Baby shoes, how much do you spend??

[blondebaby111]

So after spending 30 pound on a pair of first Clarks shoes for my dd it looks like a month later she's outgrown them. I don't mind spending out but especially now the nice weather is here I'd like her to have a few different pairs, ie sandal type, smart pair for nice occasions and a normal pair , when I looked in a cheaper shop, ie shoe zone and noticed there shoes were only 7.99 I felt guilty as it just seemed too cheap, so walked out. Just wondered how much you spend?? Do you have a decent pair and then a few cheap pairs?? She's growing really fast at the moment, I can't keep up x

Surely some fancy sandals to go with an outfit for a party or something would be occasional wear only, so you could buy cheaper ones? As long as they fit well it wont matter for a few hours. Don't expect much support from the cheaper ones tho.

Doodles are good for the summer/beach/park, washable too. Canvas allows the feet to breathe a little and as the rubber soled are usually flexible they're great for small feet. Crocs also flexible and doesn't matter if they get wet.

I preferred to leave mine barefoot whenever possible, and only generally had one pair of shoes at a time. I don't like to spend more than £20 per pair, even now on my older DCs school shoes - if you know the size you often get discount codes for brantano with 30/40% off

And if they're only a month old you'll probably get decent money for them on ebay?

How old is 'baby'?

DS is 3yo. Every summer he has: sandals for out and about (usually Pablosky), and crocs for beach/garden. That's it. He has Decathlon own brand trainers and we just buy the same pair in the next size.

We aren't well off by any stretch of the imagination, but shoes are one thing we won't scrimp on (same situation as my parents; DH's parents bought any old crap for their dc's feet and you can tell).

Is there a Clarke's outlet anywhere near you? We usually get shoes from somewhere like that, or the sales. Other than that we just suck it up. I have one pair of sandals for summer, as does DH. Weirdly, I don't have a shoe fetish

How old is she? Is she walking? Kids who aren't walking yet don't need shoes.

I buy the vast majority of DD's shoes secondhand. Do you have shops that sell secondhand kids' shoes? They're generally not too worn, because kids do grow out of them fast.

She's 15 months but still not walking, she's very nearly there but just loves crawling around instead.

I don't think they need multiple pairs until they wear them long enough to make use of them.

DD is 18 months and walking really competently now. She's due a growth check and I'm thinking about getting some Doodles for the summer. I think she'd cut her toes to shreds in sandals as despite being a great walker she still falls and trips a lot.

If we are going to an event that needs something fancy, we'll pick up a cheap pair in one of the supermarkets, but I wouldn't have her in them often as I want her to wear safe, practical, well fitting shoes.

I wouldn't get shoes yet, unless it was a pair for a special party outfit or outfit for photos. DD's first pair of shoes were a pair of pink sparkly ones to coordinate with her first birthday outfit. She wore them to the party and to have pics taken, but nowhere else. She didn't seem to like it much when I put them on her- the look on her face seemed to say "what is this, these things on my feet make crawling and standing too hard". I think the pink sparkly shoes were cheap ones from TJ Maxx (which is a discount store) and cost somewhere less than $10 (6.70 in pounds). They looked so cute with her dress, though!

I'd be a bit reluctant to splurge on any clothes or shoes for DD even now. She'll be 3 in August, and I've seen what can happen to her clothes. The most I've spent on a single pair of shoes was I think around $20 for a pair of light-up Elsa and Anna sneakers that I got her from Target for Hanukkah. She wore those most days this winter, though, and she LOVED them!

Don't buy any shoes until she's walking confidently outside. If her feet are cold then you can get those little soft leather shoes - I used to use www.snugglefeet.co.uk if they are still going? It's really important for them to be barefoot (or close to barefoot) as much as possible while their walking is developing.

Clarks are a bit rubbish now I find. When she's walking consistently (they tend to stick to alternating crawling and walking until they figure out running) and you want to take her outside, I'd look for a nice independent shoe shop and get her fitted there. You can often buy Clarks shoes in these places anyway, but they have loads of different brands. I wouldn't shop in Shoe Zone until she's much older because I don't think their shoes are well made.

For toddlers I'd get one pair of practical shoes - they can be cute/smart too of course! - and a pair of wellies. No sandals until they really stop falling over. As Anything says, they'll just end up with grazed toes.

When my twins first started walking they only had one pair of shoes each. I buy their shoes in Clarks. It is only initially their feet grow so rapidly but it quickly slows down. They are now 2.6 and their (expensive) winter boots were worn every day for 6 months!

I second Doodles for summer, they're great.

Apart from one pair of "proper" shoes they have wellies, crocs and slippers.

One pair of shoes at a time from when they are confidently walking outside. I try to keep it below £30. Also a pair of wellies.

I didn't buy shoes until DD had been walking properly for several weeks. Until then she was fine in those little leather bootie things.

She only ever has one pair of shoes at a time, plus one pair of sandals in summer. Next winter I will probably get her wellies as well. I don't mind spending £30 on shoes as long as she wears them everyday!

Bobux are good, lovely soft leather so not restrictive for little feet.

Save your money til she is confidently walking. When you do buy shoes, get good quality shoes that fit her feet. Buy one pair per size. At that age they dont need more than one pair.

My DD is 3.3 and I have only just bought a second pair of shoes this size, and that is because her main shoes are black leather for preschool and it has been so so warm this easter with lots of trips to the seaside - I got a pair of canvas shoes from Matalan (first time ive ever bought non- fitted shoes) which were for the school holidays.

Theyve totally rubbed her feet to bits so next size she goes into ill buy two decent pairs. This matalan pair have been binned.

No shoes until they walk outside

Personally as your DD isn't walking yet, id hold off buying some shoes. You'll be buying a new pair every six to eight weeks for no good reason.
I go to an independent shoe shop for dd, bit more expensive than Clarks but the quality is so much better (bought a pair of Clarks shoes for DD, ruined and coming apart at the seams within the week - she just learnt to walk at the time so not excessive use)
Wellies a yes, sandals no - not till she's walking confidently.
Even trainers might be better for being out and about

I won't scrimp on shoes and always buy clarks. But only one pair at a time. They don't need more than that. Maybe one extra pair of Doodles in summer. But honestly, kids only need one pair of shoes in my opinion

Try second hand. At that age the shoes get so little wear, and feet are so soft that they don't wear down the leather into feet shapes, so no risk of them adopting a strange shape. I bought Clarkes and start rite for a fraction of the cost and the shoes were barely worn. Also try the online outlets

Re sandals, you can buy ones with a covered toe but still straps on he side which is much cooler but also protects the toes.

Ps yes the rate of growth does slow down. My 2 yr old can make shoes last 5/6 months sometimes. Don't buy cheap shoes