How do you know when the time has come to buy them new shoes??

[bettyspaghetti33]

My DD is 16 months and just started walking. We took her to get her first pair of shoes last week which were fitted and checked that the size was right by the shop. I know that kids her age grow extremely fast and I don't want to cramp her feet in shoes that are too small for too long so how do you tell when shoes don't fit anymore? At the moment I'm just going on the rule of thumb that my mother used which was to check that the toes aren't close to the end of the shoe.

I guess that's what most people do.
I can't feel the toes. At all. Ever. So I have to take them to shop with their current shoes & get them checked or guestimate which shoes look too small at home.
There are whole whinging threads on MN about people like me inconveniencing others, but... can't help it. Toes feel like air & air feels like toes to me, once in a shoe.

It's nice once they are 6+yo & can just tell you when shoes feel too tight.

Two things I do, if the shoes have insoles that are a paleish colour, you can sometimes see inside where the toes lie. My DD is 17 months, her current shoes have pale pink leather insoles that get a bit (ahem) sweaty when she's had them on a while, and it's easy to see where her toes come to.

Or I measure her foot up against the outside of the sole, probably less reliable but still an indication.

Or if she's had them longer than about 8 weeks, take her back to the shop and have them checked anyway. DD had her shoes just before christmas and they're still fine so she's doing well at the moment!

if you draw aroud the foot and put the cut out in the shoe you can tell if it fits.
or use talc as you can see the shape of the foot in the shoe iyswim?
sometimes the shoes insoles come out & you can clearly see the indentation of the foot.

Don't take them to Clarks to be measured! Their fitters are instructed to try and sell shoes whether the child's feet have grown or not

Instead look for an independent or small chain shoe shop with fitters who are happy to tell you "No - her shoes are fine, come back in a few weeks!"

At this age you probably want to get them measured every 2-3 months, but as they get older, 6 monthly is fine.

(Can I also give you a shoe related tip? When you plan on potty training, buy machine washable shoes.)

Another thing, my CM once said, if they fall over more than usual it could be a sign their shoes are too small. I have no idea if this is true! I usually just get them checked every couple of months.

Bullshit about Clarks. I have had my son measured there many times and they have said his shoes are fine. Just this past week, in fact. They did not try to sell me any shoes once it was determined his feet hadn't grown.

Can we please stop spreading rumours that have no basis in fact when people are trying to get help?!?!

OP I take my son during the week and not at term time if I am not sure about his shoes. They are happy to measure his feet.

I was just repeating what my friend who worked at clarks told me! Perhaps down to different managers at different branches?

I have never been sold shoes by clarks when Ds hasn't needed new ones. They are always more than happy to check with no expectation of buying more.

I've never been sold unnecessary shoes by Clarks either and I often went back to get dd1's shoes checked. In all honesty I found replacing the shoes summer/winter was fine. So winter shoes around September, summer shoes around March. Any inbetween were out of desire rather than need.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It all sounds like very good, common sense advise.

BertieBotts love the potty training advise! I will remember it when the time comes.

I expect all big chain shoe shops are going to push parents to buy shoes for their kids as soon as they walk in through the door - that's how they make their money. I know we were pushed to buy a bottle of 'protective spray' for DD's shoes which looks nothing more than smelly water in a spray bottle. I don't see the harm in turning up to these shops periodically to have her feet measured without necessarily having to buy a pair of shoes.

Thanks ladies once again :)