To think that buying half sizes shoes for toddlers is silly

[SweetSally]

Am I the only person who thinks that buying half size shoes for toddlers is just silly? Especially for winter shoes when naturally they wear thicker socks?

*Preparing to be slaughtered by other moms

Not many toddlers are bigger than a size 12 though are they?

My DD was a 3.5 for ages. I struggled to find any shoes to fit her feet as they were all prewalkers and DD was running round the shoe shop so I needed proper shoes. When ai tried a 4 it was slipping and too big.

I buy dd whatever sized shoe fits if that a have size or full size I’m not to worried as long as they fit properly and are comfortable. I’m also not overly worried how long they get used for at her age as a child need properly sized shoes if not it can cause problems later on such as fallen arches etc. If the shoes are still in good condition due to her growing out of them I’ll throw them in a charity shop.

A half size is a huge difference on a toddler foot. We found this out the hard way when DD tripped at nursery because her new shoes were too big - by half a size (nearly a whole size on the smaller foot). More than a decade later she still has a 1 inch scar on her forehead.

And the shining example of children’s footwear fitting that told us the size was correct? Clarks. When I wrote and complained they told me children’s shoe fitting is an art not a science and they didn’t represent themselves as shoe fitting experts. Totally contrary to the usual sh1t they spout to parents about using Clarks to make sure shoes fit correctly. Not bought a pair from them since, and there has been a total of zero trip incidents from ill-fitting shoes for DD or DS after that time.

*half size

Not many toddlers are bigger than a size 12 though are they?
Just picked a random number for an example. However my Ds was a size 12 when he was 3.

Mine are 6 and 4 and are a 10.5 and a 10

I think you're being a bit dim.

I agree with you. The difference between half sizes is only 4mm. If they are bigger than, say, a 12 then I buy a 13.

But why? Why do you buy your child shoes that don't fit simply to avoid a half size

Has anyone actually compared the shoes ? Like size 4 and 4.5? They are literally the same?

Yes, and no they are not the same.

Wow.
YABVVVYU
Having been sold a half size SMALLER by one Clark’s store, which caused my toddler to fall to the floor and cry ever other step - presumably in pain- when I went to a different store 4 days later (wasn’t walking in them for those 4 days btw was 10 mins max before we removed the awful shoes) to be re measured, because I was so concerned, and they measured a half size bigger than the original store - I was thrilled to see that DC could now walk NORMALLY in the same shoe and there were no tears.
I never had DC measured in the original store ever again, I always drove the 38 mile round trip to the other store I now trusted.

Half size is huge in toddler size.so yes YABU to think buying half sizes are silly. Would your feet feel happy squashed in a smaller size Especially for winter shoes when naturally they wear thicker socks?
Try it, if you could walk comfortably in half size smaller with thicker socks and not feel pain or end up with blisters I would be amazed.

I find it utterly bizzare that anyone would buy shoes for their child or even themselves that aren't the correct size.

I am a trained shoe fitter and kids need shoes that fit properly in order to prevent developmental issues with the feet. That said, so many parents stick their kids in converse, sports brand trainers and supermarket shoes which are utterly crap for kids feet, that going for a half size up in a decent kids shoe like Clark's or startrite is no worse.

I have bought a foot measure and the way it presents is that the "half" sizes are still a full shoe size different in cm difference. It shows there isnt a half size for each size. The chart is as follows
3, 3 5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 11, 11.5

Might be wrong but this is how I read it!

Has anyone actually compared the shoes? Like size 4 and 4.5? They are literally the same?

^^ the world’s lamest conspiracy theory

We buy in Clark's so my 9 and 6 year olds still have half sizes, they usually go up a whole size by the time we buy new shoes though, so 10.5 to 11.5 for example.

My eldest is a 1 currently but I bought 1.5 football boots to give room for his socks and a bit of growth, 2 would be too big.

If half sizes turn you into a batshit crazy conspiracy theorist, just buy in European sizes. Voilà, no half sizes. Don’t forget to take the tin foil hat off before bed tonight, OP!

Shoes that are too big make small children fall. Learning to walk and the toddler stage is difficult enough without them tripping Iver their cloown shoes every 5 mins.

Have never bought half sizes. I just buy the next size up when he grows out of the current shoes. Simple. Never had any falling over incidents here.

Have never bought half sizes. I just buy the next size up when he grows out of the current shoes. Simple.

But why? Why do you not have his feet measured and buy the size he is?

Theyre not the same at all. Just like widths arent the same. The extra half a size is as big for toddler feet as it would be for someone trying to wear a 7.5 or a 6.5 if they're a 7. The half sizes exist for a reason, and that's to make sure your kids feet grow healthily and don't have any issues as they age.

Ask the now elderly folk who had shit fitting shoes how their feet are now? My Nan had deformed toes. My aunt had the bones of two toes removed. I can go on...

No @Jenpop234 but you are probably affecting his natural gait and the pressure he has to put through his toe joints...

Ffs. Kids shoe fitting exists for a reason. Use it and buy the size he is!

Half sizes make a massive difference.
Size 3 is normally too snug on width.
Size 4 is like a bloody canoe.
Size 3.5 is the optimum balance between getting my foot in and not falling over a spare inch of shoe.
Not that adult women are supposed to be under size 4 these days

Now if only I could buy adult shoes in size 1.5 mega-ultra-wide, I'd be sorted (I can only do size 1 in flip flops )

It would depend on where we shopped as some places don't do half sizes. I always found that places like Clarks would ask what size he was last measured at before they remeasured my son's feet. He was always a bigger size on the next visit even when it had just been 10 days later. Stopped shopping at Clarks

You buy the shoes that fit, shoes that are too small can hurt and squash the toes together, shoes that are too big can cause trips and hammer toes. Why would anyone want their child to be uncomfortable with every footstep?

I’m a size 12.5, I normally wear a 12 as a size 13 is too loose and I have to grip with my toes. A size 12 is too small so I can only wear certain socks. I only ever came across a 12.5 once and it made a huge difference, the width was perfect as was the length as my toes had room to move but not so much that my shoe flapped at the front as I walked.

Are you assuming that because shoes are available in half sizes, that people are buying every size? Because that’s not what happens...