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Original poster

Narrow childrens shoes?

14 replies

Levanna · 24/05/2004 00:47

Hi, I'm having a real problem finding sandals for my DD. She has very slim feet, her feet are about an infant size 5, and a narrow D fitting. I've been to about 10 shops, with no success (she was fitted with one pair of start rite which rubbed badly and I returned).
Has anyone experience of resolving this? I've scouted around on t'internet without success - I'd even consider having some made at this stage!
TIA

OP posts:
shanequa · 24/05/2004 02:28

have you tried clarks? my ds has quite broad feet and clarks are the baest shoe shop we've found so far.

robinw · 24/05/2004 03:12

message withdrawn

Tissy · 24/05/2004 08:56

Have you tried Elefanten? My dd has extremely narrow feet, and they seem to fit her.

Slinky · 24/05/2004 09:04

My DD1 (8) has narrow feet (D fitting) and the only place I've found that fits them properly is Clarks.

You may find that certain shoe styles do not fit properly (we do!) so we avoid those, but whatever she does wear she always needs an "insole" - DD also has a very high instep.

LIZS · 24/05/2004 09:11

I'd second Elefanten. Our dd has about the same size feet as yours. Got some Clarks Doodles last time in UK which are a 6e (although she measured a 5.5d) and are still like boats a month on but 22m Elefanten sandals fit nicely - they are slightly higher than many around the ankle, adjustable across the foot and very flexible. She had a pair last year which were higher again and did her fine. Elefanten come in 3 widths s(narrow), m(medium) and w(wide). hth

lou33 · 24/05/2004 09:31

I always found Clarks to be rubbish with my kids narrow feet, so have given up even bothering with them. Asda are usually pretty good, if they haven't run out of the right size.

Original poster
Levanna · 24/05/2004 22:52

Hi, thanks for your replies . I've tried clarks (they start at 'E' here ) and asda amongst many others - to no avail. She did have a pair of elephanten last summer, but I'm having trouble finding them in a similar style (fully adjustable) this year....so far! Maybe I'll approach the shop I got them in and ask them to order? Worth a try .

OP posts:
eddm · 24/05/2004 23:06

Levanna, I had very narrow feet as a child and shoe-shopping was a penance so I sympathise (must be why I never developed the addiction to shoes that so many other women seem to have). Clarks were the only people who made shoes with a 'C' width fitting but we always had to order them specially. Stop me if you've tried this, but have you asked the shop to order a 'D'? You don't have to buy if they don't fit after all when your dd tries them on.
Sadly my feet are not narrow at all these days but I still have an annoyingly high instep which makes buying shoes very hard work. Mind you my best friend has very flat feet (apparently to do with being Chinese) and has awful problems too.

Original poster
Levanna · 25/05/2004 00:09

Thanks eddm. No, no-one in any of the clarks shops I've been into have mentioned this as a possibility, but I'll keep it in mind. Unfortunately I've found them unusually unhelpful? There has been no mention of ordering in, insole's or anything else which may be helpful TBH. It's so far been a case of "sorry, we haven't got anything that'll fit......bye"! I had similar shoe size problems as a child, and remember clarks as being the only option, they were usually as helpful as possible! Sign of the times?

OP posts:
robinw · 25/05/2004 04:31

message withdrawn

Piffleoffagus · 25/05/2004 08:32

same here have a titsy dd with 2.5 sized feet and a d fitting, we bough thicker socks and put her in a 3E, seems fine.
Also italian and french designers- manufacturers do narrower kids shoes just by design, Naturino Falcotto... Elefanten are good but seem chunky? Prada and Moschino (choke at the prices though) Also pom d'api are nice too.
If you can find a doc marten stockist that still has Dr Martens for kids in stock (they do no make them anymore) they are excellent too..
Clarks only go down to an E.
I have some fab Naturino size 3 shoes that fit like a dream... But they are very expensive.

I had same prob as you with startrite, I found the clarks first cruising, strap up buckle ones dark blue with pink flowers with good socks have fitted beautifully, by far the cheapest and most practical solution.
Good luck. I am consider myself a veritbale expert on the subject as shoes are SOOO my thing

SoupDragon · 25/05/2004 09:33

I had this problem growing up and I still have it now . "Luckily" DSs have fairly standard G feet.

Velcro types are good but don't necessarily solve the problem of gaping round the toe area.

suedonim · 25/05/2004 14:22

All my children have narrow feet (my genes are to blame, I'm afraid) and buying shoes can be an awful trial. Startrite are appalling for them as the ankles are too high and rub their bones raw. We've usually ended up with Clarkes. John Lewis keep some narrower styles in stock and will order in others. Dd2 often has a half insole, which raises up the front of the foot. Every shoe shop should have insoles available, they only cost a couple of pounds.

Noodleboo · 11/06/2004 11:36

My dd has had a growth spurt and is now about 5d and trying to find sandals to fit her has been a nightmare. But I found a shop called the tiny shoe company down outside Brighton who do continental sizes - I got my dd's sandals there and they were ever so good. Ricketts i think from Germany. www.thetinyshoecompany.co.uk

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