Ballet shoes for toddlers

[egishere]

My girls (3.5) are starting ballet in a couple of weeks.  Should I take them to a dance store for ballet shoes?  Amazon has a good selection too but I want to make sure I get the right size.  Payless has them too but they get bad reviews.  How much are toddler sized ballet shoes at dance stores typically?  It's been years since I have bought any for myself. Trying to be somewhat frugal here since I don't know if they are going to like ballet. 

[ilikedonuts]

Get these

www.amazon.com/Bloch-Bunnyhop-Slipper-Ballet-Toddler/dp/B0042D7L26?ie=UTF8&n=672123011&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=shoes

I ordered a few sizes and just returned what didn't fit. These are able to be tightened with the bow (a lot of other brands are not) and these are the really nice pale ballet pink. A lot of other ones end up looking beige or even kind of orange looking (my friend's daughter's payless ones are orange-y).

[aspentosh]

We took her into a store because I heard the sizing was weird (and it was). They were around $20 for the Bloch ones (same as Amazon) and were good quality.

[dcrunnergirl52]

We got them from Payless a few years ago, and they worked fine for DD when she was 3.5. She still sometimes squeezes into them to play dress-up.

[kdubs923]

Is she taking classes in a studio? Most studios will measure her feet and have them in stock (or be able to order if needed).

If the studio is crazy overpriced (they shouldn't be, as they likely get better pricing), I'd have her sized there, then order the ones linked up thread. Bloch is a good brand.

[ringstrue]

Amazon or eBay!

[egishere]

May 26, 2015 13:22:19 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Is she taking classes in a studio? Most studios will measure her feet and have them in stock (or be able to order if needed).

If the studio is crazy overpriced (they shouldn't be, as they likely get better pricing), I'd have her sized there, then order the ones linked up thread. Bloch is a good brand.

no its just through the parks and rec dept but the teacher is from an area dance studio.  I don't even know of any dance stores around us although there have to be some. 

[purplecow0206]

May 26, 2015 13:22:19 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Is she taking classes in a studio? Most studios will measure her feet and have them in stock (or be able to order if needed).

If the studio is crazy overpriced (they shouldn't be, as they likely get better pricing), I'd have her sized there, then order the ones linked up thread. Bloch is a good brand.

Also, my dance studio growing up had a "buy and sell" program, where they would take shoes that didn't fit anymore, mark them with your name, and sell them to students that had grown out of their shoes into your shoes. You'd get the money you got for selling them, and be able to buy your new shoes.

We used that for years, until we wore out our shoes instead of growing out of them.

[purplecow0206]

Or discountdancewear.com has inexpensive dance shoes, and has both the Bloch and Capezio beginner shoes.

[brady2012]

I got DD's at target and she happened to be with me so I could size her so I would recommend just running over to target.  They have matching toddler ballet leotards and tutus too.  Everything is located in the girls department but the XS and S fit my average sized 3.5 year old. They are 16 bucks.  They also carry inexpensive gymnastics leotards and shorts too!

www.target.com/p/toddler-girls-danshuz-student-ballet-pink/-/A-10854534#prodSlot=medium_1_13&term=ballet

[redpenmama]

DD has worn the Payless ones for two years, and I have no complaints. I went there because they often do BOGO 50% off and I wanted to try them on (because her dance shoe size has never matched up with her shoe size).

[londoncalling]

Our local dance store runs a special for basic slippers, tights, and a leotard for $40. The shoes themselves are the Bloch leather ones and they are $20 on their own.

[rootbeerfloat]

We've ordered from the ballet school and bought from Payless. Both are fine.

[stacyb1983]

I like the Bloch ones they sell at Nordstrom.com
Nordstrom.com will price match and shipping is free. Their return policy is awesome.

m.shop.nordstrom.com/c/girls-dance-shoes

[iheartbanjos]

May 26, 2015 13:00:54 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

We took her into a store because I heard the sizing was weird (and it was). They were around $20 for the Bloch ones (same as Amazon) and were good quality.

Exactly the same for us

[frlcb]

Payless is fine for that age, trust me

[Pilsy]

May 26, 2015 21:09:14 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Payless is fine for that age, trust me

Ditto.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Payless was fine for us. DD's first pair were actually Payless hand me downs!

She now has these from Amazon:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002USAW8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They seem to run true to street size. I ordered a bit bigger than I thought she'd need just in case.

The ones linked above from Target look fine. But be careful with what they have in the store at Target. At the Targets in my area, they have bedroom slippers that look like ballet shoes out by the leotards. But the ballet teachers won't let the kids wear them since they aren't real ballet shoes.

[starlily]

We have a Discount Dance Supply near us. The prices are better than Payless, which is where I first went.