To have bought DS (2yo) a pair of non clarks sandles?

[Sassypants82]

Have been meaning to buy him a pair of summer sandles. Just came across a pair in a local well known chain store for approx half the price of clarks equivalent. I'm surprised by the quality & can't see much difference between these & the ones in clarks, both have leather insoles etc. I've never bought non clarks shoes before & am now imagining destroying his feet (he's got pretty narrow feet but these sandles seem to fit well & are adjustable as Velcro fastenings) ... Am I the product of clever clarks marketing or should I return them? I know, I know first world problems but the guilt is never far away.

I would say they'll be fine. Because sandals are open toed and heeled, I don't think they need the expert fitting that Clarks are supposed to give you - and they are more adjustable so you can fit them well to his feet, and won't be risking any damage, I'd say.

Mine rarely had Clarks shoes and their feet are perfectly fine. They are in their twenties now.

Clarke's only sell sandals in one width fitting anyway so they wouldn't necessarily fit any better at all

Great, thanks all. Didn't realise the width was all the same for sandles, thats comforting to know.

I did it this year for the first time (DS is 5) and the M&S ones I bought are now falling apart after 1 week of light use

Clarks sandals are ridiculously expensive.

I pretty much never buy Clarks - they're just shoes, not magical clouds which are stroked onto your child's feet by pixies.

My daughter is running about in a pair of Aldi £1.99 fake lelli kelli sandles.
Yanbu for buying Clarks, YABU to think that's Clarks is the holy grail of kids shoes.

Tescos do my kids feet on the whole....
Have done Clarkes if major sale on which include right size/

I prefer the German sandals from the local indie retailer, not that I can often afford them. Clarks fitting technique isn't the best, you're often just as well using your own judgement.

YANBU for not buying Clarks

YABU for thinking that it's Clarks or damaged feet, I don't know how people have been led to believe this, but it's great for them and their over priced products.

My daughter has had one pair of Clarks shoes from MIL who insisted I was going to to damage her for life by only buying her shoes from Next/The Market/ShoeZone/Discount Shops from anywhere that a minimum wage worker can actually afford.

Most normal adults feet are perfectly fine and we wore all sorts of shoes. :)

Clarkes are now doing those adjustable sandals that look exactly the same as the ones from well know chain stores and they don't come in a range of width fittings. I just bought DD1 a pair of adjustable sandals from Sainsburys and they fit her really well.

nearly 2yo DD is in primark sandals (on rare hot days) and next pumps on normals days. Not to mention mothercare wellies on the wrong feet if she decides she wants to dress herself .

I really wish there wasn't some view that you're damaging your child's feet by not putting them in Clarks shoes.

I do prefer Clarks shoes, although can't always afford them.

Sandals we buy from Primark or ASDA and they last 1 season (which is ok because their feet grow so fast) and school shoes are Clarks because they fit properly and last at least 6 months (last longer if my children ever stop growing!!!!).

I'm really really fussy about what i put on DCs feet. However, that doesn't mean i pay a lot, we cant afford it tbh. DD has quite narrow feet and a low ankle bone.

Quick check, do they bend easily? Are the straps soft? Do the sides sit comfortably under the ankle bone? Good around the toes and over the instep? Do they slip up and down? Adjustable? It can take time to find the right ones but none of the above has to cost the earth necessarily.

This years sandles for DD4 (2) are white velcro strappy ones from Tesco, £8 or £12 i think. Last years were from Mother Care - £6 IIRC.

I get DS1 (3yo) sandals and wellies in Next. His current spare shoes are bright orange Planes trainers from Sports Direct but his main shoes are Clarks. He has wide feet though and it's difficult to find G or H fitting shoes anywhere else

claps Pearlman Unfortunately for me I have a MIL who believes all of the Clarks marketing BS!!

Living in the US, I've never seen a child here wearing Clarks shoes. There are Clarks shops here, but I've never actually seen a child in there trying on shoes. It's usually adults with money to burn.

Unfortunately it's definitely a thing.. I remember going to clarks myself as a kid & just went straight there with DS as soon as he started coasting to avoid the dreaded 'destroying of the growing feet' without even really thinking about it. He's happily toddling round in his new sandles anyway with no signs of foot damage so it's all good!!