Clark's Assistant informed me I need to spend £20-25 on shoes for DD every 6 weeks - is this true?

[jumpyjan]

Took DD (14 months) into Clarks to buy her first proper pair of shoes and was quite surprised to find out they will set us back twenty odd quid - and that they will only last 6 weeks.

A new pair of shoes every 6 weeks .

I definitely want to put her is decent shoes that will let her feet grow properly etc but am a bit shocked at the price.

Does everyone do this - is there an alternative?

I don't buy new shoes for DS and DD every six weeks. Their feet don't grow as quickly as that. After a few months I sometimes go back to the shoe shop and check the size of their feet, and if they haven't grown, they don't need any more shoes.

no, i get shoes when the ones they are wearing are too small or have worn out. If the shoe itself will only last 6 weeks i wouldn't buy them

About every eight weeks sounds about right to me (daughter is 18 months and has had three pairs of shoes in the last five months or so). Obviously the shoes themselves are fine after 8 weeks but that's not much use as they no longer fit.

Also, I meant to say - this is the worst bit. As they get older, their feet will grow more slowly.

they should get measured every 6 weeks or so (or when you are near a clarks store and remember to get it done) but that doesnt mean they will need new shoes every 6 weeks too as feet dont always grow at the same rate.

My ds has had shoes since 11 months and is on his 3rd pair so far at the age of 17 months. The growth does slow down and you can find that a pair of shoes can last quite a few months. I am quite bad now though and I judge the size of my lo's feet by how easy it is to get their shoes on - if it is hard to squeeze them in then they need remeasured!! and if they go on quite easily then their shoes will do a bit longer.

nonsense.
My 3 always have Clarks, ds2 is still on his first pair bought at about 15m, he's 20m now and they're fine.
I think the shortest time a pair of shoes has lasted (fit-wise) is about 6m

no, no, no, no, no.

All kids have growth spurts and it is possible that she may need new shoes in six weeks.

It is also entirely possible that she won't need new ones for six months.

You should get her feet measured every six weeks (until you are more aware of how her feet are growing) and buy new shoes when she needs them. It won't be that often, I promise.

Any shoe shop will measure your child's feet without expecting you to buy some shoes. Clarks shops are especially good at this.

It depends on growth. Some babies' feet grow quickly in spurts, others do not. My DD gets a whole season out of her shoes (always has done since she could walk), whereas my niece grows out of hers every 8 weeks or so, although she is slowing down now at nearly 3.

My dd had new shoes in Oct ( 19mths)and she grew out of them in Feb . I had her feet checked at Christmas and again in January. But she grew out of her 1st 2 pairs in about 2-3 mths.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but Clarks always used to have a policy where if they outgrew the shoes within 6 weeks you could have them replaced. The point is, they should be fitting them to have enough growth room and I would say that, withstanding surprise growth spurts, they should last longer than this.

They do advise you get them fitted this often though. As they get older they go in fits and spurts, last year DS went through shoes about once every 8-12 weeks but he has been in his current pair for 5 months. AM now awaiting the growth spurt so it's swings and roundabouts.

Naah - they last much longer than that, but you do need to get them measured every 6 weeks or so.

IMO Clarks are rubbish - find an independant shoe shop, they're much, much better.

I don't think my dc's feet are deformed, beginning to think I ought to check.

I never have. They advise you to get checked every 6-8 weeks but a good shoe shop won't try to sell you another pair unless the feet have grown beyond the shoe's tolerance(usually up to a size). However Clarks are renowned for not measuring that consistently so you may be better at a local independent who do Clarks, Startrite and other European brands or Jones, Russell and Bromley , JLP etc all do more than Clarks. btw in summer they do Doodles, a cotton upper but with width fittings which only cost abotu £14.

we get ds2 measured in clarks but then buy his shoes in woolworths.

I'm starting to wonder about the pair that I got for ds (2.10) 4 wks ago - starting to get a bit tight already, but I obviously timed that badly! Some pairs last 4 - 5 months, some less, depends on growth spurts. If you're starting to struggle to get the shoes on you need to get the size checked (this always seems to be the most reliable evidence as its sometimes difficult working out where their toes get to, particularly if they scrunch them up when you're trying to tell!)

m,y ds had 1st shoes just before he was 1 hes now 16 months and has the same p[air as his feet havent grown. I get his feet measured every 6-8 weeks and willl by new shoes for him when the shoes he has are too small.

Phew - thats a relief!

Thanks for your replies ladies. Glad I checked with you all!

Will check out startright - I always thought Startright and Clarks were the same thing - its a whole new world for me!

they always look at me funny when i walk in. unfortunately theres only a clarks in the town i live and with not driving it makes it really hard. Going to try get ds dad 2 buy his next pair though

to start with DS had 4 pairs in 4 months yes I know was going up half a size only, on the other hand thou the pair he has now he's had since last sept (do take him in to get him measured thou incase) but they do grow.

Sqonk is totally right. DP took DS (14months) into local Clarks last week (8 weeks after last measurement) and they told him to come back in a couple more weeks as DS didn't need bigger shoes. I was v impressed they didn't just try and get a sale! (but I'm easily pleased!)

shoes last different times for different kids, they all grow atdifferent rates. my dd sometimes has shoes for a whole year and at oter times 2 or 3 pairs. but i'd advise going to an independent fitter where they sell a range of products and get the ones that fit your child. ie not just clarks which aren't always best

We bought new shoes for our son in a Clarks in a Mothercare in Jan. Exactly 8 weeks later on our sons 2nd birthday he said "My toes are sore" (impressive eh!). We took him to a John Lewis thinking that there was no way the shoes could be too small but lo and behold they were. The thing that annoys me is that the lady in Clarks in Jan had only increased his shoe size by half a size whereas the lady in John Lewis said you should always go up by a full size. I feel like complaining to the Clarks (though I know I won't get anywhere!).

It depends how quickly their feet grow. You shoudl get them measured regularly (so yes, about every 6 weeks is good). But they won't always need new shoes. And in fact, Clarks shoudl be selling you shoes that have some room for growth. I have been impressed when I have gone in a few times and been told that hte shoes are fine, come back in another 4-6 weeks.

My 2 DDs have both had periods of massive growth spurts - so they have hte same shoes for months on end, and then go through 2-3 sizes (half sizes mind) over the next few months. Fortunately they have timed it well, as DD2 has got lots of wear out of DD1s shoes that were worn for a very short time.

Would really recommend you avoid getting really cheap shoes for everyday wear, as it's not great for their feet. BUT, ask the assistant how they are measuring the fit of the shoe, that way you can do the same if you do come across shoes that look like reasonable quality, with very little wear e,.g, in car boot sale/charity shop/from friends etc.

Lady in clarks told me to put the foot in, and push the heel right to the back, then tighten as tight as can go. Then get child to stand down and feel if there is anything bulging, adn where their toe is. There shoudl be some room, but the foot should not be jiggling around. HTH