Kids' shoe fitting – is it rocket science, actually?

[OrangeSpacedust]

I'm getting cheesed off paying £35 for Clark's shoes that last 8 weeks or thereabouts. They've got such a poor choice IMO ? I hate pink for DD and there's almost no other option.

I'm thinking of downloading those foot-measuring templates from the internet, measuring DC's feet myself and buying online ? some of the shoes I've seen from the US etc are mouthwatering! And when I get their shoes fitted in the shop, the fitter takes probably less than a minute feeling over the arch, trying to stick a finger down the heel, and pressing to find where the toe is. It doesn't seem that difficult to me. But my mother recoiled in horror when I suggested buying shoes online, as if I'd be subjecting the DCs to a lifetime of bad feet ... does anyone know, personally or anecdotally, of someone whose feet really have been "ruined" by bad shoes, and I don't mean parents who grew up in the 60s and started wearing pointy stilettoes aged 10??

Obviously I'm not going to do anything to put my kids' feet at risk, if shoe-fitting really is a specialised science, but somehow ... don't think it is ... any thoughts?! Kids are 4 and 2. TIA!

i measure my childrens feet myself. I am not stupid, i can read a foot measuring gauge (which can read different sizes in different shops) and i can feel and see for myself if they fit right.

One of our local clarks shops told me that to make DS2's shoes fit properly they just had to be done up tighter- they were ALREADY pulled as far as the leather strap would go!

I bought boots (70% sale as usual) for dd from Clarks at Christmas...the shop assistant measured her as a 10.5, the boots we liked were a 10. I said "oh dear, what a shame, she's a 10.5" Girl said, "they fit her fine, no problem". I said, "but your measurey thing said......?" she said "oh take no notice of that, it's just a rough guide...."
ie- I'll tell you anything for a sale.
I just got someone to measure me a 10.5 to check dd was still within that range and have bought some lovely Timberlands from Amazon and am getting them shipped over here as shoes for smalls here in Italy are about 70 euro a pop, minimum.