baby's first pair of shoes

[happyhopefulmummy]

I've just bought my DS his first pair of shoes - I've gotten him a canvas pair he can wear without socks for when it's warm (and when we go on holiday in 6 weeks) and a sturdier leather pair that clip up that he can wear when it's raining or whatever. Together they cost £60. £60!! I almost had a heart attack! I know they need to be measured properly but when can I start buying him cheaper pairs from Primark/ Shoe Zone etc. They grow so quickly that it doesn't seem worth spending that much money...

Or do I sound like a bad mother?

I would just buy one pair for each size. What's wrong with that?

And we are going to the tropics next week with DD, and she'll be wearing her leather shoes with socks. It's not a problem. You just wear less clothes.

Bit late now but yes, just buy one pair in each size (and he can be barefoot if it's really hot and you're in the garden or beach or whatever). Hate to break it to you but if he has a growth spurt you may find they don't fit in 6 weeks anyway!

Oh yes, forgot to say they need to be re-measure every 4-6 weeks. DD first pair lasted all of 6 weeks, and I really do notice her foot growing inside the shoes. She just got her second pair now. Is there any chance you can return them? You'd be better off re-measuring a week before your holiday.

I am old school. The only shoes I buy in a department or chain shop are wellies, football boots, trainers and beach shoes.

The main shoes are from the little shoe shop I love. Yes it costs a fortune but they get 1 pair of shoes that will last 6-9 months unless they have a growth spurt. But 1 kid has super skinny ankles so most shoes fall off him so needs a particular make and my other child has really square blocks of feet and gets shoes that suit him.

It's one area I am particular in - I have gorgeous feet! And my mother swears its cos I always got measured and fitted properly for my feet.

Yes, maybe I will take a pair back, he's only worn the canvas ones. And he can wear them with socks anyway; good idea.

That's still about £30 for one teeny-tiny pair of shoes. I guess what I'm asking, is are they all that expensive? I went to a little, local, non-chain shop. Would they be cheaper elsewhere? That's more than I'd spend on shoes for myself...

Yes, it's normal to pay that much for a pair of full prized shoes. I've heard you can look in the outlet stores. And also ebay. But obviously you'd have to measure yourself for that. (I'd feel bad about going back to the independent every 6 weeks and never buy from them). I've also heard 80% of babies fit into the F width, so unless your LO have narrower or wider than normal feet, you can stock up a few sizes from the normal sales.

I mean if your local shop has a sale, you can go and measure, and buy the few sizes up for the next half year. I got some clarks for £14 a pair during their sales last month.

Around here Clarks seem to be about £32 and startrite about £38.

DS got his first pair just before he turned one when he started walking.

We went to Greece in June and I got him a pair of sandals. They did not have a width fitting but did have two Velcro straps so could be adjusted to the right width. They cost about £12 and were worn constantly for 2 weeks.

Where did you get him these £12 sandals?

I only got one pair of shoes a time and got properly fitted Clarks then when thy grew out of those I got them measured and bought cheaper elsewhere (Brantano). My boys only grow out of shoes twice a year - my 18month old is still in his 1st shoes. Summery softer shoes I usually buy cheaper but sturdy winter shoes I try to get Clarks boots.

I now have 3 pairs of little feet to buy shoes for and ds1 starts school next week so just for him I need : school shoes + p.e shoes + football shoes + weekend shoes + wellies + garden shoes. I think only 1 pair are full price!

Yep, I just spent £28 on my LO's first shoes. She has H width fitting feet so most of the online options are not available to us (or no cheaper). She's only having one blardy pair though.

It was a local shoe shop. I've just looked and the sandals are made by a company called One Step

I feel your pain re: the ridiculous price tag, but I would buy well-fitted shoes until about 2 at least. I am biaised though, DS (19 months) is intoeing and has bow legs. The dr reassured us that he will grow out of it in time, and he doesn't seem to suffer in any way, but he needs very supportive shoes. The difference in his walking is amazing, depending on what shoes he is wearing, so I know straight away which ones to buy as soon as he is trying them on.

My ds had bow legs when he was that age tootired - I didn't even notice until the HV pointed it out, and he was wearing joggers at the time! His legs straightened out a few months later.

Clarks now sell the measuring things... these online so you could buy one and if you spot that they have a sale on, you can measure and buy cheaper than in store.

We went the slightly longer way round and had DS's feet measured in store and then bought his shoes online in the sale (£14 down from £28)

I will continue to buy his shoes from Clarks/other fitted shoe shop for a while yet as he has wide feet and find cheaper shoes to be more narrow.

Does he really need a pair though? How old is he? If he toddles along inside I would not bother.

Keep an eye out in tk maxx. My ds has a pair of super trendy leather sandals that cost £10 but are made by a Spanish company that are mega bucks as I've seem them in our local indie shop.

We've been lucky that we've been given a pair of start rite shoes that are the perfect fit. We also have ishoos with in turn and out turn so I'm hoping I wait until oct and the next appt before buying more as I fear hes going to be put in ortho ones

Never buy cheap shoes (unless they're on sale), properly fitted, good quality shoes are essential for healthy feet. It also effects posture.

The bones in a child's foot are soft because they are constantly growing, badly fitted/low quality shoes can cause foot deformities leading to a host of other problems.

Primark shoes aren't worth it, there are some things not worth skimping on.

We use the Clarks factory shop, which saves about a third to half each time. At first we would go to the nice shop and get properly measured and try a few on and ask questions about the fit and how a good fit should feel/look, then go down the road to the factory shop. Now we are more confident of what is a good fit we use the factory place's auto measurer, which scans the foot and gives a size, then try on shoes in that size.

My children have wide feet (G and H) so I really have no choice but to buy Clarkes/Start rite. I can just about get away with Next Sandals for DD but no chance for DS. I reason that I can save on clothes instead as they are just standard sizes.