Re-using shoes...would i go to hell?!

[PregnantGrrrl]

Can you re - use baby shoes that haven't been well worn? I'm expecting another boy, and have just taken DS for new shoes. It seems such a waste to throw away his old ones, when they're just a bit scuffed.

Surely if DS2 happens to be the same size at some point, it wouldn't kill him to wear them?

I know 'Official' advice is that you shouldn't, but what do you guys think?

I wouldn't. Don't shoes kind of mould a bit to their feet? So it might damage feet of DS2, and babies' feet are more vulnerable aren't they? Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, I don't have experience.

I do it. DS2's feet have not been ruined by the experience of wearing his brother's hardly worn shoes (at the right size for him) and he's 5 now.

god yes-I would ,especially as they are hardly worn.

i may hang on to his old pair for a bit then, and see what happens.

If they fit, then there's no problem.

yes. you are going to burn in mommyhell.
;) i think its ok to reuse them. (if you decide against it, you needn't throw them away, donate them!)

Ds3 is currently wearing a pair of ds2's old shoes - it's fine!

I would not risk it. Baby shoes are not that expensive in the scheme of things. A baby cannot tell if the shoes hurt. A sibling could have different width feet.

The Offical advice is there for a reason. The people who give that advice do not sell shoes.

If you feel the shoes could be used then there are clothing bins at many supermarkets that accept old shoes. The old shoes are reconditioned and sent to the third world. I hope the fact that the shoes are reconditioned stops the feet of the children who get the shoes being damaged.

gawd I'm definitely going to hell then - DS2, wore DS1's shoes, and DS3 will more than likely wear some of DS2's (well DS1's!) shoes!!!

reallytired- i would obviously have DS2's feet measured anyway, not just guess.

RT - I don't know about other parts on the world but I know that in Zimbabwe shoes are just in "length" sizes (ie 1,2,3 etc) they don't "do" widths.....

"Baby shoes are not that expensive in the scheme of things." Sorry reallytired, I disagree - I've just spent £26 on a pair of shoes for ds and that is £26 less to spend on food this week. If you don't have much money then they are horribly expensive to buy.

cost me £26 today too

I've never spent more than £10 on a pair of shoes for teh DS's - I get them measured at Clarks and then go to cheaper shoe shop/Woolies to buy them - guess they're doomed to "bad feet".....

queen- do other shops do the widths aswell?

Yes, def. reuse assuming the shoes are in good condition. It is possible to be much too precious about kids shoes -- fitting shoes is really not brain surgery. I had ds's feet measured in three different shops in the same morning once, and was given different sizes by each (all registered Start-rite fitters).

Obviously re-using a really manky worn out pair is not a great idea, but a pair of start-rite T-bars that were occasionally toddled in for about 6 weeks -- no problem. Plus wellies, slippers and plimmies, too.

kays do as do start rite, I normally try to get DS measured around the time there's the sale on in clarks. to try and save money - his current pair were only £12 from clarks measured - was pissed off his other pair only lasted 4 weeks thou at £26. but obv otherwise just buy them.

I did intend to reuse DS's for any no 2 if it was a boy, but DH and I are quite fussy with shoes and tbh shoes are the one thing we won't buy 2nd hand (I know that makes me a real snob) but DH esp is v v funny about shoes and boots. so not sure now.

We reuse shoes - no problems with anyone's feet so far.