Why I will never buy my son Crocs

My daughter has a pair made by Carter's I got for $5.99. I am not spending $30 on such ugliness. She wears them to ballet and ice skating, where she has to change her footwear anyway. I also let her wear them on long car trips, like to Grandma's. She's going to take them off anyway!

Speaking of Grandma: My mom is a NICU nurse and one night they had a code and all the nurses started running down the hall. My mother's Crocs stopped, she didn't. She damaged her arm up pretty badly, and thank goodness there were enough nurses around to revive the baby. (yes, she had the strap on her heel.)

So, I don't think they are all that safe. My daughter absolutely will not be wearing them to school. I grew up in the age of jellies. They were ugly and plastic,too. I had a pair, but they were banned from my school because they were not safe, either.

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Didn't we see a column on Parent Dish not so long ago about Crocs being unsafe shoes for little ones? It seems like that would be reason enough not to put my self, or my little one in them.

That said, I wore them last summer when I was pregnant and on maternity leave, and they are incredibly comfortable. And also, incredibly ugly.

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We have bought Crocs not because they are trendy.

Number one reason: Easy to Clean!
DD comes home with shoes full of sand every day which are so difficult to keep clean. I just have to run the crocs under some soapy water in the sink and they look brand new.

I have yet to see a pair of crocs get smelly and I tend to have smelly feet myself and use them for gardening a lot. And DD's are always filling with sand, mud, water, etc - no scent at all.

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Wasn't there some article on this site about how these shoes are supposed to be dangerous for children to wear and not recommended? Anyway, I think they're ugly. But my baby doesn't even wear shoes yet so it's no issue.

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I'll add my vote for "No Crocs". Fine for other folks, but I'm fashion-challenged enough already without adding these things to my own or my children's wardrobe. I don't think they are flattering even when paired with a beautiful pair of legs.

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As long as I live, I will never understand the female obsession with fancy footwear.

For me, if they're comfortable and they fit, I'll wear 'em. Period.

The rest is just useless window dressing. Don't believe me? When men speak to you, do they stare at your feet?

Bet they don't!

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I've seen debates about Cros all over the internet, and I'm continually surprised about how heated they inevitably become. I guess I don't understand how some people (not meaning anyone specific here) can be so violently opposed to shoes. Or such rabid supporters of shoes. They're just SHOES. Wear 'em if you like 'em. Or don't. It doesn't really matter, does it?

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While they are not the most attractive shoes on earth, they are comfy and great for gardening. I never used to wear them outside my yard, but now that I am 9 months pregnant I also find them great to wear around. They are easy to get on my swollen feet. I bought my son a pair for the yard too mainly because he has such wide feet and I can never find sandals that fit his feet. They are also the first pair of shoes he can get on and off of his feet completely by himself. That is another bonus while being 9 months pregnant and struggling to bend down to put shoes on my son.

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if it's ugly.. it's likely I'll wear it.. so there :P

And my son adores them and is so proud he can put them on himself

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I resisted for 2 summers. Then I gave in. They don't smell- they have antimicrobial linings. Also, my 4 yr old daughter hates sandals with velcro or anything around her ankle- so these are a nice alternative to getting out of the house into the backyard or park QUICKLY. They are cute on kids, but I only wear mine to take the trash out or go in the backyard. Robeez are in fact stupid and trendy, if you ask me. I never got them for my DD- I considered them to be poorly designed with that awful elastic. And don't forget the whole "look at my kids expensive scraps of cowhide" factor.

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Another preggo here and they are heaven on your feet. YES they are ugly but for those of you who dont get it...just try them on. Dont have to buy-but try them.

And they have a few different designs. My favorite are the flip flops...again not the most attractive flip flops but whatever. At this point comfort is more important to me :)

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I switched to Crocs from Super Birkies, which are about two or three times more expensive. They alieve my backaches and are so comfortable. Has anyone had a problem with them being very slippery when walking on a wet surface, tile or cement. Nurses wear them all the time and surely walk on wet floors from time to time.

And you're right...no scent at all.

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Crocs are the best for kids and adults that spend alot of time in the water with rocks and such. I bought my 12 year old son his first pair when we were visiting gooseberry falls and Lake Superior in northern Minnesota on a vacation. The crocs stop from slipping on rocks and also the tiny fish will not bite your skin then either! I swear by them for sure!

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I think they're the ugliest things in today's fashion, therefore I myself refuse to wear them.. However the croc's flipflops are just as comfortable, but don't look nearly as bad. I have 4 nieces and nephews ages 3,4,5, and 18 who all wear them. I am the primary caretaker of the 3 and 5 year olds, and just finding shoes that they will keep on their feet is a blessing. If your child finds that he or she likes them, than why not?

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MY son wanted a pair of crocs but when i saw they were 35.00 I said NO way...But Sketcher makes a pair of "crocs" They were way cheaper much nicer and HE loves them !! i paid 24.00 a pair He's not in the trendy shoe and he's happy!

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shoot posted to soon I can see the point of crocs thou... we live in good ol' sunny florida it's 95 degrees already and they are airy shoes.. I live in Flip flops my son in his sketchers.. Hell i don't even own a pair of sneakers no point ! Plus they are easy to get on and off which is wonderful for in the pool at the beach and water parks...

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Cass had a pair and while they are pretty easy to clean, they begin to wear in such a way that washing didn't freshen them up very well. They scratched very easily. The thing that I liked about them was that she could put them on by herself. What I didn't like about them is that clogs, like flip-flops, will trip toddlers up while out playing. I think they were the reason that she fell and skinned her knees on several occasions.

Jan from www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com

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If it didn't seem like such a fad now, I would likely go out and buy some for the ease factor.. but I can't - I have never been the type to follow a trend. I have some fake ones from Avon that work nicely. It really is a high cost... $30 for foam?? It's just not the shoes, it's the Jibbs and accessories now that just make it all too High School to me.

As for the Robeze... I had to cave into that craze, my son REFUSED to wear shoes and that's what got him used to stuff on his feet - you could only go so far in socks.

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I have never seen a pair that actually fit. Children and adults are flopping around the country in these things! How can they possibly be good for bone growth and development when a toddler or preschooler is literally flopping out of the shoe? I am puzzled - don't people want their children to have shoes that actually fit?!

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