Baby needs a new pair of shoes. And so does her older brother. What to buy? Obviously this is one that cuts across age groups, and each age has its own concerns and desirable features. What kinds of shoes do you like? Tried any that have failed? How do you decide on budget? Buy online, or do you need to get personal attention for?

Tsukihoshi. Hands down.

I didn't discover this brand of shoes until my third kid. Like lots of things.

We're now on the third pair with him. Love these shoes. They are feather-light, easy to put on, machine washable, look "big kid" even though they have velcro closures. They have green tea infused insoles, which eliminate odor in my experience.

Ironically, they don't seem to bind the feet as much as my past favorite (Stride Rite). The super lightness just feels better to me when it comes to putting something on my younger kiddo.

The downside is price. They cost as much as my shoes. We're talking a $10-$20 premium over the Stride Rite.

Worth it to me, but I almost always wince at the checkout.

Because they tend to run big, I also prefer to go to the local store to buy, so I can get Coop sized every time.

In what was a really painful weekend, I also had to buy my oldest son a pair of 9.5 men's Nike's. Cost about the same.

Walker is digging his Merrells and they are holding up very well to the harsh treatment of a 1st grader.

Our Kindergartner to date has always worn Stride Right. They've never let us down yet.

We swore by stride rite for a long time. They held up great. I switched to Tsukihoshi because they have been as durable (in my experience, but I've heard of others with less luck), but they are so much lighter. The kids seem less likely to shed their shoes at the first possible instant.

Thumbs down on the TSUKIHOSHI.

Early on we spent a lot on shoes figuring that they would last longer. But my son blew through two pair of these, down to the point of holes in the bottom, and I am not convinced they lasted any longer than a less expensive option at Kohls.

The main problem we have less expensive options is the quality of velcro.