2nd hand shoes for kids

[lewislewis]

Have been given 2 pairs of shoes for my ds, they have been used and are a bit manky, but look great on him and he seems to be able to walk in them. Do you think it is really bad for small kids to wear 2nd hand shoes?

I wouldn't personally, except wellies as they don't mold to feet. Would rather buy cheap new shoes (and have done this in the past) than use secondhand shoes.

Recently saw something on TV about the damage that the wrong shoes can do, it's not just the feet, it can affect how a child walks, causing pain in the joints.

Always gets me how people will spend £30 for 'properly fitted shoes' citing that we HAVE to give them brand new shoes for their feet to mould into to.

But then go to Woolies to buy a pair of Wellies and slippers...........does it not matter if they're not fitted properly - surely the same principle applies??

ds2 wore some of ds1's early footwear - ones that were hardly worn before being outgrown.

Now they are 6 and 4 they destroy their shoes, so no way would I be passing them on now.

Both boys have wide feet (G/H) and I really can't see a problem with passing on hardly worn shoes

Have to say DS2 has nearly out grown all the 'decent' looking 2nd hand shoes we have in this house - so it'll be new ones for him soon.

However, I'll do my usual pop into Clarks - get his feet measured say something along the lines of

"oh dear - gosh they're grown again - well it'll have to wait until next week/tomorrow/whatever day until that money is in my account"

And then head off round the corner to either Woolies or Shoe Zone

But QofQ firstly I did buy DS Startrite slippers and DD Clarks slippers. However they are not width fitted - they are all F. This is fine for DD but with DS's the velcro only partially fastens which is not so good. This was the same with his summer sandals (which were 20odd quid btw). So the end bit of the velcro ended up all stuck up with dried grass, hair etc and made the sandals look unsightly. Makes me wonder why I bother.

I think that if you get your children obviously ill-fitting shoes then they can do their feet damage. BUT if you are given shoes that seem to fit and you have checked them, I don't see the problem other than to line the shoe shops pockets.

I don't think my kids are going to grow up with malformed feet just because I couldn't afford to splash out £35 on a new pair of shoes every 3/4 months. A lot of it is exaggeration by shoe manufacturers.

I buy the argument that an adult wearing shoes for months will mould the shoes to their own feet shape - given their weight and the amount of use they get. However, I think rarely do little kids (pre-school especially) wear shoes long enough to mould shoes - particularly well made brands like Clarks. From what I have seen of the wear on little kids shoes they usually wear the toes out from scuffing rather than any obvious moulding on the inside.

So in answer to the original question - yes I use second hand shoes - but only after careful inspection - and usually only quality brands. But also my kids only really wear them for short periods at a time and go without shoes in the house.

I often do buy Clarks wellies but I believe the issue is with the shoes that they wear all the time and do most walking in. My DSs probably wear wellies 10% of the time, good shoes the rest of the time, bare feet in the house.

Bozza - I wasn't directly my comments at you - sorry

However, seen as thought they don't fit properly anyhow - can I suggest Woolies for Sandals - they've usually got a good selection of sandals some of which seem to be quite wide fitting [gtin]

Don't be sorry QoQ. I think I misworded my comments and I did realise that you weren't directing yours at me in particular. Its just that you were the one that started me off on that particular rant . Because it doesn't make sense that trainers/sandals/slippers etc are not width fitted as you say. But I was just pointing out that its the same at Clarks/Startrite as at the cheaper shops.

DD was a late walker and there are concerns about her 'wide gait', so I don't feel too badly about making sure she has a good pair of well-fitting shoes. The worst part is that we can only get them from shops up the town, which are a MAJOR PITA to get to.

Its not all a guarantee... I only ever had the best, proprly fitted clarks shoes until 11 when I grew out of the size range and I've ended up with the most manky, curly toes ever seen...my mum is gutted she spent so much!!!

Me too - my mother made me wear Startrite "sensible" shoes and complained when I moaned about them not fitting one time. I now have a bunion on one side. Having said that I do go to Clarks for dd/ds's school shoes/trainers. Slippers I get from anywhere that sells nice ones (they are soft, and worn infrequently so I don't worry) and ditto for summer sandals. Wellies are picked out from the large family heap, but really worn infrequently and with big socks, so I don't think thtey are goign to cause any big problems. My two have now got to the wear out before grow out phase, so I think it's worth buying them decent shoes really.