First Steps with SKEANIE...

Buying the right shoes for Babies and Children can be confusing. Experts say that bare feet is best for babies and young children, as children's feet are soft and pliable making them prone to damage.

My daughter Elizabeth is 10 months old and has recently started 'cruising' around the furniture and walking holding our hands, she now wants to do this ALL the time whether we are inside on the wooden floors, at Grandma's on the carpet or outside on the cold pavement. I want to do the best for my child's feet, but her being barefoot all of the time isn't really practical. I needed the next best thing, a shoe that would keep Elizabeth's precious little feet warm and protect them but would also nurture them and leave them free to move as she learns to take her first steps in the world...


So I was thrilled to discover SKEANIE, the critically acclaimed Australian children’s footwear manufacturer that has just launched its first collection in Europe! SKEANIE, who since their launch in 2009, have turned both old and young heads with their beautiful range of children’s shoes, manage to combine all the protection and health benefits a child’s feet require with stunning designs inspired by the latest collections. All SKEANIE shoes are handcrafted from the softest eco-leather creating a light-weight, flexible and loveable shoe which is specially designed to provide comfort and support that allow children’s feet to develop naturally and in a healthy manner.

SKEANIE’s are fair-trade and the preferred provider of the Australian Podiatry Association.

I visited  www.skeanie.co.uk/ to have a look at what was available, and what a selection it was!

 

SKEANIE currently offer shoes for children 0 - 5 years of age, with their Infant range available up to 18 months, and then their Junior range continuing up to 5 years! Looking through the site, I wished I was a child again! I wanted to squeeze my feet into these fabulously funky looking little shoes!

Elizabeth is 10 months old so I looked at the Infant range, which offers classic soft sole pre-walkers, sporty sneakers, skeanie snugs and Infant Mary Jane’s. Although they all looked gorgeous, I couldn't resist the very cute and girly Mary Jane’s! These are available in either 'milk' (which I decided on) or a lovely pale pink colour.

When the shoes arrived I was very excited and couldn't wait to take them out of the box to look at them!

They looked even better in real life! The creamy milk colour is lovely and complements Elizabeth's clothes beautifully. The eco-leather is delightfully soft and very flexible, the stitching is of the highest quality and they have lovely extra details that make them look very special! I love the adjustable Velcro strap with the flower on the end which gives these already very cute Mary Jane’s that extra something and also secures them well on Elizabeth’s wriggly feet so she cannot kick them off! Another fantastic feature is the flex-ease elasticated collar at the ankle, that gives baby feet even more flexibility!

Elizabeth has been wearing these for a few weeks now I am very impressed! They look beautiful on, we have had so many comments from friends and family about how smart she looks in them and I am yet to find an outfit of hers that they don't go fantastically well with! The suede sole provides her with grip when she is crawling and cruising about and the soft leather of the shoe gives her little feet room to breathe and grow!

 Children’s feet are all different shapes and sizes and the soft flexible leather of the SKEANIES is perfect for adapting to this, as is the flex ease cuff, but it does mean that sizing is not going to be exact, the infant range is available in sizes Small, Medium and Large. Although the size small is supposed to be up to nine months, Elizabeth is almost 11 months and they fit her perfectly, allowing room for growth.

In the last few weeks Elizabeth has been taking more and more steps to independence and can now take a few footsteps holding on with just one hand! As she toddles you can see how soft and flexible the Skeanie's are on her feet, they support and protect her little feet without restricting them at all.

Skeanie Recommend that babies remain in the Infant Range until they have been walking independently for at least 8 weeks, after which they can progress onto the Junior collection which offer a flexible rubber sole in place of the soft suede soles of these.

These beautiful handcrafted shoes are available from www.skeanie.co.uk for £26.99 which is excellent value for the quality and design of such a unique shoe which are designed to protect and nurture babies feet! You can follow Skeanie on Twitter and like them on facebook to keep up to date with the latest news, offers and competitions.

Competition now closed! The very lucky winner is Snow_Bunny!!!

Congratulations!!!

Please email your required size and contact details to mymummyspennies@gmail.com and I will pass over to the lovely folks at www.skeanie.co.uk to arrange to have your prize sent!!

I'm sorry if you weren't the lucky one this time, don't forget to check out the full collection of children's shoes from Skeanie on their website and remember to enter our other competitions...

You could be our next winner! :0)

The lovely folks at SKEANIE have offered you very lucky Mymummyspennies readers the chance to WIN a pair of SKEANIE'S of your choice! To enter to win this fabulous prize... - Like SKEANIE on Facebook or Twitter - Pop over to their website and take a look at their fabulous range of infant and junior leather shoes - Comment below stating which pair you would most like to win and why - Please include in your comment an email address so we can contact you if you are the chosen winner (SKEANIE would also like to send you their email newsletter, if you would prefer not to receive this please state this in your comment) For extra entries you can share this competition on Facebook, Twitter or Forums (please leave an extra comment for each extra entry stating where you have shared. T's and C's 1. The competition is only open to individuals over the age of 18, and prize can only be posted within Europe. 2. The closing date for the competition is 04/11/2011 3. Competition is in no way affiliated with facebook. 4. The winner will be selected randomly from all entrants who have correctly followed the instructions for entry 5. For the name and country of prize winner please send a SAE to United Brand Management, Delta House, Wavell Road, Manchester, M22 5QZ within 3 months after the closing date 6. If you win the competition, we will notify you by email within 10 days after the closing date. The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into 7. If the first winner fails to respond to an email within 14 days a new winner will be randomly selected 8. No part of the prize Is exchangeable for cash or any other prize 9. Winners may be required to take part in publicity 10. Entrants personal data will be processed in accordance with the SKEANIE privacy statement and any preferences you express when entering this promotion 11. By entering this competition you confirm that you have read and understood these terms and conditions Promoter: United Brand Management, Delta House, Wavell Road, Manchester, M22 5QZ

Although Elizabeth did receive a pair of SKEANIE'S without charge in order for us to review them, all opinions are my own.