Alternative to Piedro boots?

[13lucky]

Hi there, my dd is 4.6 years and has hypotonia and hypermobility. She has always worn piedro boots and we have been told she needs to continue doing so. However, the most recent pair have been nothing but trouble and we have been back and forth to the hospital several times since September to try and get them right. First they were causing blisters on her heels so they tried to soften them up and we were without them for 3 weeks. Then there was a problem with the tongue slipping down and digging into her foot so they were sent off for the tongue to be stitched. This took 4 weeks. Then we got them back and the guy who fits them decided they weren't holding her foot in the correct position still and she needed a heel support built into them. This took another 3 weeks. Finally we got them back and they are now rubbing on her instep. I took her back AGAIN last week and they've now decided they are too wide for her!!!! FFS! So they are ordering a narrower pair which will most likely take another 4 weeks. In the meantime, she has to wear the pair that are causing her blisters.

This is causing me a lot of stress and her a lot of boring appointments and having to be taken out of school back and forth. Does anyone know of another way of doing this? Or if I should take her to a podiatrist or someone similar??

Sorry for the ramble and hope I've posted in the right place.

Many thanks.

We use 'Kickers' for dd2 (her feet turn inwards and are flat), they are quite suportive. They are expencive but worth the money.

if it's just this one pair, it might just be worth holding off until you've seen what the new pair of boots is like, you can pay privately, don't know how much that would speed up the process? You can by piedros from Gilbert and Mellish direct but you'd need someone to prescribe them for you. I'd second trying kickers until her new boots turn up, take her to get fitted properly though incase you have an issue with width again.

FitzKidz (logo is a yellow footprint on outside of shoe). My Son had Piedros but they weren't supportive enough, Our Orthotics Dept gave him these in a black boot and a white trainer boot. They do the job very well and are very sturdy. They do look a bit like he has them on the wrong foot as they are very straight looking, but if they do the job who cares! Hope this helps

www.fitzkidz.com Have a look :-)

Awwww! They do them in Pink leather Pink Nubuck, Red Nubuck and Black patent, what more could a girl ask for

when dd2 was tiny we would just find the nearest indie children's shoe shop and try on loads. some of the european kids boots are extremely supportive. i vaguely recall elefanten (sp?) being very good, but not sure what size they go up to.

we've also ordered our own piedros direct (having been measured etc by orthotist) from g&m, and also used kickers. whatever works at whatever point tbh.

there are some very cool supportive boots out there. i haven't looked for ages as dd2's feet aren't growing at the mo. some of the other sn sites (skinuk etc) periodically have threads about them, where there seem to be more parents of kids with cp etc. i've even seen some with fab flowers all over etc, in fantastic colours... all i need to do now is remember what they were called, so i can order some lol.