Insoles and shoes/boots for school

[lexcat]

Sorry not really SN but felt this was the best place.

DD has flat feet which has lead to inward turning ankles and knees with daily pain. Dd has just been given off the shelf insoles. The thin insoles which fitted her school shoe didn't work so she's got the heavier duty ones which are thicker. As we love walking I had taken her walking boots too. The ortho took the walking boot insole out and replaced it with the new ones. As the boots are a little on the big size they still fitted dd with the new insoles. She's standing better but they hinted that custom made insoles might be better, but the ortho was more worried about helping with the pain first (up to a month for custom ones to be made and fitted so he said).

Here's the problem dd has to go back in a few months to review her progress or earlier if she still is continuing to have pain. Now she has no school shoes that fit. What are good shoes or boots that are deeper then your average shoe to fit the insoles in. Plus is it worth getting new shoes if in the next 2 months she might have new insoles that may not fit the new shoes.

Bump
Anyone

As a wide footed mum of wide footed kids, I'm thinking that your options are limited.

IF you are in striking distance of Exeter, try Chuckle shoes. in yellow pages but may not have web site.

Short term, would school accept black trainers?

kids with afos often use converse or similar - or the cheapest of cheap trainers because the support is coming from elsewhere iyswim...

with all shoe issues i've searched out local independent children's shoe stores and had great help though.

Hi there. Dd1 has orthotic insoles (born with bilateral club foot). We have a nightmare getting school shoes to fit with the insoles, but have had some success with Hush Puppies as they come with a removeable insole - so you can take it out and put the orthotic one in.

Failing that, you can try asking the ortho to supply orthotic boots rather than just insoles - dd1 wore these from just before she started walking and started school with them - they are available in black and patent black so look fine. They will be really supportive as well, esp if your daughter is getting pain.

Thanks everyone.

Dd is really impressed with her new insoles. Felt funny yesterday but said she forgot about then today and joints are feeling must better with no pain. If in two days they made a big difference will she need new ones in two months.

Was thinking can probably swing it with school and her walking boots, just a bit of a bore as can't wear wellies so have to constantly clean them. Think I'll try and get some cheap shoes (thanks madwoman hadn't thought of that) for at home and in the house.

Unis thanks also as exeter is where we would go for shoes, can't afford the expense of chuckles if we have to change shoes in 2 months.

Chuckles are good people to talk to about custom shoes for all kinds of reasons. They may be able to remake a shoe to work with a different insole. One of boys pairs were remade after a few months as it became obvious that they had the wrong shape sole for the way his foot grew.

Their childrens shoes start from about 45 quid, BUT, can be stretched to grow a size or there abouts. we tend to get 12 months out a pair.
DS has super wide and high feet .

my 8 year old daughter has ehlers danlos syndrome which causes extremely hypermobile joints, she has custom made large orthotic heal cup insoles & finding school shoes has been a nightmare, she's been in walking boots for the past year or so but it's really affecting her confidence & self esteem as her image is becoming increasingly important to her, after hours of searching on line & trying countless shoes, have today found a hush puppies up to the knee stylish black boot called rollercoaster 2, went a size bigger than she measures but the insole comes out allowing extra room to accommodate her orthotic, they fit really well, she loves them & she can finally feel she fits in with the other girls at school again, I would definately recommend these along with lots of good luck to all other frustrated mums desperately trying to find shoes to fit orthotics for their little girls:-)

Ricosta make shoes with removeable footbeds, which will make more room for orthotics. Only have experience of their boys shoes, though.

You can swing it with school and whatever shoes work for your DD, especially if there are "better" insoles or boots maybe coming in a couple of months, so you'd probably have to shell out again fairly soon. Someone I know was having probs with school not "allowing" shoes recently and I got a bit cross and googly on their behalf and there is specific guidance to schools out there about this. Can post a couple of links if it helps.

ds wears trainers with his afos