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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect to be able to find a pair of shoes to fit my daughter?

25 replies

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:24

I have been unable to buy her any winter boots this year- for the first part of the winter she wore last year's ones but she really needed snow boots and her feet had grown but it was impossible to get any.

Now she would like some girly trainers/pretty canvas shoes for the summer but there just aren't any that fit her.

I had her feet measured a few weeks ago in Clarkes and she's an 8.5 but she is less than a D width so they wouldn't even sell her shoes.

I have just checked the start-rite website and this is the selection available in a C fitting

She is coming up 5 and just wants a cute, possible sparkly pretty pair of shoes like all her friends have...

OP posts:

rainbowinthesky · 13/03/2011 12:27

I have same problem with dd and most of the time she's only ever had 1 pair of shoes at a time - school shoes and has had to wear these all the time. Never been able to wear trainers etc.
We go to independent shops to buy shoes and have even had them handmade before. Sucks.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:31

I know Rainbow, it sucks!

I go to independent shops with her too and end up with one choice and have to spend about £60 for the priviledge. We normally end up with a pair of shoes with 2 insoles inside and dd sulks and is always reluctant to wear those shoes forever more becuse they weren't the ones she liked

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CuppaTeaJanice · 13/03/2011 12:32

Your poor DD, this brings back bad memories for me with my A fitting shoes. Many, many tears in shoe shops because nothing nice fitted. And the humiliation of wearing t-bar pork pie shoes at age 11 when everyone else had fashionable court shoes.

As an adult I still have stupidly narrow feet. I find I have to buy open toed sandals 2 sizes too small to get the right width. Trainers with velcro can be good as you can over-tighten them to make them narrower.

You could try TK Maxx, which often have shoes in odd sizes, and you might find some to fit if you're lucky. Otherwise try Skechers (factory outlet if poss) which are really cool and sparkly, about the same price as Clarks, and a lot of styles have the more adjustable velcro fastenings.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:33

Oh and then all my friends/family think I'm indulging her because I spend that much on a pair of shoes!!! I have 2 other children who get 'normal' shoes and beleive me, I'd MUCH rather go into Next and be able to choose her a pair of the rack!

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rainbowinthesky · 13/03/2011 12:35

Yep, we've done the insoles thing too. Dd is used to only having her school shoes to wear. She's 7 1/2 now and no better. I spent £70 on handmade shoes for her but figured it's the same as buying 2 pairs from clarkes. We struggle with plimsolls and last time clarkes said they couldn't fit her. I went to another clarkes as she really needed them and bought without fitting. It's not perfect but she manages.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:37

Thanks Cuppa, poor you too- it's miserable!

I am always checking TK Maxx- at the moment they have loads of lovely sparkly trainers in but there's no way they will fit dd. We do have a sketchers outlet near here but at the moment it's the same- all like boats on her. I'll keep checking though...

It's not that I would mind spending £60 on shoes for her if she actually liked the shoes!!

OP posts:

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:39

Yup dd has the M&S plimsoles that are a T-bar design. They are huge and gaping on her and a size too small but she seems to manage- at least they're easy to put on, lol (AND ONLY COST £3!)

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CuppaTeaJanice · 13/03/2011 12:44

Have you spoken to a foot specialist? I'm thinking of the kind that make 'risers' for people with one leg longer than the other, and protection for bunions etc. I wonder if they could make some sort of silicone insert that could be put into your DDs shoes to enable her to wear normal width shoes? Maybe something that fits around the side of her feet - just lifting them up with normal insoles won't solve the problem as she'll still have a gap round the side of her feet, but something specially made might help?

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 12:47

I think there must be a niche in the market for that sort of thing Cuppa as 2 of my friends have also suggested it. I may well investigate that as it would be brilliant- like a slipper insert sort of thing!

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BluddyMoFo · 13/03/2011 12:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

receiverofopiniongiver · 13/03/2011 13:17

I've ended up with the two extremes. I have a daughter who's got tiny feet and cannot get any fashion shoes to fit her, and a son who's got massive feet, and struggles to find any that will go over his high instep.

LIZS · 13/03/2011 13:22

We have similar problems for dd. Try Tesco canvas shoes, got dd a spotty pair of ballet pumps a few weeks back, with elastic across. Also had some success with K Swiss trainers from TK Maxx yesterday, bit plain for your dd though and in the past have had Merrell and Reebok - the logo stripes are glittery.

letsblowthistacostand · 13/03/2011 13:25

Just had this in Clarks with narrow-fairy-footed DD1. The sales lady brought out several pairs of the ugliest shoes I have ever seen, none of which even fit her properly. I said, Oh well, I'll just go and get her some Converse then (Converse run very narrow) and the lady was SO HORRIFIED that I would put my child in such unsupportive shoes that she hustled around and found a few pairs of really cute ones that fit. Clarks D/E widths never look nice but some of their fashion ones run narrow and flat, you just have to try (and be quite forceful with the staff.)

ginmakesitallok · 13/03/2011 13:27

DD is a D fitting - so narrow but not as narrow as your DDs and it's a nightmare getting her shoes or boots - can't get them anywhere apart from some Clarks and an expensive independant shop. She's 7 and already very used to looking for shoes and coming home empty handed.

StrawberriesAndScream · 13/03/2011 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrazyHorse · 13/03/2011 13:40

I feel your pain. In the end I just bought startrite trainers on-line (because no one would sell them to me in a shop) and do the Velcro up tight. With my first child I would have been horrified at the thought, but with my 3rd, I think she'll probably survive.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 13:50

You would think it wouldn't be SO hard though wouldn't you! I mean there must be a fair few children across the uk with these issues!

My dd is also used to coming home empty handed from shoe shopping...and she is always so excited about going shoe shopping too.

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kreecherlivesupstairs · 13/03/2011 13:57

Another bony footed girl here. I don't know what her width is but I would be willing to bet it's the skinniest one measurable.
When we lived in Thailand it wasn't too bad, if push came to shove I could have them made to measure. Not ideal, but she didn't grow much.
Last winter, I took her to Antwerp to a Clarkes shoe shop and the serving woman told her she could buy the boots she wanted as her feet would fatten up by then.

themildmanneredjanitor · 13/03/2011 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StaryNightSky · 13/03/2011 14:18

Hi All

Thought I would try and HELP.

DH and I used to run a big chiropody practice in the UK. It is vital to have kids in the proper fitting shoes (I was a MENS size 8 at 11years old, and where the MOST hiddious shoes) as LOOSE shoes will in latter life case Hammer Toes (try buying shoes then, not to mention a lot of pain)

But I also have a DD (we live in spain) and I can not find shoes for her here as the spaninsh are SO NARROW! So I have buy in the UK and stock up.

but a quick google brought this up. www.hopscotch-shoes.co.uk/about-us.html Not sure if you will have a store near you. BUT they do also do ONLINE shopping and FREE UK deleivery.

Hope it might help.

Also I have on occassion decorated my little girls shoes, and remember you can always add diamonties etc with super gloue (find the right one)

Also anyone holiday in SPAIN this year, have a good look then. I would offer to post, but I am frightened of getting the wrong size.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 14:39

Thanks Starry!

I have already been on Hopscotch shoes today but I can't tell which shoes will fit by looking online- they all look quite wide to me.

DD did once have a gorgeous pair of Garvalin spanish shoes which fitted her beautifully. They were wine patent and all leather and gorgeous. She still had insoles in them

Decorating them is a good idea though!

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CuppaTeaJanice · 13/03/2011 15:23

Sounds like a good excuse for a holiday to sunny Spain!!!!

onceamai · 13/03/2011 15:35

All I can do is sympathise. We had the problem from the other end, in that dd is just of the H scale. Oh yes, Start-rite advertise 7 width fittings but only only about two styles come in an H and dd would have so love sometimes to have had a pink pair, or a choice. Not much, just a choice. Alexandra, Alexandra, Alexandra - in blue, black or brown - at least birkenstock sandals came in every shade of pink. We still struggle but it has got a bit easier although now she's twelve I feel for her choice amongst ecco, gabor and van dal because there isn't much out there that's trendy and wide.

Rockmaiden · 13/03/2011 18:30

I have this with my DD who is a H fitting, not normally impossible but she is only a size 11 in length so has short but fat feet :)

We usually have to buy shoes 2 or 3 sizes too big just to get them on her.

She also has a really high instep so can only wear full lace up shoes, no ballet or strappy shoes which she hates.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 13/03/2011 19:38

Rockmaiden- I have the opposite in that we have to buy a size too small to get the shoe narrower but I'm really not keen on that as it can't be good for her feet! it means there is no growing room, lengthwise, in them.

My mum has suggested we take her shoe shopping on Wed...oh joy! At least that means that Grandma might buy the shoes for her though

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