to think that I am still an okay mother even if I don't buy DD's shoes from Clarks?

[missblythe]

She has perfectly acceptable pair of canvas Mary Janes for JojoMamanBebe, and some navy Crocs. They both fit her.

MIL has just had a massive go at me for not gettign her 'properly measured at Clarks', because her feet will 'be damaged for life in cheap shoes'.

Now, I don't see why shoes need to be Clarks, as long as they are not too big/too small/too tight.

Also, I don't like the ones in Clarks that come in her fitting (ie. one pair of sandals)

Surely humans are designed to go barefoot, so we don't need shoes to give us 'support', do we?

Anyone would think I'd used a Greggs sausage roll to shoehorn her feet into two Fruitshoot bottles!

Actully I do think we need shoes to support our feet and your mum does have a point. Wearing ill fitting shoes can cause future problems.

Having read your title I came on to say you make the decisions for your child as long as what you decide is safe, etc, and there are other brands that Clarks, but correctly fitting shoes as a non negotiable part of parenting in my book.

that should be

are a non negotiable....

I often get my DS's feet measured at Clarks and then buy shoes elsewhere

what if you can't afford to spend 25-35 pounds on buying fitted shoes especially if you have more than one child.?

clarks are so overrated.

recently I've had to make do with putting dd1 old shoes that I've kept and put them on dd2.

really really cannot afford to buy expensive shoes for the 3 children.

i have never taken ds to clarks he has always had from george etc, he has lovely straight toes and never had a blister

took dd there for her first pair of shoes found that the fitter was very rude and had no idea at all of what sizes their shoes started in and i hung around for half an hour while she checked every pair just to be told that dd's feet where too small for shoes - eeeerrr sorry love you can;t walk around yet clarks sizes are too big

also bought all dd shoes from next as a result again never a blister etc

as kids we always had our shoes from clarks when we were smaller and i have awful curled toes as a result of poor fitting shoes when a tot according to the chiropodist

and yes £25-35 is too much when you have three kids that grow quickly and £40 for a pair of boots for dd is more than i spend on my own footwear!!

DD has to be fitted very carefully because of SN balance problems. We often do use Clarkes but also other places. And although I listen to the assistant I use my common sense and check the size/shoes myself - by the time children are at school most of us have a pretty good idea what to look for.
For the many people on here who have suggested being "measured" at Clarkes and then buying elsewhere I think that is not a good idea - the Clarkes measurements are not going to apply to other brands of shoes - Start-Rite for example come up quite different in a size 12G compared to Clarkes. It's just like clothes - I might be one size in one shop and another size elsewhere (am too to specify size). For example I bought DD cheap trainers for PE in a size 13 and held them up next to her more expensive size 12 Clarkes trainers and even just holding them up against each other it was blindingly obvious that the Woolies size 13 was miles smaller than the Clarkes size 12.
I have had some good and bad experiences in Clarkes - it really depends who you get on the day but please dont just apply their measurements to shoes from other shops.

I find Clarks very over-rated. Tiny Clanger has had school shoes from there before, but the range of styles is so limited, and the shoes are very expensive for unspectacular quality. Their adult range is a complete rip-off as well - they do not last at all. We buy Ecco school shoes now, and trainers for outside school. I always make sure that DD tries both shoes on from a apir and check where her toes are.

I had narrow feet as a child and was always forced into frumpy Clarks and Start-Rite numbers, as they were the only ones in a very narrow fitting. I recently found out that my metatarsals are not only spread but "widened" as well! Interestingly, the doctor (treating me for something else foot-related) said that it was probably nothing to do with shoes and that some people's feet are just like that.
I have very odd feet anyway.

I hate my feet and had a toe surgically corrected in my 20s, it had got that painful... my mum didn't get my feet measured.

Though I've not yet had issue with Clarks (mind you DD's only 15 months old and has had one pair of shoes) I think the happiest medium is to make sure the feet are measured regularly and shoes bought accordingly, wherever that may be.

Clarks are not all they are cracked up to be IMO and have been coasting on an old reputation for years now.

John Lewis (if available!) very good, Charles Clinkard also great (and has fish and video screen in childrens section!) - often I get DS measured in one of these, then buy shoes from ebay or even charity shops. Very bad mother.

I love Ecco, Primigi, Pediped and See Kai Run. I don't actually know if cheap shoes will harm little feet, but I am most comfortable buying nicer shoes for my dc.

I have trouble keeping up with dd's growth spurts. Her shoes seem to fit, then suddenly they are too tight.

I truly think buying decent shoes has to be a priority and if that means spending upwards of £25 a child, then so be it. The last time I went all 3 of my children needed some footwear and that was goodbye to £112.

We go to an independant shoe shop and see the same person each time, so much better.

I have tried Clarks and have been fitted wrong with my son twice and my daughter once so I won't go again.

Not a bad mother at all.

I have dd1 feet measured at clarks then go elsewhere as they don't stock 'C' fitting shoes.

And yes like you I have the same conversation.

Me - Can you measure dd1 feet please

Shop Assistant - Of course. She 9.5/10 'C' fitting. Have you seen anything you like.

ME - No. What have you got in that size.

Shop assistant disappear for 30 mins cames back 'Sorry we do not have anything in her size'

Me - Ok thanks for your time.

Me going into next and getting a pair for £10.

I have come to the conclusion that unless your child has an average size feet then clarks don't have shoes for you.