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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Are cruisers ok for 'proper' walking?

14 replies

mrsjuan · 01/08/2010 16:17

DD is making great strides (geddit?) with her walking and is now getting across the living room pretty confidently. She loves walking holding hands and did this around a whole shopping centre today!

I'd like to get her some shoes just for outside walking as up until now she hasn't worn anything except socks.

We have had her feet measured as a 2.5f in Clarks and a 2f in startrite but both their walking shoes start at a size 3.

Would she be ok in cruisers for outside walking for a few months or do I have to find somewhere which caters for tiny feet?

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DrivenToDistraction · 01/08/2010 16:29

AFAIK it's best to use as soft a sole as possible for as long as possible. They should be fine.

Original poster

mrsjuan · 01/08/2010 16:32

Oh good - are they waterproof enough for parks etc. then? I'm not thinking of puddles or anything just regular grass that's not bone dry.

OP posts:

DrivenToDistraction · 01/08/2010 16:35

I guess how waterproof they are varies from style to style just like with all shoes. I'm sure you'll fine some to suit!

lifeas3plus1 · 02/08/2010 08:56

My ds is 15 months and has been walking confidently for a while now and still wears 'cruisers' or the softer type shoes from places like mothercare.

We did get him a "proper" pair of walking shoes from clarks but he point blank refuses to stand up in them, never mind walk.

Not had any wet feet yet!

lifeas3plus1 · 02/08/2010 08:57

No idea why the word softer is bold?

KnitterInTheNW · 02/08/2010 09:00

The cruiser shoes are pretty good outside, they have a lot of rubbery sole that goes up over the toes and up the heel, so the leather bit wouldn't touch the ground unless your DD was crawling (and even then they're fine!)

Chunkamatic · 02/08/2010 09:00

The first shoes I got for DS1 were cruisers and they had a sfot rubber sole, so a bit studier than the leather slippers etc that you get and stood up well to the weather. It was around feb/march as well so weather alot wetter.

I would just note though that his feet grew that little bit more really quickly so he was only in them a few weeks, so don't go spending loads on a pair!

KnitterInTheNW · 02/08/2010 09:15

My DS wore his cruisers for ages, his feet don't grow very quickly. His cruisers were a size 3 when he was about 14/15 months (he measured 2.5 but they didn't have cruisers that small, and the 3s fit fine so he had those) and he's still only size 5.5, he was 2 at the end of March.

Bumpsadaisie · 02/08/2010 10:57

My DD comes down to the field to feed our pigs in her cruisers! They are filthy of course but her feet are fine and I was only expecting them to last a few weeks anyway.

When you say cruisers do you mean the "first shoes" ones, or the ones with a "button" on the toe (which are for crawling?).

My DDs are "first shoes", which they also called cruisers. They are not a solid as what I would call "first school shoes".

Octaviapink · 02/08/2010 13:15

DD is walking, has been cruising for a couple of months, and hasn't had shoes yet! I'll get her a pair for the winter, but for now she goes bare or sock-footed!

moaningminniewhingesagain · 02/08/2010 13:42

YY it's fine. DD has tiny feet 5.5 now at 3.4y, and she was walking properly at 10 months. She has 3 or 4 pairs of cruisers/crawlers till her feet were big enough for the walkers. She wore them outside etc no problem.

No need for shoes indoors at home anyway IMHO, never mind the rot about 'protecting their feet'.

Original poster

mrsjuan · 02/08/2010 15:31

Thanks for tehe replys. I've got her a lovely little pair of startrite 'pre walkers'. They are fairly suppportive with a soft rubbery sole so pretty much exactly what I wanted. She is thrilled with them!

Totally agree that there's no need inside at home but think they will be great for toddler hall, park etc.

OP posts:

Bumpsadaisie · 02/08/2010 15:35

I think her shoes made a huge difference to my DD. Hope your DC enjoys theirs!

She was perfectly able to walk but just wouldn't do it. With her shoes, though, she was so proud of herself and so excited she could walk around the big wide world outside.

She was walking like a pro about a week after she got her cruisers (whereas before them she only did a couple of steps!)

drivingmisscrazy · 02/08/2010 21:34

OK I should imagine - marketing bullsh*t if you ask me..DD has tiny feet too (maybe about to go into size 3 'proper' shoes at 18mo) but pre-walkers seemed fine to me. Quite liked them, actually mostly she goes barefoot at home, shoes for the street (which she roars up and down pushing her buggy - she raced a very old lady on 2 sticks the other day ) and socks + size 3 wellies for the allotment. I know shoe-fitting is important, but really I think shoe manufacturers take the proverbial. Try to find a good independent, not a Clarks concession...

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