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Original poster

First walking shoes - not Clarks and not pink - pleeeease!

26 replies

Lucky13 · 25/02/2009 18:52

DD is starting to walk properly and needs a new pair of shoes.

She has a pair of clarks cruising shoes, but i am trying to find something that is not pink or overly girly, which will support her properly.

Other than Clarks and Start-rite, does anyone have any good suggestions?
Oh - needs to be size 3 - i know most start at size 4

OP posts:
sb6699 · 25/02/2009 20:09

Mothercare do first walkers. Not sure what size they start in though.

feetheart · 25/02/2009 20:15

Where are you? If in Herts or Beds I can recommend First Steps in St Albans and Hitchin - independent children's shoe shop. Decent choice and lovely staff who know what they are talking about and if you return every 4 weeks to get your PFB's feet re-measured keep sending you away until she really needs new shoes (about 5 months later ) I just know Clarks would have sold me a new pair every time!

BarcodeZebra · 25/02/2009 20:16

Good luck with that!

SweetApril · 25/02/2009 21:21

OK, these do start at size 4 but they are wonderful so when you get to the next size...
If I'd have discovered them sooner I'd never have put DD in Clarks shoes.

ohdearwhatamess · 25/02/2009 21:37

Feetheart - do you know where First Steps in Hitchin is? I had a quick look on yell.com but couldn't find them.

I'm also looking for some size 3 shoes. Clarks told me to come back when ds2 had grown big enough for size 4.

Original poster
Lucky13 · 25/02/2009 21:40

ooh - love the Gucio shoes - i think i'll remeasure, just in case they fit!

The heather colour is great, but no small sizes though.

Anyone any other suggestions?

OP posts:
BrownSuga · 25/02/2009 21:42

Robeez?

soon2befamilyof4 · 25/02/2009 21:50

Can I ask what is wrong with clarks shoes? Just out of interest? MIL has said that if we get DD's foot measured this week, she will get her some first shoes at the discount outlet thing she is going to at the weekend. Probably won't be to our taste etc as i won't be there to choose but we are skint and she will need them soon so might as well let her buy them.

Seona1973 · 25/02/2009 21:58

I've never had a problem with Clarks shoes either

EldonAve · 25/02/2009 22:07

these startrites are supposedly for boys but we had them for DD

Original poster
Lucky13 · 25/02/2009 22:19

Nothing wrong with Clarks - DD already has a pink pair!
Its just that everything is soooo pink at the mo. If you look at the Clarks range, they are all pink and DD needs some other colour! She has some really bright, funky clothes and needs something to match.

EldonAve - i like the startrite ones - didn't see those.

Someone suggested these - do you think these look too boyish here

OP posts:
EldonAve · 25/02/2009 22:21

I think they look fine

Original poster
Lucky13 · 25/02/2009 22:22

Oh wow - didn't know robeez did outdoor shoes too. Just thought they did leather soles. Thanks Brownsuga

OP posts:
nicolamumof3 · 25/02/2009 22:23

soon2be i've never had a problem with clarks but dd should be fitted iykwim, not just a case of buying the shoes in the size she's been measured for. they need to be checked ideally.

EldonAve · 25/02/2009 22:31

nothing wrong with Clarks, apart from sometimes the assistants just expect you to buy whatever they have in the right size even if you don't like them

Original poster
Lucky13 · 25/02/2009 22:40

That's the thing with Clarks - you're often talked into the shoe because 'its the best thing for DD to wear' even though it's nothing like the shoe you want! Which is why i ended up with pink shoes, when they look pretty awful with most of her clothes

OP posts:
soon2befamilyof4 · 25/02/2009 22:42

Really nicola? But I thought a lot of people bought online etc?

nicolamumof3 · 25/02/2009 22:43

yes they do but for babies personally i like to know they are right, i find the independents are best.

EldonAve · 25/02/2009 22:44

I have bought online and at the clarks outlet store without my child
Get them measured and fitted and then buy a similar shoe

noolia · 26/02/2009 09:03

I bought a pair of size 3s from startrite recently - traditional navy blue buckle with a bit of butterfly on the toe. The dead plain navy ones (that I wanted) were a bit wide on her teeny little feet. The shoes do seem really well made though. Each style does seem to fit differently so I would be reluctant not to buy without trying! Have you looked for tiny non-pink wellies yet....a whole new challenge!

tinkislittlemissshopping · 27/02/2009 18:47

www.clarks.co.uk/find/ProductFamily-is-firstshoes/product-is-20325025

these are sweet

dd1 had purple cruising shoes wasnt in them long till we bought her first outdoor shoes

CarGirl · 27/02/2009 18:50

My foot person at the hospital told me something like doodles or those cruisers are the best things for the to wear for as long as possible and they dont need hard supportive shoes.

Save your pennies and get another pair of cruisers!

Think we got 18 months out of wearing cruiers and doodles! I was gutted I had to buy her a proper paid of boots this winter - still back to doodles soon.

Eve4Walle · 02/03/2009 10:20

M&S do baby first walker shoes now, start at size 3 I think, only know as I saw them in our M&S yesterday. May not be in all stores though, we were at the Meadows which is a huge M&S.

stealthsquiggle · 02/03/2009 10:31

Are these not the right size range?

Personally, I would keep her in cruisers for another size IIWY, even if she is walking - they are soft and easy on the feet and they don't need stiff shoes - all they need is something waterproof so that they can toddle outside.

DD inherited DS's first shoes - the Clarks ones which can go in the washing machine . I took her to our (fab) local independent shoe shop and got them to check the fit and they said they were perfect.

horseymum · 03/03/2009 21:26

small wellies- just get red/blue boys ones from supermarket