Temporary Alternative to Piedro Boots

[maggie75]

My 22 month old DD has only had her most recent Piedros for 2 months and Ive just realised she has grown out of them. Im trying to get an appointment asap to get new ones fitted, but all this of course takes time.

Has anyone got any ideas of other boots I could buy to tide us over?

[maggie75]

We have had a used pair from their 'cupboard' before - but we cant even get an appointment to get to see someone for a month, so no good to us at the mo.

[jasdox]

Would it not make sense for the hosptal to ask for the shoes back and then they could offer them as inbetweens, especially when often they are not in them for long. We were given some to try just because they were the right size, and that worked? seems a bit of a waste to me?

[maggie75]

Thanks so much for the offer of the elefanten boots, but I ordered a pair of Kickers online last night - if we have any problem with these, Ill get back in touch.

What a great idea to swap Piedros/Boots on MN - even though we get the prescription boots, it seems like many of us are having the same problems with having to buy our own inbetween fittings at often double the price of kids that can just nip to Clarks and the like.

DD has grown out of both of hers much quicker that the Orthotist suggested (they have told us to make an appointment every 4 months) so am finding it difficult to predict when to make an apointment for. Will hopefully come to recognise a pattern - however, this doesnt allow for random growth spurts - confused!

btw - there is a code for the Kickers website at the moment for 10% off 'kickkids'.

[CMOTdibbler]

I've got a pair of size 22 Elefanten, and a pair of 22 Baby Oop that you could have for free - they are both navy lace up boots, v wide and high.

CAT me if you want them - would be glad to see them go to a good home

[saltyseadog]

Another vote for Kickers (plus they look fab). DD is due a new pair of Piedros - however her kickers offer her tons of ankle support so I'm not worried about the wait.

[Nyrrem]

Just so you have an alternative if kickers don't work out. My ds just needs good support and space for his insoles. We were recommended Ricosta by physio/ped.

[madwomanintheattic]

we used kickers, but most independent children's shoe stores have a fab range of european makes that are brilliantly supportive for teenies. dd2 had fantastic boots until she was 4 lol.

i think we had elefanten (sp?) among others.

dd2 trashed her piedros regularly, so we had a few pairs going at a time.

you can buy them direct as someone else said, but usually you get a discount if you order them through your usual orthotis/ pct (we used to get 10%)

[feelingbetter]

Will have a look in my stash in work tomorrow, but don't think I've got anything that small.
Kickers are good as bigcar said, also babybottes and elephantums (sp?). Have you got a Startrite footwear anywhere near you? Sometimes they have a section in the big department stores if not their own store. The 2 makes mentioned above are often supplied on the NHS as an alternative as they have very good stiffeners. Tend to be a bit narrow tho.

[deepbreath]

Ebay sometimes sell Piedro boots, but as they come in different widths you'd have to be careful. Some are reverse last too, so the insoles tilt the opposite way. We used patent leather boots, even the orthotist said that patent is stiffer than normal leather (even in Piedro's), so it's more supportive.

I've heard that you can buy Piedro's direct from Gilbert and Mellish in Birmingham, but I haven't tried this myself.

Where we live, they won't order another pair of Piedro's until the old pair has been outgrown. Even though they know it will take at least 6 weeks AFTER they've seen the orthotist to get a new pair.

[maggie75]

thanks for the offer trace2, but she is too big for yours, she has just grown out of size 21 Piedros.

[trace2]

we used kickers! what size is your dd i have sone in size 19 i think if they any good?

[maggie75]

Ive seen the Kickers online already and they do seem quite expensive, but have just been told the first appointment we can get is 1st october - so realistically she wont have boots for another 6 weeks min, so may well be worth investing. Thanks for the advice.

[jasdox]

i suggest if the insoles of your old piedros are v. shaped to help you transfer then to the new shoes in the meantime. not sure otherwise about girls shoes, when my ds outgrew his I just just good ankle support ones. I was told also with the velro just to make sure it was pulled tight and just not loosely over the shoes.

[bigcar]

Kickers are good, expensive, but good! That's what we were recommended to buy while we waited. It's the really tough ones, not the first walker ones that you want. Hth