toddlers shoes, not clarks!

[cremeeggsrock]

Hello! can anyone reccommend any toddler shoes other than clarks? ive had a look at them and wasnt that impressed! there summer range might be better but the ladie wasnt sure when they were due in, any help welcolmed:) thanks in advance for your replies!

Have you looked at Start-rite?

They are within shoe shops like Jones, Russell and Bromley etc.

Not cheap admittedly, but lovely.

We go to an independent show shop locally to us or Russell and Bromley, they stock lots of different brands.

Mine used to have elefanten boots and high sided sandals and start rite shoes as they had narrow feet and clarks never fitted.

thanks for your replies so far:) DD has wide feet! will take a look at all suggestions though!

sucre d'orge, they do lovely shoes/boots!

I really like M&S Walkmates. Only available in certain stores but you can have a look on the website to get an idea. Well fitting, wide and look good. I ditched Clarks long ago!

Next do great ones

Next do great ones

we go to a local independent store. The last two pairs we've brought were pediped

I've been really impressed, they've lasted well and we got the washable ones which have been great after trips to the park etc.

DS has a really high front part of his foot so we'd struggled to find some before.

I go to a semi-independent shop, I think it's still family run although it's expanded a lot so there might be one near you. They're called Charles Clinkard. They do stock Clarks but other brands too, including Start-Rite as mentioned above.

I've always found the fitters really friendly and helpful. Last time I went in although it had been ages (September/October last year I think? He was just 2 or nearly 2.) they said DS' feet hadn't grown and I may as well leave it. The time before that he measured an F but they tried the shoe and said it wasn't quite right, ended up with a G which they tried and said fitted better. It just feels like they are giving you real advice rather than a hard sell if that makes sense?

loving these suggestions, thanks all for your help:) might struggle to choose!

Another vote for Clinkards. The fitter who helped us last time was really good and knew her stuff.

John Lewis - really well trained fitters, lots of different makes of shoe. And they know which brands will work for your child's shape of foot.

I agree Charles Clinkard are great. The staff were very meticulous about finding a good fit and seemed to have an endless stock of styles and shapes to fit all varieties of little feet.

Also, the lady who helped us knew exactly how to distract my rather restless DD, so that helps as well.

Umi at Amazon. Great, great shoes, esp if your LO has high instep. Great quality, soft, wear so well- can't recommend them high enough.

Second Umi at Amazon. Beautiful shoes, lovely soft leather, cost way less than Clarks (Amazon sell at about half the RRP).

I tend to get DS1 fitted at Clarks and then order online.

BTW does anyone ever measure their own kids? If so, any tips? Our local Clarks has mostly dozy teenagers who will swear blind shoes fit fine when his feet are bulging over the side (I dodge them and wait for the nice older lady) so I can't believe it's that difficult, but not sure where to start...

I measured DS using the StartRite print out chart and tape and got something totally different from what the dozy teenager in John Lewis had said a couple of days before.

In the end I ordered something in the middle and then just used my own common sense as to whether they fit- plus video on Start Rite website. Ds has pretty average feet though so a bit easier for me. I'm stupidly fussy about his shoes and only like about 2 pairs! (StartRite Hammock in the end)

My ds has a lovely wee pair of Ricosta boots atm. I got them from an independent kids' shoe shop, but I see their website does online ordering, and even online measuring (not sure how that works!)