To not buy him shoes?

[Abcdefghii]

DS is 12 months and getting more confident on his feet. He walks around indoors, doesn't crawl anymore. He stumbles sometimes when he tries to run but overall is becoming more stable. At the moment he's shoe-less and I'm having a nightmare finding shoes that fit.

He was measured in Clark's and they said he's 5 1/2 G-fit and has really wide feet. The cheapest they have in soft soles is £30 and money is tight. It seems alot to spend on something that won't fit for long, especially as he's always in his pram when we're out.

I've trawled endless shops looking for a cheaper alternative but nowhere has soft soles that fit. It's stressing me out more than it should

Wibu to just not buy him shoes yet.

My son turned 1 in October, started walking in September. I bought him his first pair of hard shoes last week, some doodles from Clarke's for £13. I tried booties on him and he ripped them straight off. He can walk fine in his shoes now but I didn't buy him any because there was absolutely no point. IMO they don't need them that often anyway.

I got him some soft sole slippers before but he can't walk in them at all.

All other babies his age seem to be in shoes!

He needs outdoor time, and so if he's no longer crawling indoors, he does need shoes, and it's worth spending at this age because the cheap ones are often hard soled and impossible for them to walk in.

Have you looked on eBay? There are often some hardly worn ones there. Or put out a request on a local FB group in case anyone has some to sell?

Depends on your lifestyle I guess.

I relied on buses when my kids were 12 months so having them be able to stand up while I collapsed the buggy was useful .

But if that's not something you have to worry about, and given it's wet and slippery any way it's not a bad thing to wait .

But you probably won't get that "gap" like ever. So you are in effect waiting for a time that won't come until adulthood tbh. You won't get much in the way of long lasting shoe gaps

I guess he only needs them if he will be walking outside. It does sound like he would be ready to toddler round the garden or park. Have you had a look at Clarks outlet site? Shoes on there are much cheaper. They even have a few factory stores dotted about that you might be close to. There will be people along to tell you that Clarks are terrible but we have some and they are doing the job. The prewalkers have the more flexible sole if that's what you want.

He needs shoes if hes going to be walking around outside or in public areas like restaurants or shops where there might be things on the floor that coyld hurt him.

Have you tried clarks online, they have shoes in that size from £12

www.clarks.co.uk/Kids/Wide-fit-shoes/c/k21?sort=price-asc&q=%3Arelevance%3Awidth%3AG+%28Wide%29%3AsizeGroup%3Ainfant%2F5½&show=Page#

Clark's have their sale on right now. Go to the website.

I got DD some shoes last week for £13!
Or check your local buy and sell / gum tree

Have you looked at normal trainers/plimsolls?

The Dunlop ones you get in sports direct are soft, and fit wide feet (can personally attest as mine are wider than they are long).

Clarks are all well and good if you can afford them, but if you can’t then there’s plenty of other options if you shop around.

He should have something on his feet if he’s walking outside.

It is a pain but baby feet need properly fitted and very soft shoes. Ideally you should be able to squeeze the shoe in one of your hand without lots of pressure.

We found an independent shoe shop, they sell European brands who are full size only, so they last a bit longer.

He most likely will start to want to walk outside and then proper soles are a must, even the little leather slipper ones can't cope with this weather.

I've just been back into tk max and found a pair that fit width wise and have room at the toes but they are a 4

Don’t buy shoes until you HAVE to

If you just want protection for toddling round the park and stuff the first walkers range at George ASDA is lovely and is very barefoot friendly.

Yeah erm...Clarks are shit. I've never left their shop with a correct measurement.

They have been wrong every time.

I don't go there any more

Asda do a range of first walkers shoes that are quite soft and flexible. Really decent for the price but some are better than others so you’d want to have a look at them and try them on rather than order online.

I really don’t think at age 1 you need shoes. Nice to have but not necessary. A one year old is not going to be walking anywhere other than toddling about occasionally- I bought some soft plastic things (more like slippers than shoes) for that time and got actual shoes when they needed them for nursery.

Having to stand on a bus floor for 30 seconds is no reason to spend £££ on baby shoes imo.

I’m sure I’ll get slated for that, I have three kids one of whom walked at ten months. No issues with their feet at all.

Clark's have their sale on right now. Go to the website. I got DD some shoes last week for £13! Or check your local buy and sell / gum tree

Shoes need to be fitted properly, each pair will differ slightly. And second hand shoes will be worn in with another childs weight distribution, stance, posture, and will damage your childs feet in the long term. Never skimp on footware.

I got him the ones from tk max, he was asleep at the time so couldn't see him walk in them but was told I could bring them back so long as he doesn't go outside in them.

He's awake now and just put them on him indoors. He cant/won't walk in them at all, even though they fit him and are lightweight. Is this normal? Is it just a case of persevering?

It's like he loses all knowledge of how to walk once in shoes.

Its a footwear in general issue rather than the pair he has because he is exactly the same in soft sole slippers

People seriously prevent their children from walking outdoors to avoid the expense of shoes At what point does that become unacceptable?

Children's shoes are both expensive and necessary.

I would perserve a bit OP (indoors of course). Ds2 was a bit like this with his first pair of proper shoes - I can remember standing in the shop saying "he really can walk". He had to have little ankle boots until age 2 so he couldnt get them off and chuck them away.

Just buy some cheap trainers - it's not like he'll be walking miles.

Persevere - I remember my dd standing for 15mins in the shop the first time she wore shoes - it’s a different sensation for them

He has some now but can't get to grips with walking in them at the minute. They're not too tight in width and have room in the toes he just turns into a newborn giraffe

In my experience it takes a little while for them to learn to walk in shoes. Do make sure the shoes fit properly. I buy either in the clarks sale or outlet, so far I’ve not paid full price. If he’s only one you could probably wait a bit longer.

George Asda has cheap ‘first walkers’

Clark’s are shite, not worth the price

Bare feet are free in both senses of the word! Ds had club feet and after his treatment was finished (4) he battled to have bare feet!! Even at nursery they came off. Slipper socks at home and in the buggy are fine.
Until they get a welly obsession......