School shoes for reception DD

[Aria20]

I've had the joys of Clark's back to school measuring feet for 3 children today. Got the older boys sorted in M&S in the end. But 4.5yo dd is proving hard to get school shoes for... She obviously loves the Mary Jane style shoes - but they gape when she's walking. I have tried so many pairs on her today in various sizes and widths. I've tried Clark's, M&S, next and matalan today. Have previously tried Asda and sainsburys with same issue. Her feet aren't odd shaped or anything, 10f so average width. Why don't any of the shoes fit properly?! Also tried T bar style and they also gaped.

They are not allowed boots or black trainer style. She will not wear boys ones. She has 2 big brothers and is very much a girly girl and knows what she likes.

Anyone else have this problem? Also £48 for a plain pair of Mary Jane style in Clark's! That's more than I spend on my own shoes and these are for a 4yo whose feet will prob have grown by Xmas or she'll have scuffed them up on scooters...

@NameChange30 yes she's pretty set on girly things. DH let her choose her pencil case and lunchbox in Asda and she chose things covered in rainbows, hearts and unicorns...I think there used to be a start rite nearby not sure if it's still there but I will look as those shoes probably would fit her better than Mary Janes and if she actually tried them on in person she might like them.

We have exactly the same problem but thankfully DD is still happily wearing the type of shoes linked by previous posters with the 2 velcro straps.

The Dr martens Mary Jane's are amazing. My reception age daughter had them and they last her the whole year and they are the patent ones. She will wear them in year 1 to until she's outgrown them as they havnt aged at all. They have a very high strap so might help xx

Have you tried toezone? We found them to be a great fit.
Or Deichmann (never used them but just an alternative & not as expensive)

We bought Toe Zone shoes for my daughter (one pair of boots from sainsbury's online, one pair of mary janes with the strap round the ankle from Very), they fitted really well and were outgrown before they wore out. They had a rubber bumper around the toes on the mary Jane's which really made the difference as my daughter can usually destroy a pair of shoes in a single wear if she puts her mind to it!

These were the ones:

www.very.co.uk/everyday-toezonenbspgirls-patent-leather-school-shoe-black/1600408055.prd?_requestid=430376&Ntt=toezone

As suggested above, try Start-Rite though speak to a fitter about a 10 size and perhaps they can help with a suitable Mary Janes too. For a 4.5 yr old , there are other T bar styles. https://www.elevateyoursole.co.uk/

Thanks for all the suggestions I've just looked at toe zone as not heard of them before. Seeing as they are half the price of start rite and a few recommendations I think I'll try them first. @MuddlingThrough1724 are they true to size? Or would you size up?

My dd1 struggles with shoes gaping as her foot must be a tad narrow but she always fits Tesco shoes well, dd2 has wider feet and can't fit into Tesco so they must be a tighter fit. Could you also try a foam insole, I've seen them on Amazon etc xx

@Aria20 I would say the mary Jane's are true to size, perhaps slightly on the generous side. We managed to wear perhaps a smidge big for a while as the position of the ankle strap helped! The boots run slightly smaller but would say true to size still.

Also to add, as you mentioned width issues, Petasil specialise in narrow fitting school shoes.

Ok. MJ shoes will gape when you walk. You don't say what size she measured. It sounds like she has shallow feet. I would suggest a simple insole will solve the problem, or look for a shallow style. Startrite might fit better. They are making shoe styles very deep for some reason. Don't feel that a shoe with an insole doesn't fit properly.

I agree with another poster. My dd has f width feet and very shallow feet if that makes sense so all Clarks shoes gape but sorted it with just adding a insole

Kickers Mary Janes ?

We got remeasured today in John Lewis and she's an e width with a high instep. We got a pair of Mary Janes that don't gape too badly much better fit than all the others we had tried including t bars, start rite and toe zone... £48! Gutted the toe zones were no good as they were £18!

Just get the ones that aren't girly and she can suck it up once you explain that she can't choose her uniform

Sprrisingly Sports nd soccer have a good selection of school shoes

I've made my peace with Mary Janes for now but our school are pretty relaxed with uniform so I'm going to get her some DM style lace up boots when winter comes.

I agree, DM’s give appropriate support.
They are costly and at age of 12/13 the child size stop and we pay adult price. £100+
The positive is they last all year if you have an insole.