First shoes - when do you bite the bullet and pay yer money?

[GingaNinja]

Not sure if this is the right place, but DD is almost 20 mo and is more or less walking. Up to now she's been in those shoo shoes. I'm feeling bad mummy guilt that I haven't dragged her in to Clarks or wherever to be 'done' properly yet, but she's really only just begun to stand/walk etc in the last 6 weeks. Just wondered when other people go through this particular big step (pardon the pun)? When they can walk? When they can stand? TIA...

when they start walking outside

Think it's about time to bite the bullet!

You might get away with another month, but should think she'd like to potter outside soon .

I second smellyfeet

Ds2 was in shoo shoos but once he was striding around on the gravel drive etc., we bought him shoes because I was worried he'd be uncomfortable out there and it might put him off.

When they are confident enough to start walking outside.

when they wear out a pair of soft shoes walking outside.

my mum is a podiatrist and she has told me that when they are walking, and then only for outside.
so agree with other posters
hth x

We bought Clarks cruisers when my DS was about 10 months, this was in the summer and he was crawling and cruising a lot outside, and marching up and down with his baby walker (although not walking independantly). He had a pair of wee soft shoes from next that got gubbed after about a week of doing that! The Clarks lasted til he outgrew them though.

Agree, when walking outside. In winter I bought some cheapy shoes but only because we arent actually out for that long every day and she won't walking in them for hours and hours. Come spring and summer time though, I will get some 'proper' ones again.

DH hates spending the money on good shoes, says that when he was little they didnt have these fancy shoes and there is nothing wrong with his feet. Can of course also relate to posture but I guess I can keep explaining that until I'm blue in the face.....

I buy them once they are walking well enough to need them outdoors. Before that I just use those soft shoes (cheapy ones) or barefoot if weather permits.

Thanks very much all - was much as I thought. We have the smallest pair of wellies I could find for when we're outside walking the land (we live in a field), and her shoo shoes are showing the wear from inside perambulations. Will get her measured here if I can before we're over to the UK in a couple of weeks - will be same shoes just 40% cheaper! [cheapskate emoticon]

I just bought the measuring guage (£5.99)from Startrites website and they have a video on how to measure your baby's feet. Its very simle. Then you just enter measurements into their website and they tell you the size with width (e.g. 3.5f). I've then used that to buy clarks shoes from ebay at a fraction of the cost. I figued baby shoes can't possibly get that much wear and the ones I've bought look practically brand new. x

DS was in Shocks when he was at the stage you describe

socks

And then we did shoes when he was properly walking and I thought he needed the support/protection....

Sorry here is a better link for the Shocks!

They're cute!

DD has boots from Mothercare although she's not standing or walking unaided yet. This is on physio advice to give support to her wobbly ankles. Shame they don't do them up to her hips to sort them out too!

joy56, Startrite and Clarks have different sizing, just so you know. I can't remember which is bigger/smaller, but I know there is quite a difference.

Ooh thanks Knitter, hadn't seen them before. Wellies are size 4 and are that bit too big so those things could be useful for outside. Ta much!

There's a half size difference between Clarks and Startrite. So a 3.5 in Clarks would be a 3 in a Startrite shoe.

Thanks kfitz, wasted a pair of shoes making that mistake.

ooo - thanks for letting me know that. Thankfully, I bought the bigger size from Clarks. Much appreciated x