Small feet and school shoe misery

[sillywoman456]

I know I shouldn't have done it to myself when it's only July, but today I found myself drawn into the Clarks Outlet shop for a measure - I think because it was quite empty and it was such a novel prospect that I couldn't resist!

Anyway, measured both DD and the eldest (7) seems to have gone up half a shoe size in one foot since last year and remains a size 9, at best. Her feet are also very narrow. Because it's the outlet, there is little choice and she cried at the prospect of wearing the same style as last year in case her friends thought they were the same ones and she hadn't grown at all. I know it's dramatic, but it seems to matter to her. Her little sisters had a bigger size, which made her more miserable.

I've been looking on Clarks and pretty much everything either looks too young (and even says 'toddler' in the description) or is too identical to last years to justify paying double.

I've bought Next school shoes before which didn't last at all, but I'm loathed to pay over £40 for Startrite. Are M&S any good, does anyone know, please? Or any other suggestions? She's too little for Threads too.

Treads sorry, and there's all an apostrophe missing from last year's. My own poor proof-reading skills are annoying me.

We buy Kickers for ours, would that be an option? My 3 year old was a size 6 and had some for nursery in one of their sales last year for about £25 I think.

I would wait until the end of the school holidays. It's nearly two months away so she might have grown a little more by then

For narrow feet, I found Bobux worked best, and she’d get a bit more choice especially in the small sizes. Though Bobux can be hard to find, I used Happy Little Soles until a local shop started stocking them. Something like this: www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/bobux-delight-black.html

Can't you just buy her something cheap and pretty for the summer and have her feet measured again in September? My DC's feet didn't grow for months on end and often one foot had a spurt before the other.

DD was very wide - G/H and had no option but to put up with Start-rite Alexandra. The frumpiest shoe you can imagine. Shoes are still a problem - a very wide 3.5! She's 22!

My DD starts reception in September & has small feet. I ordered some from Sainsbury's that seem good quality. She obviously hasn't worn them yet but they're about £15 so if I have to buy another pair halfway through the year then so be it. It'll still be cheaper than the cheapest £35 Clark's pair! Also looked at Asda, as that's where I usually get her shoes from, but they didn't do school shoes small enough. The supermarkets have some lovely styles.

DD has very slim shallow feet, Clarks refused to sell us any of theirs as they didn’t fit properly.

We go to Charles Clinkard as they have a bigger range of brands. Usually they can find something that fits with an insole.

My Grandaughter has opposite issue. She is 8 yrs and in an adult 5!! Her feet are really wide so shoe shopping is very difficult.

I feel your pain. My DS is a size one and he's starting high school this year. I don't even know where to start with that one.
Now you know her size can you look at Clark's outlet online and hopefully they'll have a different style she likes?

Next, John Lewis, TK Maxx, Debenhams and various sports shops may be able to help too.

Thank you all for your replies. It is more difficult with feet that aren't the average length or width, isn't it?

I will look at all these, thank you. @Mangomumma that's a good point about the supermarket shoes. They might not last, but even two pairs is cheaper. Sainsburys have some lovely ones.

I know it's a while yet, but I'd just got thinking about it tonight. Also, I dread the thought of going to get measured at the end of August in Clarks because I imagine it is just so busy, so I suppose I wanted to begin early. She might have a growth spurt, I suppose - I wish for her sake she would, but she seems to grow really slowly!

Our youngest is still a 2 1/2 at 21. She gets absolute bargains but often has to put something in the toes or use an insole.
She didn’t pay VAT because even in sixth form her school shoes were from ‘downstairs’ In Russell and Bromley. She went through a period of hating it but quickly realised the advantages. Her work shoes, trainers, flat shoes all come from children’s departments and are much cheaper because of that.

@hippoherostandinghere Oh no, that sounds so difficult too!

I went on the Clarks outlet, and there's only last year's one or ones that aren't really suitable (cat faces etc)! Because she's going into Year 3 and has to wear a shirt and tie, I think she feels she needs to be a bit more grown up now!

buy shoes when they are needed.
imo it's madness to buy school shoes now when they might be outgrown again in 2 month's time.
next shoes are fine. you can get lucky sometimes at tk max.

learn to fit shoes yourself.

There are so many shoes much nicer than Clarks, I’ve never understood the appeal and it’s not about the cost, I spend a lot of money on my dc’s shoes.

My dd is 9 and in current year 4 with big feet so I’ve got the opposite problem but when she was in year 3 lots of them had Kickers which are a similar price to Clarks and start off a lot smaller than a size 9.

They last and are nice looking shoes. They can often appear a bit “clumpy” which may work in your favour as her feet will appear bigger than they are.

If you do want Clarks, try www.shoesforkids.com, which have cheaper shoes, often last season or similar.

My dc are in Y6 and Y3, do I have bought many pairs of school shoes in the last few years. M&S shoes are good mid price shoes, but are quite wide fitting.

This is just like my 7 year old she is a size 9 we have always found m&s good they lasted the whole year last year.
She finds it hard too as her younger sister has bigger feet then her.

I went through my school years wearing The H Fit Shoe. First it was the babyish H Fit Buckle Shoe, then than the gods, I managed to grow into The H Fit Laceup Shoe just in time for secondary school.

My feet gave up growing before getting to the dizzying lengths of size 2. It's shit. Children's shoes are shit. They're designed for people that like pink and sparkles and unicorns, and designed to be grown out of in 3 months, not the wear and tear of an adult. Fortunately being off the width scale, I can wear size 4s and am used to a spare inch at the end.

Clarkes are rubbish anyway. The final straw was when I had to dump DS's reception class shoes. The velcro was too skimpy, so the rough side needed the carpet fluff removing regularly. The velcro gave up after a few months of hanging on at the edge, the shoes regularly fell off and then he'd mash his feet back in over the heels and just mulcjed the shoes. The next pair from M& S were far better. DS rarely grew out of Clarkes, they usually fell apart first, usually from the stitiching unravelling.

We go to an independent shop and tend to use Geox. The fitters use insoles where necessary to adjust the fit.

@lovewatchingrainfall

This is just like my 7 year old she is a size 9 we have always found m&s good they lasted the whole year last year. She finds it hard too as her younger sister has bigger feet then her.

DS2 is bigger than DS1, although DS1 has high volume feet and tends to upsize to the same as DS2 as DS2 is more average in proportions.

My eldest 6 has the same size feet as his 3 year old brother, he hates it, why not try Clark’s online and order a pair now you know the size, lots to choose from.

M&S shoes are ok... well my youngest had some trainers from their and they have been excellent!

Start rite always have school shoes in the sale / outlet on their website. I usually pick them up for around £20/£25

Dd11 got M&S patent School shoes last year and they’re still pretty pristine now...we’re planning to buy the same pair this year.

I hope you manage to find something op.

My ds is now 17 but when he started reception age 4 he was already in shoe size 1. He left primary school in a size 11 and thankfully they stopped at a 13. He occasionally has to get a 14. I was paying adult prices when he was 7.

It’s hard being different one way or the other and can completely identify with your dd not wanting the same shoes again in case he’s friends think they’re her old shoes. She will probably skip a few sizes at some point and slowly catch up.

We’ve had M and S ones too and they’re fab.

Dd2 is 23 with size 1 feet. Pro was a nightmare 😀