Toddler shoes

[ealingkid]

Looking for advice to settle (hopefully) an argument between me and the missus.

Each time we buy our son (current age 23 months) a new pair of shoes we go though it...and at this age thats around every 2-3 months.

The wife is convinced that we must always buy fitted shoes (for up to £30 a go) because that's what you HAVE to do when buying shoes for your kid. Anything else could end up damaging your kid's feet.

I think its a waste of money shelling out so much for fitted shoes that need replacing every few months and you you can get perfectly decent off-the-peg shoes for about 1/3 of the price. If non-fitted shoes are so bad why on earth would stores like Mothercare sell them in the first place?? And how come we NEVER hear of anyone who's feet were damaged as kids becuase they didn't have fitted shoes when they were toddlers?

I can completely see the argument that fitted shoes may be necessary when they reach school age and they're wearing them for 8+ hours a day for months on end, but for toddlers who don't wear them anywhere near so much, and for whom they have a much shorter life span, is the expense really worth it?

[bella29]

Hmm...I'm with your wife on this one, but I do see your point about not knowing anyone with damaged feet

Any podiatrists out there?

[Mum1369]

Sorry - have to agree with your wife ! Not an expert but I always go for fitted shoes. Mainly because the standardised shoes don't tend to take into account width (as far as I know) and both my little ones have very wide feet. Although regardless of that - I would always want fitted so that those new little feet are not being restricted in anyway whilst they are growing. If you really must buy off the peg (and I agree fitted are just sooo expensive - then I would get them fitted first to check the size is correct.

[juuule]

Agree with you.
We did the measuring thing for our first. Some of them didn't even fit him very well imo. They hurt his feet.

Subsequent children have been the cheaper off the shelf type of shoes (for school aswell). Their feet are fine.

While it might make you feel better to have the shoes measured, I'm not convinced that it's necessary and I also think some shop assistants don't quite know how to do the measuring properly.

(9 children aged 5y - 21y)

[2point4kids]

LOADS of older people have damaged feet from badly fitting shoes!
Thats why so many people have bunions etc

The fact that his feet are growing so fast makes it even more important to have properly fitting feet at this stage to make sure the feet arent constrained as they grow.

[nickytwotimes]

We have ds's feet measured and buy the 30 quid jobs as he is always in his shoes - running outside, walking with me to the shops, etc.
He is only on his 4th pair and is 2.4. I reckon we'd have spent more had we opted for cheapies from Barrats or wherever.

Oh, and why od shops sell the s=cheap ones? Becasue they are in business, not child care Also, I know loads of peopple with chronic foot problems from ill fitting shoes as kids and adults.

[ilovemyflipflops]

Sorry to say i agree with your wife on this, my dd has just turned two and because of intoeing (quite a common thing in toddlers) had to see a physio. Turns out it is something that should correct itself over time but she did reinforce how important it is for her to have good fitting shoes that give good support. It's important that shoes don't slip around the heel, and fit properly across the top of the foot. With cheap shoes they are one size and not all childrens feet are the same shape/size so different styles with a wider size range which clarks etc offer is obviously the best option for a good fit. They are expensive but my dd is only on her fourth pair and she started walking at 9 months. I like to know she is wearing well made shoes that support her little growing feet and have the right fit around her shape feet. When i go to get shoes fitted i always do all the checks i see the shop assistants do to double check she has enough room, they aren't slipping etc.

Cheap shoes are available because alot of companies don't give a flying cr** about little feet they just want to make money. Another area of cheap shoes which i believe is just about money is shoes for babies, not soft booties but shoes. I have a four month old ds and i wouldn't dream of putting hard shoes on his little feet (there are so many cheap shoes available for babies that imo would restrict the movement of their little feet) I personally don't put anything on his feet but socks if i did it would be something very soft that would allow his little toes and feet full movent. Sometimes i think shoes are aimed at parents who want to make their baby/toddler 'trendy' rather than worried about the best thing for their childs feet and their soft bones.

[Beesmummy]

I have a friend high up at Clarks who says that their experts actually say bare feet is best - children don't learn to walk properly in shoes!! They should be able to feel each part of the foot as it hits the floor. But obviously in the winter that isn't an option.
I think Clarks shoes fit best and give good support - and they always put lots of growing room in the toes, so they shouldn't need to be changed quite so often. But for little girls they aren't really my style, with too many sparkles and spangles and colour mixes! I much prefer the look of Start-Rite shoes - if I get a fairly plain navy leather buckle up, I find my daughter doesn't need anything else but slippers and wellies which I buy from supermarkets.
My mother had badly fitting shoes when she was a child and she has real problems with her feet, so we are more paranoid about it than most families!
Having said all that, I completely agree about the price - why do they have to be so expensive when they are so tiny!!?????? They are the same price as adult shoes which must use about three times the materials! Fitted shoe shops have us all over a barrel though because we want to do what is best for our kids...

[magicwashingpot]

Clarks fits have been consistantly crap for ds1. Have you treid Charles Clinkard? They will fit them and have a load of really good makes/good quality shoes and boots. We tried it last time and will defo be going again. I wont take ds2 to Clarks.

[ealingkid]

Thanks v much for all the repsonses.

Have to say I completely agree about Clarks.

I gave in yesterday and let the missus buy a £28 pair of fitted shoes from Clarks.

When she came back with them they were clearly too small and too tight (the boy has wide feet). They've gone back to be returned today.

The only other fitted shoes that actually fit come from a nearby specialist baby shop and they cost a wallet-busting £38.

We're going back to Mothercare at the weekend for another set off off the peg shoes. I can see for myself that the ones they've got there are plenty wide enough for him, I don?t need some oik in Clarks to sell us another worse-fitting pair for 3x the price.

[Again]

I am wary of fitted shoes I must say. Not because of the cost, but because children't posture is perfect to start out with so I think we should follow their lead. They just need something to protect them from the elements. BUT I think that the off the shelf ones can't be just as damaging if not more. We're using these boots which are, as my husband says, a bit like putting a plastic bag over his foot! They have no shape to them but they are waterproof.

[FattipuffsandThinnifers]

My mum was a chiropodist, and says as long as the shoes are not too tight across the width, or too short, there is no need for properly fitted shoes, especially as toddlers can/should go without while indoors as much as possible.

Though doesn't quite explain why I always had to wear deeply unfashionable Chukkas until the age of about 13

Damage like bunions etc usually comes from badly fitting adult shoes, high heels, pointed toes etc.

Also have to admit I have so far only bought DS (18 months) fitted shoes.

[littleboyblue]

My dad is about to have surgery on his feet (they get so bad sometimes he can't walk for weeks) and has been told that he may not make a full recovery and will need a wheelchair. this is due to damage caused by wearing hand-me down shoes as a child (he's 1 of 10).

However, I cannot possibly afford £30 every 8-10weeks, so I buy ds's shoes in Woolies for £8.

I ordered a foot measuring gauge from the startrite website so I can measure his feet at home and I am comfortable with my ability to determine what shoes fit and which do not.
Off the rack shoes dont tend to be classed in size, and don't often have as good ankle support as fitted, but I'm with you, times are tough and we cannot always afford the ideal. As long as you don't put child in shoes that are too small

[dinkystinky]

I agree that kids need properly fitted shoes - however a friend of mine goes to local child shoe store to get measured up and look at startrite shoes and then goes on EBAY and buys the same shoes for 1/3 of the price. Maybe worth looking into.

[oldwomanwholivedinashoe]

Im with your wife. My DD has awkward feet adn ill fitting shoes could have made the problem a lot worse (ortotics clinic verdict not mine) the only reason her feet are as they are now is because they were fitted properly .
My clue to cheap shoes though is ... use the fitters to select a style and fitting perfectly then tell them you will think about it and source the exact same fittinga nd style online. I have had to do this as my DD feet are so starnge they sometimes cost me up to £80 so I try to get cheap ones once I know which fit.

In short your wife's right! Sorry!!

[dontbitemytoes]

I do what dinkystinky said

[littleboyblue]

I meant width, not size. Off the rack don't tend to be labelled in width.

[mumof2andabit]

Get him measured in clarks dont buy anything then go into soccersports and buy him some trainers. Ask him to wiggle his toes prode and poke the shoes while they are on to see if the fit. Ds's thomas the tank engine shoes cost £13 and they have lasted ages. As long as the shoe fits it doesnt matter who fits it, you or a saleperson in clarks.

[blinks]

next, gap and barratts do perfectly good and much cheaper shoes that last reasonably well...

trainers from asda/tesco have been ok for ours too.

wellies are hardly 'fitted shoes' but most kids wear them loads in autumn/winter/spring without anyone bleating on about it.

[Acinonyx]

I think it's important that shoes fit well and unfortunately I'm sure it depends on the kind of feet you happen to have. I've always had an awful time with shoes and like to get dd's fitted (means she only ever has one pair of shoes as they are so expensive).

However, I've not been satisfied with the last 2 pairs from Clarks - I'd like to get the guage littleboyblue mentions and do it myself. Also, once dc get more verbal you can get them to tell you how they fit.

A compromise solution would be to measure his feet yourself and check the cheaper shoes more carefully - or go to ebay. I think that's what I'll do from now on.