Ti spent £88 on 2 pairs of toddler shoes.

[Shoesshoes87]

so today I bought my 2 year old a pair of trainers.
he has wide feet and a high in step. We had a choice of 3 pairs varying from £50-£60 that fit well and we got the one for £55 as he hates getting his shoes fitted and I thought letting him choose would make him happier (it didn’t really but he loves them now 😝)
then had limited choice of wellies that fit and ended up with a pair for £32.
so £88 for 2 pairs of shoes that I guess he will outgrow soon.
my friends & siblings think I’m ridiculous and said I should just get measured in shop and buy online. One of them looked online just to prove to me I could’ve spent less than half if I’d gotten online.
however I didn’t even know about high instep until the first time I got him fitted and yes I know that now but I still don’t trust myself. I bought shoes online in the past and had to send them all back or give them away to friends kids with slimmer feet.
anyway so it’s not just the width, it’s also the instep and most shoes dig into his instep.
i am by no means wealthy, have less money than my siblings, and like them but most other things and clothes from Vinted.
but I worry so much about ruining my child feet.
im already putting aside money for winter boots soem of which cost £70 and yes I know I could get for £20 online. Last year I bought him a pit for £65. I am worried we end up with no specialist fitting for kids if this shop closes too.
its hard and money can be a struggle so in understand. I sell things on Vinted too so keeping those funds for shoes. I feel like I am paying for the service too and the ladies are brilliant. They remembered my child’s feet. But it’s crazy to think I could buy so many pairs compared to for what I spent on 2…
am I doing the right thing or am I over thinking this?! X

Just paid 15 for some fab Crocs wellies for ds9. Smaller sizes were even cheaper. And have handles to get them off!!

My ds has/had similar sounding feet and I used to take him to an independent shoe shop.

Clarks would have hardly anything that would fit him and they aren't cheap anyway.

Unfortunately that is just what they cost.

Quality kid shoes are so expensive! I was shocked the first time I had to foot the bill for my own DD! Yanbu to get them properly fitted when your child needs a more specific fit!

It is up to you what you spend on your child and you don't have to explain why.

There won’t be a shop to get their feet measured in if everyone just goes and buys them online.

Yanbu, shoes are one thing that I don't go cheap on. So so important for children and adults too, to have proper fitted shoes. I actually had mine done last year because I have flat feet. Don't explain yourself to anyone

I've just spent 44 quid on a pair of pre walking shoes (nursery requires shies even for non walkers) and will most likely need another pair in around 8 wks.

It is what it is, sadly. I'd rather pay for dece t shoes and having dc properly measured. Like you, I don't want to run the risk of damaging babies' feet or increase potential walking issues.

I cut back in other areas and try to be frugal where and when needed.

It's a choice I've made my peace with.

If your feet aren't standard fitting then it is generally more expensive and less choice, I think you are doing the right thing

Both my DC were E fittings and too narrow to fit any shoes off the peg but properly fitted shoes are worth it in the early years.

I agree I’d pay for good toddler shoes. I'm not fussy about second hand crocs/wellies (but with wellies I try and find ones that have a very flexible sole).

That said, I went to two different shops on the same day 30mins apart and my toddler got two different measurements so I did lose confidence in the accuracy of the fit… Before this we’d always gone to a (now closed) excellent independent shop and bought bobux leather step up boots which are barefoot friendly-ish, so now I just buy the next size up of those online - I figure that as they don’t do different widths, I hopefully can’t go wrong! I buy them on sale. I’m sure pretty soon my toddler will want a say in the colour /style though and I’ll be back in an expensive shoe shop!

DS has similar feet, and I just buy him the shoes he needs that fit properly. This has often been expensive brands, but so be it.

My DDs grew up on hand-me-down and charity shop clothes, but shoes and car seats were the something I wasn't willing to scrimp on. BIL has terrible foot problems because MIL kept DH's outgrown Clarks shoes and BIL wore shoes that were too big just in case they were too small and damaged his feet. DD2 has a very wide feet with a high instep (thanks to my dad I also have very wide feet) and shoe shopping for her was always difficult and expensive.

It’s very hard to get comfy shoes if your child has high instep feet. Both of mine do and I know you have to grab a comfy pair of shoes if you find them. Those are expensive wellies but if you couldn’t find any others that fit, what else could you do?

Those saying “buy online” must have children with much more standard size feet (or prepared for them to be uncomfy)

Edit - I should say they have both needed H fitting shoes at various times (Dd and ds, so even harder to get for dd)

définitely not worth scrimping on shoes

My DD had a high instep too and at one stage was a H width in Clarks! Absolute nightmare. I think when they're little you just have to get them properly fitting shoes though.
She is 9 now and doesn't need wide fit anymore thank goodness!

Nope. You're doing the right thing.

My mother resented my being some sort of monster with great big fat feet, mainly because it contradicted her teeny-tiny image and because I couldn't physically get my feet into shoes that didn't come from Clarks (and even then, not all of them). But she bought a pair a year and some Woolworths sandals where she'd cut the first couple of straps out so my toes had room. My feet look healthy, even if I can still hear her voice in my head squawking indignantly about my having gone up TWO SIZES in a year and how it embarrassed her to be looked at like that by the fitter.

DP, however, had bunions and deformed little toes from childhood because his mother bought whatever size of the shoes that were the cheapest - her feet are even worse because she does the same for herself and will buy a 3 because it's cheaper than a 4 - and he grew up not knowing that shoes aren't supposed to squash up into your toes until they bleed.

I have a long term health issue that causes chronic pain when I don't wear the right shoes. I was a child who had to get my shoes fitted every time and I'm so glad my mum took me and paid for it, it could've left me with lifelong issues otherwise.

You've paid for quality because you value it OP and that's okay! Don't feel bad.

I usually go to a Clarks outlet not the actual store. Shoes are less pricey there and sometimes same shoes as in actual Clarks. Trainers and wellies from whatever supermarket has them in right size and right pattern (superman, gruffalo etc) that child absolutely needs! Gets hand me down wellies usually from DB child. I hated the shoes my DM insisted I wore. Have thin feet and I think they were called tuff shoes??? Was so embarrassed at school!

aw thanks everyone. It is nice to not feel judged for buying the right shoes for my toddler.
it is an independent shop I’ve been going to. There used to be another one near by but that shut down but they had measured similar and said the same things about my DS feet.
Unfortunatley I lost faith in the nearest Clark’s after going a couple times and having a poor experience (one guy tried to force a pair of shoes on DS that even I could see were too small, and then tried to force a sale, and they never mentioned high in step etc).
The little shop we go to now always has the same ladies and they explain my DS feet to me.
they stock Clark’s as well any way but none of those have been suitable either anyway.

fyi if I’m honest I wasn’t even super keen on the look of the trainers - they are so flashy lol but I felt it more important they fit properly 😝 and DS loves them anyway so that’s good lol

I always bought my children fitted shoes but why would you buy a 2 year old wellies in August? I'm not surprised people would think that a bit mad

I'm with you op and we always buy good quality toddler shoes, although for nursery once a week we do have a pair of next ones as he runs around barefoot most the day! Luckily for us we live near a outlet village so although you get whatever style fits it saves us some money

Yes it’s fine especially when there so young with additional issue.

I brought my daughters 1 year old some trainers for £30 from Clarke’s… they were too big but now she outgrown them. I won’t worry what you’re friends or family say… Kids shoes are expensive

Clark’s often have quite narrow toe boxes above pre walker size so I wouldn’t worry about getting shoes from there anyway! Children’s shoes are so important to get well fitted so if your children need a specific fit I don’t blame you for going higher end. Have you seen the website Happy Little Soles? They have a range of shoes for kids and if you click on a brand it gives you an amazing description of what type of feet the shoe would suit plus has a great returns policy. Bgreater also has great shaped shoes online for children and not too pricey. Think you can get a foot measurer off there too!

I’m in Scotland and it rains a lot!
(And dinner is not always like summer lol)
they are outside at nursery every day so still require wellies and puddle suits if it’s raining :)

Oh thanks I’ll check them out!