Shoe distress! Doodle Pumps OK for 14 month old?

[Paulacarl]

Hi,

Our 14 mth old has just started walking so tried taking him to the shoe shop for his first shoes a couple of days ago. He's never worn any shoes at all up to now. I asked about lighter shoes as we're coming in to that warm weather and she recommended Doodle Pumps. She said that seeing as he wasn't used to any support these would be fine. I'm just wondering whether this lack of support really is OK (they're quite a solid canvas, and do have a buckle.) Anyone else have any experience of these for their little ones?

Also, we had a total nightmare trying to get him fitted. He got really upset about shoes being put on his feet and it took ages to actually get anything on. When we eventually managed it he just stood there crying and held his feet in a rigid arched position in the shoe so we couldn't tell if they fitted. Anyone else experienced this? Any advice? I'm picturing sending him barefoot to school at this rate!

Thanks,

Paula x

Aargh, just typed a long reply but lost it. [anger]

Pre-walkers or cruisers might be a better bet as the soles are much softer - they're what are recommended for first walking shoes. I didn't like Doodles myself. Clarks suggested them for my 15 m.o. DS but his feet are too big for cruisers (they only go up to size 5 I think). We got a pair of proper 'walkers' from StartRite in the end.

DS reacted in a similar way to being fitted. I did a big play of 'Look! Mummy's shoes! DS's shoes!' which won him round in the end. I got the shop to let him play with the fitting device & handle the shoes (while doing the 'Mummy's shoes / DS's shoes' thing and telling him how grown up he was). By the third fitting he was much happier.

He still screamed his head off when he stood up in them and wouldn't walk. I kept on with the shoe comparisons and telling him about mine and DH's shoes for a day or so, then took him to the park and put his on. He cried for a couple of minutes then took a step or two, and has loved his shoes ever since. :)

DS' first shoes were from this site, if that's at all helpful. He wore them outside when it was dry and I just picked him up if there was any broken glass etc. Then when he wanted to walk all the time I got him proper shoes, and some crocs. I was told later the crocs were a bad idea, but they don't seem to have done any damage. I'm not sure.

Ooh, I wish I'd seen that site before, Bertie - I'd have loved DS to wear the really soft shoes out, but his feet are too big for the normal pram shoe type ones.

My foot dr - podiatrist???? at the hospital told me the longer you can keep them in soft shoes like prewalkers, cruisers or doodles the better - they are much better for their feet and them keeping their balance and learning good walking skills. Just get a pair of wellies for when it rains!

Yes DS' feet are big too and he was a late walker so they were ideal.

The softer the shoes are, the better for their feet.

I did a good bit of research before buying and all the podiatrists seem to agree that the soles need to be very flexible and barefoot is preferable.

So we leave the shoes off when indoors. And the pair I got are really flexible so her foot can move naturally.

Ds is 17 months and has had doodles for a couple of months and walks so much better in them than the normal walkers. They start from at least a size 4 coz that's what Ds is in.

Thanks for all that, and thanks for the suggestions about getting him to accept shoes Angeldog. Will try that approach when I take him back to the shoe shop after the bank holiday. The assistant suggested bringing him back asleep, but I can already foresee the sheer hysterics we would get when he woke up with shoes on his feet!

Surely they can't fit them properly asleep? They need to stand to make sure they fit!

Yeah. I think her idea was that we get them on while he's asleep and then wake him so he can stand up. Like I said, sheer hysterics!