can anyone help me re. problems with first shoes for DD

[CrushWithEyeliner]

DD is 1 has been toddling around for a few months now and we decided to get her her first walking shoes yesterday. We went to Clarks and they fitted her a pair of shoes which we kept on in the pram and for some time at home. When I took them off there were two really red marks on her feet so I took the shoes back for a wider fitting. The thing is when I put them on the seems to revert back to crawling again - literally goes back a whole stage! She dosen't scream at them when I put them on but she can't walk properly in them at all and seems, understandably, frustrated.
Do I persevere a few hours a day with them?
Shall I take them and get my money back and wait until later? I am just worried that when she starts to walk outside if she won't do it with soes what on earth am I going to do? Any advice greatly appreciated!

Just had a nightmare time getting DD fitted for shoes, she has super narrow feet. We ended up with a pair of Eccos bought from an independent retailer that carried a wide range of brands and sizes. They were really helpful.

DD tried on a lot of shoes at a lot of stores--she did refuse to walk in one or two pairs, I guess she just felt really unstable.

I would take the clarks back and try another shop that carries a better selection.

when you say walking shoes do you mean proper shoes??? Their crawling/cruiser shoes are more than enough if they walk around outside because if it's wet you tend to use the pram/wellies. These are better for their feet than proper stiff leather walking shoes. If they don't walk outside then Robeez or similar are the best.

Thanks guys - It is the cruisers she can't seem to get on with not the leather shoes proper. I think I may have to hold off for a while, I saw the robeez but I am not sure they will benefit her really. I took them back and went to Russell and bromley and it was the same deal there - she just reverts back to crawling in every shoe we try...

The independant shoe shop we go to (as DS has super wide and high feet) will not sell you anything but the thinnest, softest leather shoes until the child has been walking for a few weeks - apparently this is the Guild of shoefitters recommendations as the way they learn to walk is by getting feedback from the pressure nerves in their feet and harder shoes interfere with this. Thats prob why your DD goes back to crawling when she has them on.

They also say that when indoors they should always have bare feet.

thanks cm - DD also has wide feet, quite small with v high instep - is that what you mean?

okay dd3 had this issue in that we had to specially order in the cruisers from and independent shop to fit her extra wide feet, they managed to get them on only to find that she pronated in them so badly they were no use!!!! I have wide feet with a high instep as do all the dds it truly is a nightmare.

His Nibs was a bit grumpy about shoes at first - he didn't wear anything but Blue Inch (soft leather slippers) until he was about 16 months. I think the problem was the additional weight on his feet - it must be quite disconcerting to be getting the hang of this walking lark and then have ruddy great (comparatively) lumps of leather strapped on.

Our solution, which worked very well [smug], was to start a shoes-for-out routine, which meant he always wore shoes out of the house, even/especially when not walking - in the car and in the backpack. The idea was to get him used to the extra weight when he didn't have to walk as well. He was perfectly happy wearing shoes for walking within a week or two. [smug][smug]

Yes - he's about an H width, but very high insteps too - just like his dad.
Had to get new shoes last week, and managed to get two pairs in the sale - he can only wear lace up boot style ones as they have enough adjustment. Have now found three makes that work - Ricosta, Baby Oop, and Elephanten. Nikki Lus in Rugby is truly a wonderful shop for awkward to fit childrens feet !

thanks for the advice x