Are you a bad mum if you don't buy...

[btfly2]

to your children Clarks, Start Rite, Hampton school shoes? Would you think badly of me...? In our school it's the non written norm but I'm thinking to be brave and break the rules...aibu ?? ;)

I have always found Clarks/startrite to be good quality but I hate that the soles (especially on the "boys" shoes) are like a block of wood. Too thick and inflexible. DS1 didn't seem to mind this but DS2 hates shoes like that. He has small feet so still fits into the more flexible first shoes.

They both wear black leather trainers which were 12 quid each from a sports shop. They seem to be wearing fine so far and are much more comfortable than brick like Clarks shoes.

My kids have very bony feet, lots of shoes hurt them.

The shoes that fit them best are Nikes, wish they could wear those to school!

In Y6 DS was allowed to wear his black leather Nikes as school shoes, it was bliss

Why can't Nike make school shoes.... Nike are you listening?

FrazzleM Vivobarefoot Neo www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/kids - are robust, they're not cheap, but you can often get them cheaper than that, or via discount coupons but they've lasted a long time (interestingly a lot of the founding cash/contacts came from a scion of the Clarks family)

It's the only one I have personal knowledge of, but as EllenRipley says happy little souls is a website with more.

I was trained to fit shoes at a Start-rite shop where I worked part time whilst at University.
It's really easy to fit shoes and therefore once you know how you can then buy your shoes from anywhere! I personally don't think it's worth spending the money for clarkes or start-rite when kids feet can grow really rapidly.

You check the length - half a thumb nail of growth room is good. Feel around the heel - check it's not slipping off and your child foot isn't slipping towards the front. Look at how the walk and run on them.

Also feel along the sides to check the shoesare wide enough and no toes are squished!

Some children have awkward feet - either very narrow or wide and you may only find shoes to fit in shops with width fittings unfortunately. But it is worth trying different styles or shapes to see what works.

DS has v slim feet high instep and also pointy ankles (he's beautiful honest! Clarks do nothing for him at all - last year against my better judgement DH took him and they tried every school shoe - only one fitted and that wasn't well... so back to independent shoe shop £5 more but fantastic fit straight away - Ricosta he's never not outgrown a pair and they are still in good nick after a year they are expensive outlay but last - he only has 3 pairs of shoes - school shoes, out of school shoes and trainers...so I just suck up the cost as can really see the benefit..

My daughter wears vans, the black leather ones, I thought they might be rubbish due them being more fashionable than the dreaded Clarks but they have lasted ages and are a lot more flexible and closer to the minimalist shoe others have mentioned. They have a lot better arch support than converse as well. My dds school is fairly relaxed about uniform, but some schools say they are not formal enough. My daughter walks 3 miles a day and is so much more comfortable in a trainer style shoe than a formal shoe.

I can't see how it's possible for a child's feet to not grow at all in 4 years, especially 4 years that basically cover most of puberty. All of mine have gone up at least 1 size per year at that age.

Of course it's possible, I've been a size 5 since I was 10 and my daughter has been size 6.5 since she was 11.

I used to have to have special insoles put into my shoes until I was about 8 as I walked on the inside of my foot. My Mum was advised to only get fitted shoes like Clark's or Startright, we had to take them to the hospital to get the fit checked and soles put in.
Now as an adult I am having to have cortisone injection in my heel and have been told that walking barefoot and wearing shoes with poor support in adult life have caused the problems.

shoezone all the way, 6 kids, noo ne's feet fell off as a result and there are no reported foot problems, and the shoes generally lasted well. .
who gives a shite about what you 'should' buy ? watch 'bad moms' and wise up with the 'heroine' of the story.

Cheap shoes often don't save money, as they need to be replaced more often.

Dd has got a year's wear of her beloved Clark's, before we need to buy a new size. They last well, and I want her to have properly fitted, decent quality shoes.

My daughter (6) has lelli Kelly's , the younger two boys (3 and 9) have kickers and the teenager has Ted Baker.

My feet haven't grown since I was 10 neither has my height. I was 5ft 2 with size 3 feet at 10 and I still am at 31

I thought walking bare foot when feasible is good for your feet

I avoid Clarkson and go for more barefoot shoes too.

I bought aldi school shoes this year , my youngests have been through the washing machine 4 times already and they still look brand new , i bought clarks last year and they looked horrendous by xmas

*rats fair point but i was only needing to buy shoes as dc's feet grew so i don't get the 'cheap need replacing so much', clarks and co are very over rated.

Vivo don't go small enough for my 2 year old. I'll have a look at Happy Little Soles.

He's in Clarks at the moment - seriously am I damaging his feet?

Happy little soles don't do different widths - I worry that DS feet would be too wide.

I remember clarks shoes being really good, and my Dad insisting we have clarks school shoes when ever we could afford (his feet are knackered from wearing small shoes as a child).
I've had a pair of walking shoes from them that lasted about 8+ years, which would of lasted longer had I not left them (accidentally) outside all winter and tried washing them in the washing machine... I also have a pair of leather boots that are about the same age but either need tossing or new soles but I wore them every winter both for work and whilst out and about so I think they were a great buy.

I've had 3 pairs in the last 5 years or so and none have lasted. Scuffed, soles falling off, falling apart at the seams etc. Nope, no good any more.
My DP used to work for them whilst at Uni and worked in the kids fitting shoes. He often 'feels up' the shoes I'm trying on! Makes me giggle and feel like I'm 5 again! haha

I never bought Clark's shoes they never fitted Dd property so never bought any money wore Birthday shoes from Barrera then hush puppies .

DD had Clarks last year but M&S this year. Mainly because I already knew her shoe size and didn't want to wait over 30 minutes to be served. They are identical to the ones she has last year except they don't flash. I also know a bit about checking shoes so even though DD made a fuss about not going to Clarks she's now really happy with this years shoes!
I think it's good to get feet measured regularly but unless they have needs that can only be met by Clarks etc it really doesn't matter. Plus, it means your less likely to end up with the wrong shoes back after PE.

Splendide Different brands are different widths.

Mine wore

Agree the fit is more important than the brand. I have wide feet and whilst they don't cause me specific problems, all of my toes are ugly 'hammer' toes from being squashed in inflexible shoes when young

We always get last years models, half price from the outlets or onlines from Clarks/Jones/whatever.

I couldn't care less if helicopters were in last year, and this year it's dinosaurs, and neither could the kids.

Agree that the fit is much, much more important. (I have small, wide feet with little toes, and basically live in crocs, ugg-type, and boys trainers (womens are always too narrow) so I know that uncomfortable shoes are horrible and wouldn't subject my kids to it.

Dd started school in 1997 start rite shoes were £55 I didn't have £55 for shoes