to be pissed off that after visting 6 kids shoe shops..

[ElenorRigby]

Shoe shop 1 told me DD was size 7, they had no buckled shoes that would fit DD.
Shoe shop 2 told me DD was size 7, they had no buckled shoes that would fit DD.
Shoe shop 3, no longer sold childrens shoes.
Shoe shop 4 said, DD was a 6 1/2 possibly 7, but on non actually fitted her.
Shop 5 "John Lewis" Its seemed promising intially, then an epic fail when it was concluded even the 6 1/2 G start rites could not be sold without a disclaimer as they could not be held liable.
The staff at JL recommended trying a local shop as they could not supply DD with shoes.
By this time DD and I criss crossed the city numerous times. The only day I have off with DD is Wednesday, I work the rest of the week.
We were both weary and pissed off.
I had been told by various respected shops my dd needed shoes.
We pressed on, she fell asleep but I felt this so impportant, after the weight of evidence, we continue.
It was then within moments the fitter at the last shop asked me when she had had her last shoes.. She looked quizzical, consulted her supervisor who both agreed DD was still a size 6 f and she still had plenty of growing room. "Bring in her back, in a month of so" they said.

Is the the norm?

where do you live Elenor? I might have the right shop for you.. can't remember name now, but it's in North London.

"have always just taken DD to somewhere where I could just try the shoes on her myself and make my own judgement in my own time, without some hovering teenager telling me they don't fit properly. Next is good for that, as is TKMaxx. "

Oh queen i am sooooo jealous of you!! I am a clarks/startrite clone - i just cannot bring myself to buy DD shoes that are not "fitted". Yeah, cos they are sooo good at fitting that you can go to two different stores on the same day and be two different sizes. I end up paying £30 plus for DDs shoes every time, when i could go to next and get them for half the price - but i just can't it is THE parenting cardinal sin for me. Dont get me wrong, i thin it is YOU who is right - we are being ripped off!! My DD1 wore clarks and startrite until she refused to - thats the law too, they get to teens and wont wear them. She is 19 now and has bunions FFS, so the "fitted" shoes really did her feet the world of good!
Yet still i buy them, faithfully accepting the shit looking shoes that the bored teenager brings out - after DD chosing the nice ones, she can;t have them she has to have fucking mary janes!!

What i do now though is, get her feet measured in clarks, then go to the clarks outlet store and buy last years shoes! half price but more importantly, they are on the shelf, if i see them in her size they have them!! woohooo!! I dont have to sit there while teen spirit tries to enthuse over four pairs of clod hoppers. So, that is some movement in the right direction i suppose.

Childrens feet can be horrendous to fit for shoes. DD has a narrow heel so depending on where we are on her foot growth it can not just a long time to find shoes but a really long time. Also leather childrens shoes are liable to stretch when then get wet so a size 11 could feasible still fit when it is not longer technically an 11. I never by school shoes from next or tk maxx because of these quirks. I struggle with fitted choose but they are much closer to the mark for my childrens feet.

Basic guide to children shoe fitting is, they have a full thumbs width to big toe to end of shoe.

Always put check length and width standing up.

their heels dont touch the ankles support.

when checking width, make sure their is a half thumbs width of crease spreading across the shoe.

Make sure when fitting, that the heel is at the back of shoe (make sure thumb width is only a thumb width to end of shoe) and fasten securely and that Velcro shoes fasten properly.

Get child to walk 10 steps and make sure their is no slip, or heel movement.

Basics and not always as easy as this, but you get the drift, and will save you a fortune.

hth x

My DS's have very wide feet - DS1 is in a G width and DS2 is an H. I have found the best shoes (although rather expensive) are Ricosta. Clarks are useless, and their G isn't a true G width. I get my DS's shoes from an independent shoe shop, and they will send you away if they've got nothing suitable/correct size rather than sell you shoes that don't fit properly.

I've lived in lots of countries since having children, not including the UK. Have never encountered the idea that you have to have a 'proper fitting' or have different width fittings anywhere else. I think it's a gimmick for all but the 5% like expat's daughter who have really unusual feet.

My ds wouldn't be able to get his feet into anything below a G fitting. I can generally get my weird feet into normal shoes because I am now immune to the pain they cause

The Clarks in my town is OK. Russell & Bromley however are bloody awful - I have tried and failed to buy shoes there too many times. The main problem is finding someone who isn't chatting to their mate or having a fag outside.

I digress. YANBU op. It's a pain in the arse and I feel your pain.