Soft shoe by Bugaloo

Soft-soled leather shoes are de rigeur these days for babies and toddlers. And not without reason--they're a healthy choice for early walkers and super cute on itty bitty feet.

If the $30 price tag for the popular soft sole brand makes you pause, check out the far more affordable options at Bugaloo. My daughter is toddling around in the Bluebirds right now, looking cute as a button. I love the wonderfully soft leather throughout the shoe (much softer than the big-name brands) and the detailed design work on top.

The sister-brother run company keeps overhead low by running the business out of her Vancouver, Washington home and skipping flashy marketing campaigns. They put their energies into designing fresh, colorful looks that you won't see on every other kid in the neighborhood.

If that's not enough, 5% of each Bugaloo purchase goes to International Justice Mission, an organization fighting slavery and human trafficking around the globe. Now that's a business strategy I can get behind.

$15 at our affiliate Bugaloo