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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to buy DD "Daisy" school shoes

90 replies

Maggietess · 02/08/2013 19:39

Dd1 has been on at me forever and a day about her these blooming Clarks shoes with the daisy doll in the heel. I have said no as they look to me like in making a space for the doll to be stored they've almost made a chunky heel on the back of the shoe.

She's only 5 so my rationale was that 5yos just need sturdy black patent leather that will last, they don't need heels. (And she has her father's clumsy gene so I don't think a heel would help that!) However, the other choices in her size (12) all seem to be very ballerina pump style and I just don't think they look right either.

Is it just me or have little girls school shoes gone from being smart and sturdy (maybe with the odd embellishment at the top) to some kind of fashion item that would be better placed on 10 year olds plus???

S i make her have the one pair of "sensible" shoes I've seen ...Or AIBU and should I just get her the doll shoes like everyone else in her class appears to be doing?

(Or indeed am I way over thinking this Confused????I just have it drummed into me from my own mum about the importance of kids having good, well fitting shoes)

OP posts:
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 03/08/2013 08:32

All of the state schools round here require children to change into gym shoes before entering the classroom. Its to protect the carpets. Clarks gym shoes are the best around for this purpose imo.

steppemum · 03/08/2013 08:35

wow. every pair pf plimsolls my kids have had have been rubbish. They all have long narrow fete and the plimsolls are too floppy and fall off their heel. The ones with velcro strip are better, but still not great.

I would hate them to be in plimsolls all day

OnTheNingNangNong · 03/08/2013 08:38

My eldest had a pair of the Jack Nano shoes, within the week the heel inside the shoe had collapsed, as there's no cover for the space that's left.

It's an awful lot of money for a crap shoe IMO.

EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 03/08/2013 08:39

Thats why I always insist on getting the the Clarks gym shoes. Theyre really sturdy and cosy. Quite big made though so always need to get a half size smaller than usual.

steppemum · 03/08/2013 08:50

ewe - so they have to have school shoes for in the playground and gym shoes for indoors?

Is that not really expensive?

I would be a bit Shock with 3 kids and 6 pairs of shoes

GW297 · 03/08/2013 08:54

Lots of state schools make the children wear plimsolls indoors to protect the carpet. It's a nightmare changing shoes repeatedly throughout the day and I don't think I could ever work in one that did this. Certainly not in Reception anyway! And all that cumulative lost teaching time!

GW297 · 03/08/2013 08:55

I've never come across an independent school where the children need separate indoor and outdoor shoes but I bet there are some. I think some nurseries ask the children to wear slippers indoors too.

EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 03/08/2013 08:56

Yes, it does work out quite pricey.
I think its around £35 for her school/outdoor shoes and then £9 for the gym/indoor shoes.

Luckily, her feet have only just decided to grow up a size over the summer hol, so last year she got away with keeping the same pair for the whole of primary one. I hope the same happens again this year. or else i might faint

It's the faffing about for the children i feel for most. At that age, most of them have trouble getting their coats on and off and on the hook themselves, never mind changing their shoes so often as well.

I actually don't know of any state schools within my LA that don't have this rule.

MrButtercat · 03/08/2013 08:58

Steppe my dd would be stuffed,it's bad enough finding school shoes thin enough.

Ours have to have proper trainers for PE(with thin feet that means proper measured trainers)so you'd be talking best part of £300 to kit my 3 out in shoes alone!

CosmicMouse · 03/08/2013 09:07

This is the reason I've gone for barefoot shoes again this year. No gimmicks or heels, just simple comfy shoes. DD1 gave them a battering last year...tree climbing included...and they lasted the entire year. We buy from here: happylittlesoles.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40

MiaowTheCat · 03/08/2013 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoComet · 03/08/2013 09:38

DD had Daisy shoes, the rule was simple. You take the doll out and put her with polly pockets (also hateful small and pointless).

Lining of shoe was then firmly clued down and shoes worked pretty well.

All Clarks school shoes are only just about good enough, some styles have looked awful in three weeks. DD's brogues look OK after a whole year.

simonthedog · 03/08/2013 10:15

I fully agree, the choice at Clarks is awful. It annoys me that people say the choice for girls is so much better than for boys, not so. My DD 6 is a size 12. If you search Clarks for girls shoes in a size 12 there are 24 styles, and if you rule out the ballerinas and the really flimsy ones the only real choice is the dolly ones. Only the trainers or the boots cover the whole foot. For boys in a size 12 there are 34 styles, many of which cover the whole foot and would be suitable for school. It is though they just want the girls to sit and look pretty! V. annoying.

YourHandInMyHand · 03/08/2013 10:17

steppemum no definitely not private school, I live in a town with a very bad reputation and a lot of social deprivation/poverty!

Didn't realise it was unusual, all the local state primaries here have plimsolls to wear in school. Confused DS wears bog standard plimsolls that cost about £3 his feet are fine and he's never said they are uncomfortable.

YourHandInMyHand · 03/08/2013 10:19

Just read about PE shoes. Yes my son also has to have PE trainers in a bag with his kit. This irks me more than the plimsolls as they cost more. I'll admit though I still only buy a budget pair.

Original poster
Maggietess · 03/08/2013 10:41

primalass I'm loving them! That's exactly what I was looking for. They must not have had them in my local start rite shop as I'd not seen them.
I think we could be on a to a winner here!

OP posts:
Original poster
Maggietess · 03/08/2013 10:51

Actually cosmicmouse I love the happy little soles. I'd never heard of barefoot shoes before!

OP posts:
steppemum · 03/08/2013 15:55

what are barefoot shoes? Can someone do a link? Do they come in width fittings?

Original poster
Maggietess · 03/08/2013 19:44

steppemum here's the blurb that I picked up from the link cosmicmouse posted earlier http://happylittlesoles.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=8

Hope that works, always awkward on the mobile. The sizes are for narrow to medium feet largely by the look of them, each one seems to say. Dd is very narrow so hoping they will work.
And thanks to all who replied. I got dd to have a look online with me and she liked the Jane style from Pedipeds which I've purchased from Happy Little Soles above... Fingers crossed they fit well and she likes them! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Maggietess · 03/08/2013 19:44

Darn it!!

happylittlesoles.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=8

OP posts:
EloiseClark100 · 01/04/2014 08:41

I have reluctantly bought the daisy rain shoes on mothers day under duress from Dad and Grandad. Guess what my reservations about the heel were right. I watched my daughter go over on them running around at brownies. Then standing still rocking sideways over on the heel. I am so upset to waste £40 I am now going to have to go and find another pair of shoes which are flat. I thought Clarks were a reputable brand that you could trust. The shoes were the only ones in her size in the shop and seemed to fit well...then I saw that inch heel. DRAT DRAT DRAT. The lady in the shop persuaded me that they were a best seller but I really don't want my daughter to sprain her ankle running around in them. What do you think. Will she get used to them or am I right to go and buy another pair? Are they dangerous?

mummytowillow · 01/04/2014 12:25

I tell the Clarks lady not to bring shoes with toys out to try on.

Job done!

Startrite are better IMO.

JerseySpud · 01/04/2014 12:28

DD1 has the Daisy shoes with the patent toe and they are the longest lasting pair she has ever owned

itsnothingoriginal · 01/04/2014 12:47

YANBU and this subject is the absolute bane of my life OP.

DD does have 'problem' feet (hypermobile ankles that need proper support) but most girls DO need shoes that will help and support them properly while they are growing and playing.

Clarks barely make ANY choice of footwear for girls that supports the foot and ankle properly - maybe one pair per season but that's it!!

I've been in touch with Clarks several times who are less than interested. They will carry on making fashion shoes for girls without proper support and the choice gets worse as DD gets older.

I've voted with my feet (literally) and don't even bother setting foot (!) in the door when DD needs new shoes!

BigRedBall · 01/04/2014 12:51

I think they're quite sturdy shoes actually. You can get exactly the same type without the dolls there too.