr.MOZ! I’m looking forward to reading about your favorite baby booties and soft-soled shoe reviews, so please click on the comments bubble above to contribute.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

Dear Dr.MOZ,

I thought it would be fun to bronze my grandson’s little sneakers for a keepsake, but I’ve noticed that people only seem to do it with leather loafers. I don’t think that my grandson even has a traditional pair of leather baby boots to bronze. Do you know if it is possible to bronze a modern shoe that isn’t made out of leather?

Thanks,
Nana G

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hello Nana G,

You’re in luck because you can have just about everything under the sun bronzed these days, from modern sneakers to pacifiers. You didn’t mention where you lived,

so I’ll include a few examples along with links to businesses in the US and the UK.

American Bronzing Company: They provide shoe bronzing in mounted and unmounted styles and have a nice online gallery to choose from. Bronzing styles are available in both the Antique (not shiny) or Bright Bronze (shiny) finishes. American Bronzing Company prices start at approximately $39.95 a pair, not including shipping.

Kindershoe: Kindershoe of the UK also has a great online gallery with a few examples of less traditional shoes (see sneaker above). Their downloadable pdf form makes it easy to calculate your cost based on the size of the shoe to be bronzed. Kindershoe prices start at approximately £60 a pair, not including shipping.

Thanks for the question Nana G! If anyone out there has experience bronzing their baby keepsakes, let us know by clicking on the comments bubble above.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ