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Original poster

babies first shoes

36 replies

spookylips · 03/10/2005 20:48

my baba is not fully walking as yet but is getting better at it since last week.. do i start looking for a pair now or wait till she is mobile

OP posts:
Millie1 · 03/10/2005 21:02

Think the advice is that they should be walking properly for around 6 weeks before getting first shoes.

fqueenzebra · 03/10/2005 21:05

walking properly, toes no longer curling as they walk, usually about 6 weeks.

BROWNY · 03/10/2005 21:06

Hi Spookylips,

They've got shoes in Clarkes now called 'cruisers', they're really supportive and I bought a pair when my little boy was 10 months old - I'd say just buy the one pair, I know that look so cute, but they grow so fast. I had to buy proper shoes for him after just 7 weeks!! Clarkes also sell shoes for crawling - can you believe that!!

HTH

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 03/10/2005 21:07

I got Jess crawling shoes (£16) 6 weeks later cruising shoes (£18) and then on saturday just 8 weeks later she is now wearing walking shoes (£25)

Put it off as long as possible!

merglemergle · 03/10/2005 21:16

I'm sorry but Clarkes are just out to rip parents off here. And their shoes are not good for a baba's feet-they are too stiff. Shoes should be as flexible as possible. The aim is to protect the foot from bits on the ground outside, NOT to provide support. Babies' feet do not need support. And NO baby needs shoes for crawling (unless they look really cute, of course ).

I got ds a pair of these , more to keep his socks on than anything else.

I also kept him in Clarkes cruisers for as long as possible, til about 20 months (they only go up to size 5).

Original poster
spookylips · 03/10/2005 21:17

i agree as they are a rip off too so ill just hang on abit longer then

OP posts:
hunkerpumpkin · 03/10/2005 21:18

Try looking in Next for a pair of really soft shoes - I got DS some for £5.99 which are very sweet, have got him used to wearing shoes and are not a great deal more restrictive than socks.

MaloryTiptonTowers · 03/10/2005 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 03/10/2005 21:19

I also went to Brantano's at the weekend - a lot cheaper and actualyl a nicer range - im naughty and bought Jess 3 pairs of shoes this weekend!

One navy clarks pair
One pink brantanos pair
One pair white/pink reebok trainers!

BROWNY · 04/10/2005 12:05

Merglemergle, seems I got you wound up about the shoes! I was just commenting on how I thought the cruising shoes helped my son with his walking - he had been walking for about seven weeks unaided before I bought him 'walking shoes' - he is only 16 months old but is a size 5 and half already. As far as the 'crawling'shoes comment I made, I never implied that babies need crawling shoes at all.

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 04/10/2005 12:16

browny - Jess is 14 months, had been walking since the day after we bought her cruisers!!

She is a size 5G already..... she's got BIG feet!

BROWNY · 04/10/2005 12:22

Hi, I don't know where he's got his big feet from! Not only has his feet grown half a size in 6 weeks, but he's also gone from a F to a G!! I like Clarkes shoes, I don't think the leather is hard, my ds's new ones are lovely and soft - I know they are expensive, but I only buy them for a few years while their feet are growing so fast!

jessysmummy · 04/10/2005 12:27

As DD has wide feet - also a G - she couldn't wear shoes form next, etc as too tight so I had to bite the bullet and go for clarks/startrite, especially as she goes to nursery where they take her outside in most weathers. I tried to stick to the softest ones for as long as possible, though. Can recommend Brantanos too and have been lucky to find some good pairs in Clarks outlet shop for £5-7 as well. Well worth a trip if you have one near you and have had feet measured recently.

BROWNY · 04/10/2005 12:30

Thanks for the tips, I'll find out if I've a Brantano's shop by me - I'm in Liverpool (we don't have Startrite either!.

MamaG · 05/10/2005 09:21

I bought cruisers from Clarks for both my DS & DD. DS is now 18 months, has been walking properly for 6 months but still wears cruisers! They are so soft, I can't bear to put him in hard shoes yet.

I also bought DS some pre-walker shoes from Clarks when he was crawling, just because he was pulling himself up on the furniture/dog etc and I was worried he would stub his toes.

Whenever you decide to buy, just ensure you get feed measured regularly!

(I go to Clarks to be measured and then the outlet to buy!)

bambi06 · 05/10/2005 11:05

i like bobux shoes as they are soft leather and they can still learn to balance themselves without the hard sole or other shoes my dd was in them for a long time before i bought her proper shoes

CarolinaFullMoon · 05/10/2005 11:08

do the soft shoes work outside, or are they too soft-soled for that?

bambi06 · 05/10/2005 11:12

bobux are fine outside as long as its not wet although my dd a used to go everywhere with them so i bought a couple of pairs so they could dry off in betweeen. its very important that babies are allowed to build up their muscles naturally which is only really done by bare feet but bobux are the bext best thing as they are very flexible. like a second skin and they cant take them off!!

MamaG · 05/10/2005 11:54

Agree with that, I never put DS shoes on, unless we are going out - same for DD and she is 6!

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 05/10/2005 11:58

Jess doesnt wear her shoes unless we are out either.... was dead cute seeing her toddling about at toddler group this morning in her reebok trainers though!

madmarchscare · 05/10/2005 13:03

I bought cruisers at around 11 mos for when we were outside as just couldnt keep him confind any longer.

DS was walking just before his first birthday but waited about 5/6 weeks before getting a 'propper' shoe.

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 05/10/2005 15:31

My daughter was up on her feet at 8mths so we bought her Clarks cruisers and as soon as she was walking outside we bought her Clarks first shoes.

She has big feet too.Shes 23mth and a size 7

I think childrens feet should be mearsured every 6-8 weeks.Clarks have a half size bulit in so if they go up from a 6.5 to a 7 they can still wear the 6.5.I personally hate to see children in cheap shoes that have not been fitted.The bones are soft and for me Clarks or Startrite are the best ones available.

Fangache · 05/10/2005 15:31

CP - Blimey - My ds is 4 and is only an 8!!

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 05/10/2005 15:35

I know.

Shes v tall too.We were at a party the other day with children her own age and she looked a year older.

I remember being in a shoe shop on holiday when I was a kid getting some sandals.I was 9 and a size 6 and they had no childrens shoes to fit me just ladies platforms (it was 1976)and my das said just get her the shoeboxes and tie a bit of string on!!

I was dead upset!!

merglemergle · 05/10/2005 15:40

no no no, browny, not wound up at all, sorry if came across like that, clarks do p* we off though!

I just object to Clarkes marketing them as a necessity, thats all-"buy these £16 shoes for your son to crawl in else his feet will be deformed", type thing. basically we were told that (and I was the one buying shoes, they were just opportunitically marketing to ds)

I have to confess to buying very many pairs of the soft leather ones, just cos I prefer the look. think shoes are fine as fashion accessory, just see this as a bit of a cynical attempt by clarkes to increase their market share.

we were also told ds needed stiff ankle supporting shoes to improve his walking, also by Clarkes. this is just wrong advice (plus ds was only 11 months then-hardly urgent that his walking be improved).

really sorry if I upset you there, clarkes just causes me to rant.
Am bad for using caps letters, i know it looks like shouting but can't work out how to do italics.

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