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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU (shoe shop related)

26 replies

superking · 14/08/2017 20:18

My 1 year old DD needs some new shoes. She's a confident walker but very little - her first shoes have been crocs because I could find nothing else small enough. But she's growing out of them now and they're not practical with autumn around the corner.

Today I went into both shoe shops in my town. Neither had anything that would fit her, one (Clarks) measured her and suggested I look on their website and order something into store where they will check them. Just tried to do that and there is nothing in stock online either!

I have managed to find a pair of Clark's shoes in her size on another online website. Would I be unreasonable to order them and take them into the Clark's shop and ask them to check them for me, or would that be really cheeky?

My other option is to take them along with me when I get my older DD's school shoes later this week from the other shoe shop in town, an independent, and see if they would check them for me (they had nothing in stock in DD2's size either).

What should I do?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 14/08/2017 20:20

What size was she?

manglethedangle · 14/08/2017 20:20

If they are Clark's brand they'll check them.

Original poster
superking · 14/08/2017 20:26

She's a 3F, I had thought there would be more options by now but the assistants in both stores said that as it's getting to the end of the season they're low on stock. Also she needs proper walkers not cruising shoes, and a lot in that size are cruisers.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 14/08/2017 20:28

I'd get a pair of crawlers/cruisers and a pair of wellies!

ktjb39 · 14/08/2017 20:36

Try Russell and Bromley or somewhere that sells Startrite shoes I found some smaller sizes there.

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/08/2017 20:40

She will only be in them for 2 months tops. I agree with getting the cruisers. She won't be walking enough to wear them out.

BasketOfDeplorables · 14/08/2017 20:43

When we bought DD her first pair she was properly walking but the fitter said best to get cruisers while she can still fit into them, as they're more flexible and better for her feet. She said only get the harder soles when they don't fit into the cruisers any more, so her second pair were regular walkers.

Original poster
superking · 14/08/2017 20:49

Hmmm so are cruisers ok then? I had thought that they weren't supportive enough for walking in. She's been walking for several months now and often walks outside. Might go back to the shops tomorrow and ask them.

ktjb the independent I went to does stock startrite but all their little shoes are out of stock annoyingly. I could go further afield and try the next town but it's a real faff with 2 small DC in tow and no guarantee of success!

OP posts:
Branleuse · 14/08/2017 20:51

Cruisers will be absolutely fine

NancyJoan · 14/08/2017 20:51

Her feet are designed to walk barefoot, she doesn't need the support of shoes. Not that Crocs are exactly supportive. Cruisers will be fine, I doubt you're expecting her to walk miles a day (are you?!).

MrsAukerman · 14/08/2017 20:53

The more flexible and soft the better for as long as possible.
Just measure her feet by standing her on a sheet of paper, measure in cms and then check out bobux or similar online. Happy little feet website good for more information and also buying shoes from.

AlexanderHamilton · 14/08/2017 20:54

Ds had to have cruisers as he was still only a size 2 aged 18 months.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 14/08/2017 20:54

DS was a 2 when he mastered walking at 16 months. I had to wait months for him to go up to to a 3 for a proper shoe, so he had to wear cruisers. Thank goodness he wasn't an early walker when he was still size 1. Confused

He had a pair of sandals, but it was a sodden swamp of a summer and I had to spend ££ on wellies so he could play outside without getting trench foot. (Sod's Law dictated that DS2 had bigger feet and never needed them to get better value out of them).

Get the independent to have a check. The sizing might vary in different brands due to the cut. Ordering Clarkes through a third party and getting them check could be a contingency plan.

(Buying shoes is one of my fastest routes to feeling unreasonably irate...)

Gunpowder · 14/08/2017 20:56

Mine had tiny feet and wore cruisers when walking confidently outside. They grew out of them before they wore out. Sales assistants said they would be fine. I'd imagine they'd be as/more supportive than crocs?

Allthewaves · 14/08/2017 21:03

schuh online

Original poster
superking · 14/08/2017 21:04

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 14/08/2017 21:06

Cruisers arena waste of time and money I bought a pair for dd2 she wouldn't walk in them at all. Tried her in her sisters old 3s and off she went...

Try startright they start small

MarcelineTheVampire · 14/08/2017 21:08

My daughter has cruisers still and they are fine- just get them for now. She walks everywhere in them.

MessyHouse91 · 14/08/2017 21:10

I used to fit baby shoes - unless she's walking for miles outside cruisers are fine for now. Save a proper walking pair for winter when you'll probably want her in an ankle boot anyway.

And yes as long as they're clarks they'll check them.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/08/2017 21:12

Another vote for Happy Little Soles. Loads of info on the website on how to fit shoes yourself (as well as lots of lovely shoes!)

BasketOfDeplorables · 14/08/2017 21:15

I would have bought DD cruisers for her second pair if she could still fit them. Her start rite ones were very comfy, with a nice padded sole.

Enidblyton1 · 14/08/2017 21:19

Look out for the really soft Bobux first walkers. My DD wore those for ages - they are usually £30 something a pair, but there are lots of shoe shop sales at the moment (try online if no specialist children's shoe shops near you). I saw size 3 in a shop in Fulham the other day reduced to £16.

I gave up on Clarks long ago. There are some brilliant children's shoe brands like Ricosta, Primigi and Bobux which don't need to cost a fortune if you look out for sales. (Apart from anything else I got fed up with the proliferation of pink and purple shoes Clarks seem to insist on for girls).

noenergy · 14/08/2017 21:22

I had mine in cruisers until they reached the biggest size they came in. They were much more flexible for a newly walking toddler.