First walking shoes for girls? I intensely dislike Clarks - any other suggestions?

[Pinkjenny]

Can anyone recommend a good children's shoe company? Dd (14mo) has just started walking and has also grown out of her first pair. She is only little with size 3.5F feet.

Clarks styles are horrible, and Startrite don't look much nicer.

Any recommendations?

[hana]

do you have an independent shoe shop nearby? they often do european brands - some of the french ones are gorgeous.

startrite aren't that bad are they? usually better than clarks

[Pinkjenny]

The 'nicer' styles all start at size 4 - the colours for the smaller sizes are all really dark, and I don't feel suitable for the summer.

Oooh, what a fusspot I am!

[hana]

what about a leather pair from daisy roots or similar? they are better off in barefeet at this stage anyways unless walking on pavement etc etc

[Pinkjenny]

Oooh LL so cute. But they don't do half sizes. I guess I'd go for the size up?

[Pinkjenny]

LL - they are exactly what I am looking for.

[cmotdibbler]

Def go to an independant. We buy Ricosta, Ecco, Baby Oop and Elephanten as DS has very wide feet, but they all seem to have lots of different brands, and much nicer shoes.

[Pinkjenny]

cute

Have ordered these, the lady said they are big, so hopefully they'll fit her in a few weeks.

Thanks!

[IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern]

oooh they are sooo cute wissh I had a small enoug girl to fit in those...hmm maybe ds wouldn't object.
Doodle type shoes can be quite good st this stage start-rite do them too they are nice and light and can be chucked in the washing machine.

[Flier]

we got a lovely pair of (sp) elefanten shoes for dd, they were from brantamo and then I saw them also for sale in our local specialist shoe shop, thay are very well made and lovely and soft.

elefanten

[soremummy]

Pinkjenny I got those shoes in red but they are far too big they are supposed to be a 2 but I had to buy an insole and put it in them. They are very wide fitting. She is a size 2 E.

[ShowOfHands]

If they are wide fitting I may get some. Let me know what they're like PJ. DD is a 5H+. Clarks and Start-rite don't make shoes wide enough. Her toes won't even go in the widest Clarks ones. She's mostly barefoot anyway, partly through laziness, partly through a refusal to put her in shoes yet and partly through nowhere catering for her elephant like feet.

[Pinkjenny]

Hehe SOH. Did you get my FB msg?
Soremummy, what a mare. I'm not too concerned about the size as she can wear them with socks/tights in the winter, more the width - she is only a little titch, like your dd!

[cmotdibbler]

SOH - def go for Ricosta, Elefanten or Ecco then. DS doesn't fit in Clarks, especially due to his high insteps, and the shop we go to has quite a choice of shoes in very wide.

[PInkyminkyohnooo]

My DD wears Ricosta because she has very small but wide feet. They are very nice shoes
We've had Astor ones too which are nice, french, I think.
If you go to a good children's shoe shop they should have lots of different styles.

Can never get Clarks that fit my children anyway.

[soremummy]

Pinkjenny did you see the video for the toddler wearing the squeeker shoes? Will try find a link I got mine from here scroll down to see the video clip

[Pinkjenny]

Sooo cute.

[alittleteapot]

We got dd some startrite pre-walkers. They're great - sturdy and supportive but very flexible and washable too. They're £18. If she's inside or in a park she's in bare feet as this is better for developing muscles but out and about she's in her shoes.

[Hulababy]

Independent shoe shops should stock a bigger range of nice shoes, but you struggle in tiny shoes. DD's first shes were a 2.5E - we got er some really pretty patent leather Kickers shoes, but they were black.

[Umlellala]

I love Primigi shoes. The soles are really soft and flexible.

[katiepotatie]

LL - very cute just ordered a pair, very cute

[bumbling]

You've probably already thought of this but Verbaudet do very cute kids shoes... need to google them as it's online and catalogue etc blah. Their autumn collection is just out.