how and where do I but my toddlers first shoes?

[howiloveanicecupoftea]

My son has just started to walk (albeit Still quite wobbly!) indoors but when and how and where do I buy his first shoes? It's winter obviously so I may need boots or something sturdy, does he need to get properly fitted? Thank you

Go to Clarks, get a ticket. They'll do the rest.

You should get him properly fitted for shoes. Go to your local good shoe shop or failing that clarkes

My little girl has just started wobbling everywhere to and I have no idea if I'm supposed to by shoes now or wait until she's more stable? But then what do I do with her feet when it's wet outside

First place I will go to get her shoes tho is somewhere where they will fit her feet properly, it's just when to go... Do I wait like some have said or do I go now because of this awful weather?

Realistically, on a soaking wet day, are they going to be tottering about? If you're only going to let them walk when it's dry-ish, shoo shoos will be fine initially.

I use our local independent shoe shop, they've got a wider range especially for girls, and they've got lovely soft bobux and pediped shoes. I am a bit paranoid about developing feet in tough unbending shoes!

In theory they only need shoes when they are confident walking outside. But I think thats a bit misleading cause they clearly need shoes on if they are even tottering about outside (in this weather anyway). We have an independent shoe shop where we got startrite shoes, but also picked up some canvas shoes and wellies from Primark/Asda

Ps I loved my DDs first shoes, and was disappointed when she grew out of them 8 weeks later!

Look at waterproof booties. They will be good for walking in wet a few weeks ( like barts or little Trekkers)
Otherwise I would still use soft leather bootie type things for now

When I took mine in to get measured they said its best they are walking confidently 6 weeks before they have hard shoes fitted.

Please don't buy 'sturdy' boots. The bones in tiny feet are still soft and growing, so don't constrict them in hard soled shoes.

I'm a big believer in 'barefoot' style shoes for little feet. I get DD's shoes from Happy Little Soles. The woman who runs it is really helpful re choosing appropriate style. But I think Clarks do softer 'first walker' type shoes too.

For v new walkers I think those soft slip on ones like Blue Inch, or similar are fine as you're unlikely to have them tottering around outside in puddles, etc

Don't go to Clark's, their fitting is inconsistent and questionable and the quality of their shoes is shocking - my DC can go through a par in normal use in under a month. Don't even start me on the gender stereotyping.

For warmth, I'd get something like these these grippy slipper socks. For wet weather outside I'd get wooly socks and spacious wellies for now, f you really think he'll want to potter outside much. Your son won't need actual shoes until he's been walking daily for 6 weeks or so - their foot muscles, foot shape and size will change so much in this time that anything fitted now will hinder development and be too small very quickly anyway.

I also very much recommend Happy Little Soles too. They have great info about fitting online, and are very helpful on the phone. Barefoot is so much kinder to little feet. If you really want to go to a shop and be fitted, then go to an independent shoe shop. If there are no totally independent kid's shoe shops near you, then John Lewis and Kid's at Clinks aren't bad, but please don't be suckered into Clark's.

(if you are anywhere near Barnsley/Huddersfield/Wakefield, then Just Little Feet is excellent.)

Another vote for barefoot shoes, Happy Little Soles have great shoes and good info. You don't need some random teenager at Clarks to measure your toddler's feet.

Happy Little Soles will give great advice so that you are confident in fitting shoes. Clark's can be very variable.

HappyLittleSoles are great. My DD has tiny narrow feet and they were really helpful finding her shoes. She went from cruising to walking confidently over a weekend so she needed shoes pretty quickly.