To think that if your feet are small enough to wear these shoes you are too young for high heels?

[unrulysun]

I saw these shoes in a branch of Monsoon today. I see plenty of things for little girls which make me roll my eyes but these actually made me stop and stare and then a few minutes later go back into the shop to talk to someone.

The heel on these is a good inch high. My DD is 3 and her feet are size 9. The ones I saw were in a size 7 which I think DD last had when she was 2. She’s not particularly enormous for her age so I think these shoes are definitely for 2 – 3 year olds. I don’t know what size they go down to. AIBU to think that a 2 or 3 year old shouldn’t be walking around in high heels? This isn’t wearing your mum’s high heels this is ‘these are your new shoes’.

And yy I know ‘you don’t need to buy them if you don’t want to’ and I won’t buy them. But I care about the little girls who they are bought for. I don’t think any little girl should be put into shoes like this. Frankly I’d be worried DD would twist an ankle in heels this high. She certainly wouldn’t be able to run or play. And I’m sad that these are on sale for little girls. Not in some weird online place but in a high street shop.

I’m going to complain to Monsoon. I would have liked to have given them the feedback instore today but the sales assistant shrugged and said ‘I’m just a sales assistant’ and the manager was ‘too busy’ to talk to –annoying people who think girls should be allowed to be children-- me.

where did I say it was the correct way to have a wedding, and that all other ways were superficial?

it was the correct way to have our wedding. for us (and there was plenty of dressign up - dh loves any old excuse . he also fulfilled the poncey new shoe quota for the pair of us, although my brother nealry pipped him at the post for that with his sequinned ones!)

Thought I'd given you a reason.

DD had these shoes worn for the wedding and a couple of writes later on. They did not prevent her from running, dancing, fighting with her brother or climbing all sorts of stuff in the playground next to the churchyard. They are low heeled and with a strap.

Now a medium or high heel, or a style with a pointy toe or without a strap might impede movement. But the shoes this thread began about are not like that.

You still haven't read it, though, Alarm. They don't need to dress like that to feel special. I'm sure the owners of those shoes often feel special when not wearing them. What we are saying is they aren't doing any harm and it isn't crime of the century, or denying them a childhood, or discriminating against girls, to allow them to wear a different type of clothing every now and then. The same is true of boys, as others have pointed out. If we went by need and practicality I suspect we would all still be in bare feet with lose fitting trouser type clothing. Much like I dress, on reflection...

I have asked why you would put a heel on a shoe for a very small child. I can't think of a reason to do that.

Because some people think it looks pretty. Why else would you dress them up?

I don't understand your confusion.

Actually I bet the "heel" on the winter boots DS has from clarks is about as big as the heel on these shoes.

These are geox boys shoes available in the same sizes. Do you have similar opinions on these heels? I would hazard a guess that the heel on these is just as high as the pretty monsoon shoes.

("I don't think I said anything about being superficial? I'm not sure where that's come from? I'm worried about girls being judged on their apearance.

I also haven't said we should have nothing we don't need. I have asked why you would put a heel on a shoe for a very small child. I can't think of a reason to do that.")

Haven't we already established that these shoes are not meant for very small children?

No meanderdeander I don't think that your DD's medical need for a heel answers my general question about heels on girl's shoes. If these had been produced to fill just such a medical need they would also have them in the boys' section.

And yes clearly lots of people think IABU. But AIBU is sometimes a good place for a debate...

"I have asked why you would put a heel on a shoe for a very small child"

Not all children with size 7 feet are toddlers.

I do nt understand why you don't get this.

unruly and Alarm I used the word superficial (I think others did to). Can't you see that saying you worry about girls being judged on their appearance (and who isn't) suggests that you think those who let their children wear the kind of things you are criticising are prioritising looks over something deeper and are therefore superficial? It's implied in what you are saying and, for shoes/clothes more shocking that those you linked you would be right.
Alarm you definitely implied that bridesmaids shouldn't have to wear 'traditional' bridesmaid dresses. Again, this implied that not expecting that was in some way superior. It could be the lack of tome on a forum, but that's how it came across.

Why would someone put a child in these shoes?
-Because they think they're pretty

• because they match the dress perfectly
• because they want to
• because lots of little girls would kill to have shoes like that
• because not everyone feels the need to suck all the fun out of life.
• and probably for a whole host of other reasons.

Not read the thread, maybe I should, but I agree with you. I looked at similar shoes in monsoon when dd was going to be a bridesmaid, and I just thought of twisted ankles. I chose the flat ones instead. I wouldn't bother to complain though. People make their own choices based on what they know about their kids. Am sure some would be ok with them, probably.

You are not wrong Glaikit.

The podiatrist said I was lucky she was a girl as it's very difficult to get heeled shoes for boys. As I said thanks for link. Will buy a pair.

That's not a heel though is it? It's just a built up sole. The front of the shoe is no lower than the back.

I haven't mentioned anythign aout need, though (other than need to be practical and comfortable - but then I see those as basic needs).

you still haven't read what I have put, though. I haven't ever said that children/people won't ever feel special without heels/sequins/whatever. what a ridiculous exptrapolation.

I have, however, had the unenviable task of trying to find 'special' shoes for small girls which are also practical and comfortable. it is not always easy. and by practical, I don't necessarily mean tree-climbing practical (although I have to say that I don't restrict activities based on what my dc are wearing), just ability to walk/go about your daily life without having to modify your behaviours due to clothing.

I wouldn't ask boys to wear anythign restrictive or uncomfortable either (not really sure why that has been brought into it). iirc, the young boys at my wedding (talking under 5s here, since that is where the thread started out) wore linen trousers and tops...

OP

We all have different tastes. My taste in clothes & shoes is certainly different to my children's

Just because 'you' don't like something doesn't mean that others don't have the right to choose them (having established they are not that bad for your feet for occasional wear.

Interesting that link to the podiatry leaflet identified plimsolls as being bad for your feet if worn everyday - confirms what I've always thought.

You don't want a debate though, you just want everyone to agree with you.

I'm out.

Suck the fun out of life?

Yes. That is exactly what I want to do. That is why I posted about children being able to run around and play, because I want to suck the fun out of life...

And the thing about being superficial is just so far off the point... It's not about that, it's about how we judge girls and women.

Of course I want everyone to agree with me. That's the fucking point of a debate :)

More shoe nostalgia derek . I'm pretty sure my doc martens (both boots and Mary janes) were about that height too. And they are the height of practicality.

Btw I had purple sparkly jelly shoes.

I find the op incomprehensible. Why cant you use proper measurements. Size 3 for toddlers? What does that even mean?

My four year old is a size 26. And I havent a notion what an inch is. Its the 21st century, where we ude cms.

Anyway, your link sucks, but I cant see any real heeled shoes on that website, they hsve tiny little raised heels that wouldnt stop a kid running or climbing or anyting.

It's it?? Doesn't look like it to me, the sole is clearly thinner towards the toe. You can can also tell by the height of the upper where it would sit on the upper part of the heel/Achilles.

The fabric the shoes are made of also skews the comparison I'll have you, but if you bought the geox ones for dd, they would bloody daft with a pretty dress.