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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why are H width children's shoes so rare and why can't I find anything wider??!!

77 replies

heroinahalfshell · 05/12/2011 14:58

We bought our DS's first shoes aged 9m (he started walking at 9m) and he was already a H width fitting then.

We just got his second pair (aged 12m) and our choice in clarks was of ONE PAIR (5.5H).

What on EARTH am I going to do if he goes up a width fitting??! They don't seem to exist!!!

His feet don't look that big to me? (Maybe it's in proportion - he's VERY tall) AIBU to think shoes should stock wider sizes or does my child have freaky big feet??!!

OP posts:
eurochick · 05/12/2011 19:44

This thread brings back memories of childhood shoe shopping misery. I was a G width fitting (and still have high arches to this day). We had to go to one special branch of Clarks miles away as it was the only place that stocked them in that width in the area. And then I would end up with the ugliest shoes in the class. Eugh.

starsintheireyes · 05/12/2011 19:50

DS1 also G/h fitting, last pair-12 weeks wair this term and are wrecked, wont stop falling off either= not impressed, they are going back with receipt tommorrow as last time the assistant said bring them back if your not getting a good run with them. I stopped in the other day and they only had one H style in my sons size in their catologue, but nothing on the shop floor. another vote for crocs here, godsend at a tenner a pair in the summer.
He by the way is 8 and was a f originally when younger.

The only trainers(not really tainers more like skate shoes) i can get to fit him is airwalk so if anybody knows of any wider styles/brands of more sports looking trainers Id be very grateful!

UniS · 05/12/2011 19:51

where are you? If your in striking distance of Exeter there is a boot and show maker http://chuckleshoes.co.uk/ chuckle who make children's shoes in the width you need. DS is a K fitting, he's been in chuckles shoes since size 5 ( they can't fit anything smaller on the sewing machine). I have given up on clarks/ russel and bromley etc, they just don't have wide enough shoes. Trainers etc we end up in shoe zone buying a whole size too big just to get the width.

TruthSweet · 05/12/2011 20:36

DD3 was a 2.5H when she started walking at 17m - her feet were basically round! She is in a 4.5F now at 2.1y so her feet have slimmed a little.

DD1 veered between a F and a G but had the occasional forays into H widths but DD2 dropped off Clarks' radar as she went down to a C/D width for a bit but her feet have strangely plumped up so she can wear normal shoes (except now she has to wear Kickers boots for her hypermobility Hmm).

Have you tried Barefoot shoes? They seem to be very good (and have lots more styles for boys than girls unusually) and DD1 loves her's as they are very good for running and jumping and getting into mucky mud.

Original poster
heroinahalfshell · 05/12/2011 20:43

We are in Cornwall so the Exeter suggestion above is really helpful!

Glad to hear we're not alone!!

OP posts:
AnotherMincepie · 05/12/2011 20:45

Another vote for Start Rite

You can buy the fitting gauge and shoes online, so you can fit them at home (see fitting videos on their website).

BornToFolk · 05/12/2011 20:47

DS has always been an H fitting, but the last pair I bought were a G. They were a wide fitting style, I think, but his feet do look a little slimmer than they were (he's 4 now).

Last pair I bought from Clarks, I had to buy as they were the only H fitting in his size! It's just a supply/demand thing I suppose, but it is annoying (especially when there are racks and racks of girls shoes!)

fluffywhitekittens · 05/12/2011 20:53

Clarks doesn't have that many H fittings for girls either BorntoFolk.
Dd was always G but now, at 5, is H.

CardyMow · 05/12/2011 20:58

Not all dc with 'H' (or larger) fitting feet have them slim down. DS1 is 9.7yo, in a size 4.5H. DS2 is 8yo, and is in a 1.5J. Yes I do have to get his shoes specially made...

DS3 was measured for his first shoes this week. He is 10mo, and is in a 4H.

CardyMow · 05/12/2011 20:59

Stars - Airwalk are the only ones that fit my DS's too. The problem being that Airwalk don't DO size 5 or 6 adult size - to stop men from getting away with the VAT, and DS1's next pair need to be a size 5...

mmmSprouts · 05/12/2011 21:02

YANBU

I have the same problem with DS2, only his feet are the opposite, he is a D width.He had t get girls shoes as his first pair as I couldn't find any boys ones Grin

stealthsquiggle · 05/12/2011 21:06

tallulah - at least genetically dominant wide feet have advantages in hand-me-downs. DD's first ever shoes were DS's first ever shoes - checked and approved by lovely fitters at our local shoe shop Grin. She is a bit lot pickier nowadays, but still inherits trainers, plimsolls (which had to be expensive ones because the cheap ones were too narrow) etc.

Unfortunately it gets harder to get width fitting trainers, etc as they get older - football boots are a nightmare as the width-fitted ones stop at size 2.

4madboys · 05/12/2011 21:15

my boys feet have always been off the scale for width, never been able to buy clarks or startrite as they never had anything to fit!

they have wide feet with a high instep, makes shoe buying a pita, we go to a little independent kids shoe shop and end up with ricosta, geox, ecco, primigi or peppino shoes, expensive £40+ a pair, but they last and they fit well.

some shoes in clarks etc wouldnt even go on their feet, let alone do up!
thankfully i am finding that as the boys get older the rate their feet are growing is slowing, tho my 12yr old has bigger feet than me and ds2 who is 9 is not far behind, ditto ds3!

MrsTwinks · 05/12/2011 21:24

HuntycatVat is actually charged on any shoe over size 3 (except school shoes) its just manufacturers make bigger shoes more expensive to buy, bastards!

A good shop who knows the stock can tell what will or won't be wide enough, but very few brands actually do width fitting shoes, so for instance don't ask for a 6G primigi as they aren't made with width fittings. Wink

CardyMow · 05/12/2011 21:28

Why are the size 7 Airwalks £10 dearer than the size 4.5, if it isn't VAT? And what the actual Jeff are you meant to do for trainers for a child in size 5/6G?

The only independant shoe shop in my town only does shoes up to a size 2.

MrsTwinks · 05/12/2011 21:33

I don't know airwalk but none of the brands we stock have any size break in the middle, don't know why you can't find that size.

Price wise the difference is because the buying price is more. Eg: 4-10 will be one price to retailer, 11-3 another 4-8 another. Absolutely fucking sucks but that's how the shoe companies price.

CardyMow · 05/12/2011 21:37

Airwalf are a brand of skater trainers that come up extremely wide. They are the only trainers I have been able to buy for DS1 since he was in a size 1, at 6yo. He has had them in every size since. But now I am starting to look for a size 5, I am drawing a blank!

CardyMow · 05/12/2011 21:38

Airwalf?? Airwalk

MrsTwinks · 05/12/2011 21:40

I can't advise soecifically as I've never fitted them, but I will say as long as they aren't slipping off or rubbing, and they aren't tripping over the toes, there is nothing wrong with going up a size for width, so maybe try him in a 7?

MrsTwinks · 05/12/2011 21:41

Infact in some brands they advise us to do just that, a 6h would really be a 7g

microserf · 05/12/2011 21:42

oh, this drives me nuts! dd was in boys shoes to get an h fitting and now ds had had his first fitting and yes, h again! why is it so hard to get these shoes?

A1980 · 05/12/2011 21:43

Clarkes fucking traumatised me as a kid

I died laughing when I read that. Just remembered the hours (seemingly) spent in there choosing piece of shite new school shoes.

oooggs · 05/12/2011 21:47

ds2 is also a H fitting and I am also in Cornwall!!!!

whooosh · 05/12/2011 21:48

My poor,poor DD (6) has inherited my duck shaped feet and was off the scale from her first pair of shoes. She also has very "deep" feet,combined with hypermobility necessitating insoles (more depth) and I am at my wits end.
Summer we can get away with crocs and used to get away with Uggs in the Winter when she was younger (although neither took the orthotics she is supposed to wear every day).
The only shoes I have found that can accommodate her width and depth are Hush Puppies as they have a variety of removeable insoles to allow for the depth.
Width however is still a complete nightmare and for a "girly" girl,becoming more aware of her appearance it is heartbreaking sometimes when she can't just "have shoes like xxxx".

midnightexpress · 05/12/2011 21:53

DS1 has the opposite problem - he's an E fitting and once they reach school age, the only shoes we can get for him are really dull black school shoes, as everything else is only available in an F or G fitting. I can't really understand it - surely there must be enough of a spread of children across the fittings to justify styles being available in a wider range of sizes?