SHOES!!!!!!!!!!Come and talk to me about kids shoes please!!!

[filchthemildmanneredjanitor]

I have a seven year old with size 4 feet. Buying shoes for him is a nightmare and the only fitted shoes available for him are the teenage rhino and bootleg ranges from startrite and clarks. They are not really suitable for a 7 year old and i find myself putting him in footwear that is ugly and inappropriate just because it fits.

I am having a discussion with startrite at the moment who say that sales drop off after size one and so it's not economicaaly viable for them to extend the range of shoes to incluse big sizes in younger styles.

My child cannot be only one with big feet.

Please tell me your shoe buying stories so that i can show startrite and give them proof that as parents we are not altogether happy. i will also be contacting clarks who i know are the worst offenders!

You are certainly not the only person.

As an ex Clarks manager, we would have countless parents coming in and being very disappointed with the range of shoes that they would ahve to put their young child in.

It was either big chunky black shoes or trainers.

exactly!!! that is all i can get for my boy!!! and even getting them is a struggle as he has narrow feet!

Sadly though I think you will be met with the same response from both Clarks and Startrite.

They'll say it isnt financially viable to make a range for younger children in big sizes.

Tbh I got sick of paying the prices there and now I buy shoes from Next or somewhere else but I can check the fit properly.

i'm sure i will but iam sick of being angry about this and so am taking some action.

anyone else?? please??

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great big bump!!!!!!
come on!! are you all happy with what clarks and startrite have on offer???

.[flogs dead horse!

Well my boys are 5 and 2 and atm dont have big feet.

i think I will have trouble with ds2 as his feet are v wide.

They both have school shoes and trainers and I wouldnt consider buying them other shoes because it would be a waste of money IMO.

I had bought them sandals but wish I hadnt bothered because of the weather.

Why can your ds not just have boring black school shoes?

what are teenage rhino anyway?

this

well he does end up with boring black school shoes, but ones which are spectacularly ugly and clumpy.and we only get them after trailing round 400 different shops looking for the one pair that fits.

Have you tried going to a shop that is not only selling Clarkes or Startrite - there is one near us that sells a range of brands (John Lewis also usually has a selection) - saves you trailing around all the other shops looking for something that fits. DS1 is just 6 and in a size 2 so I may be facing the same problem when I go to buy his next pair of shoes....

Don't know where you are but there is a lovely shop in Bath called One Small Step One Giant Leap which has a good range.
Or, get some made by www.greenshoes.co.uk