do you replace dc's shoes when they've only gone up half a size?

[lucykate]

is it really necessary or just a marketing ploy?

Yes, I replace them. The difference between 5 and a half and 6 for me is huge in terms of comfort.

Therefore would not want dc to suffer same fate.

yes definitely
i'd be horribly uncomfortable walking around in shoes half a size too small
if you must save money here then buy shoes the next whole size up (so if they have size 4 shoes, are size 4.5 now, buy size 5 shoes) so they last longer but dont hurt them in the mean time?

I do too, theres nothing worse than shoes that are too small.

well, i asked because clarks measured both dc's feet as having gone up half a size, but i was a bit suspicious as to if they'd got it right or not as the assistant mentioned about growing room in their shoes etc, and didn't seem really interested in selling me new shoes for either. fine, but in a different shop, on another day, the assistant there measured their feet as being a whole size larger. so, to double check for myself, i did the print out shoe guide from the startrite website, and guess what, after measuring them myself 3 times, clarks were most definitely wrong, the other shop was much more accurate and tallies with startrite!

dd already has some new shoes, but they were in the sale and more of a winter ankle boot (plus i got half a size larger so by winter time they will most likely fit), and for now, have got some bargain startrite ones from that website another mnetter linked to, 'shoes for kids'

No idea whether or not you should buy when dc goes up half a size - I tend to ask ds1 how his shoes feel and if they feel tight then I will (especially if the season is about to change so he is about to need heavier /lighter shoes IYSWIM) but if he is happy then I will get another week/month of wear out of them.

I am also suspicious because invariably he gets measured as being different sizes in different shops - 3 different sizes on the same day when trying to track down a clarks shoe that fitted (and on that occasion he really had grown out of his shoe and did need new ones. I ended up taking them back a week later as he complained the new ones were tight and he had been sold some that were much too small apparently - whereas the doodles things he got at the same time were too wide and not holding on very securely But at least they changed the shoes (unfortunately he had worn the doodles out to nursery the day before and instead of putting wellies on to go out after the rain they hadn't so they were covered in mud...)

Sorry, got diverted.

What I meant to say was remember there is supposed to be a difference between clarks and startrite sizes. I can't remember if it is a size or half size, and if it is different again for slippers, but it does mean that if you know you are a 6 for example in Clarkes then you would start looking at a 5 (or 5 1/2, sorry I can't remember!) in Startrite.

And the other thing is that different styles come up differently, to accomodate the wide variety of foot shapes as well as sizes. So sizes are only really a starting point, a size 6 in one size might be right for one shoe but in a different shoe or sandal you would need a 5 or a 7.

Not much help I know when trying to buy shoes or especially order them online!

Startright and Clarks have different sizings

Both allow for a full size to grow

Therefore if shoes were from Clarks you ahould be ok with their judgement. If from Startright work on their measurements. (I used to be a kids shoe fitter)

Can you feel the toes at the end? Is there a gap? If a gap they are fine still. Shoe fitter should be able to feel and let you know if they ok still.

Startrite shoes come up bigger than Clarks so in Startrite they will be 1/2 or sometimes even a whole size smaller.

not necessarily

different shops and different measurers will give a different size anyway, tis human error you know (not exactly a very vigorous training programme they go thru )

I tend to trust myself, tbh, you know if your kids shoes are too small, for goodness sake.....