To not understand why people buy non-fitted shoes for toddlers?

[user1480954406]

How do people feel about this? I've seen babies get converse etc for their first shoes, but I was always led to believe kids needed width fitted shoes until they were at least two? All the clothes shops from Tesco to marks&spencer do kids shoes from size 3/4 but I just wouldn't feel right if they weren't properly fitted by somebody trained in shoe fitting? Aibu?

[Afreshstartplease]

Yabu people do far worse

[snowgirl1]

YABU. Maybe some people can't afford to Clarks or Startrite or John Lewis where they are likely to get somebody trained in shoe fitting?

[namechange20050]

My little boy wears the soft barefoot type shoes. Or no shoes at all where possible. Best for foot development.

[ProudBadMum]

Clarks shoes are ugly so that's why I've never gone there my son has adidias trainers as his first shoes and no harm done

[user1480954406]

My question is more though if you are buying converse, choosing to buy trendy shoes instead of properly fitted shoes for a similar price, are you not putting style over a properly fitting shoe for baby's growing feet? I understand of course some people can't afford to, so is it really that bad then? Because I thought the official line was always that they should be?

But then I doubt all the kids who are wearing converse that hasn't been fitted have damaged feet from it so?

[mistermagpie]

I agree with you to an extent, I don't really like seeing babies/toddlers in 'fashion' soes such as uggs and converse which really don't have correct support for a child who is growing and just learning to walk/run.

Saying that, the price of Clarkes shoes for kids is ridiculous. DS has a few pairs bought in the sale at Christmas which were about £10 each but they were originally £34 which is a heck of a lot of money for something which they grow out of very quickly. In tesco etcm you can get shoes for less than a tenner so for a lot of people there will be a cost element.

[Sparklingbrook]

Fitted shoes are really pricey. Ideally they should be fitted but it's not always possible in the real world.

So YABU.

[NarkyMcDinkyChops]

but I was always led to believe kids needed width fitted shoes until they were at least two

You were led to believe that from the marketing people in Clarks etc. Now, why would they want you to think that you have to buy their expensive shoes and not cheaper ones elsewhere?

[DirtyBlonde]

Fitting shoes isn't that difficult, so if you'ever worked in a shoe shop or it's a subsequent child, then the parent is likely to be just as competent as shoo staff.

[SquatBetty]

My DS has quite wide feet so I do generally get his feet measured first. But could not give a shit about what anyone else does in regards to their kid's shoes.

[everythingis]

Yanbu about shoe fitting but schuh kids and Russell and Bromley etc do shoe fitting not brand restricted. It's great!

I wouldn't put 2nd hand shoes on my kid for love nor money though!

[giraffesCantReachTheirToes]

I think a lot of the baby converse are so soft it's like wee slippers.

But I do agree feet need measured properly. I do know you can buy things to measure at home with and then purchase correct size from those readings.

[bloodyteenagers]

What supposed to happen if the shoes aren't fitted by Clarks,Startrite or whatever. Does the child's feet self combust or something?

[bumsexatthebingo]

YABU. Unless a child has particularly wide or narrow feet there is no need to get fitted shoes. Its easy enough to feel the toe and around the foot for room and check that they aren't slipping up and down when they walk. If you're not sure how to check the fitting then you can easily find out online.
Having said that I do generally get Clarks for my 2 as I have found they usually last (I know a lot of people find the opposite) ad we have an outlet nearby. I'm not entirely convinced about the measuring there though as sometimes when I go to get my kids feet measured they appear to have shrunk!

[SquatBetty]

Yes you can buy the hand-held feet measuring things online, that they use in Clark's etc - don't think they're that expensive either

[CMamaof4]

Who cares its hardly child cruelty is it? Aibu to think some people have too much to say about how other people live their lives?

[user1480954406]

This is all really interesting my dad was brought up in poverty and always had 2nd hand shoes which didn't fit him and he has misshapen feet, I think because that's q extreme he's always always said to me never ever scrimp money on your kids l shoes because they aren't your feet! So I've always just bought mine 1 pair of clarks/start rite shoes to have at a time, but then when dc1 was older I bought him a few more and worried less about width fittings.

Oh always says to me "don't be silly, next etc. Wouldn't be selling shoes if they were making kids feet deformed" but I just couldn't bring myself to because it's been drummed into me.

Doubt this will make a diff with ds1 because her feet are so narrow

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

Don't toddlers live in wellies for half the year, and crocs the rest of the time?

[PortiaCastis]

You've fallen for Clarks marketing

[bonbonours]

I'm with Narky. Clarks and Startrite have got a whole big parental guilt thing going on where people think they have to get their shoes and get fitted by them. It's not rocket science to measure feet. I measure my kids length and width at home and compare with the size calculator on the websites. When you try a shoe on a child you are perfectly capable of checking if their toes are squashed or if their foot is loose in the shoe. The only time you really need Clarks or Startrite is if your child has particularly wide or narrow feet. If the shoes fit it's irrelevant where you got them from.

On the other hand I would say buying cheap shoes for school is false economy as they fall apart pretty fast compared to good quality leather. (Still, other quality leather shoe brands exist, eg Hush Puppies, Geox, Buckle my Shoe) Toddlers however grow out if them before they wear them out.

You're falling for Clarks' marketing strategy 😊 use your own common sense to check if shoes fit. You'll likely do a better job than a 16 year old Saturday girl in Clarks.

[quarkinstockcubes]

YABU. Clarks fitters themselves admit that it is an approximation, not an exact science. As long as the toes have sufficient growth space then I don't see any danger or harm.

One of my dc had to see a podiatrist due to flat feet. DD was in Clarks trainers and he said that dd2's shoe (cheapy pair of trainers from Shoe Zone) was more appropriate in terms of support as there was a double velcro fastening rather than a large single one. He actually advised against the traditional "fitter" shops due to the lack if support and flat soles and recommended Geox.

Fitting aside I don't like fashion shoes on babies/young children.

[user1480954406]

Aibu to think some people have too much to say about how other people live their lives?

If I've come across as judgemental I'm not at all, I'm genuinely asking the question because I always have bought fitted but everyone else's kids seem to be fine in non? and they have shoes to match more outfits

[NarkyMcDinkyChops]

2nd hand shoes which didn't fit him and he has misshapen feet

Shoes that don't fit is a whole different thing than expensive shoes that haven't been fitted.
I buy my children shoes that fit them, they all have perfectly normal feet. I don't need someone else to fit them, I have eyes and hands of my own!

[bonbonours]

Oh yes the second hand shoe thing is a myth put about by shoe companies too. "Shoes mould to the shape of your foot". And then they become set in concrete presumably? Because otherwise obviously they will remould to the shape of the next foot too. All my kids wear second hand shoes if I can get them in good condition.

[PoundingTheStreets]

The human foot has evolved to not need shoes.

Shoes that are too small are bad. They will rub or constrain the foot's growth or development. Shoes that are too large can cause the foot to move awkwardly in order to prevent the shoe coming off/tripping up the wearer and so affect development. In both those cases, a typical lay person of average intelligence could easily tell if the shoe is too small or too big simply by feeling the child's foot within them.

There is an awful lot of snobbery inherent in children's shoes. Much loved by shoe manufacturers. You're actually better off buying cheaper and replacing more regularly than you are spending a fortune and hanging on to the expensive shoes for as long as possible.