Buying childrens shoes in advance

[TeaAddict235]

DS is 10mo, cruising and has big feet (my genes). I remember the trouble my DM had with our feet as children getting affordable, appropriate shoes when we needed them. Can I buy DS's shoes in advance during the sales despite the fact that I will be approximating his shoe sizes?

Has anyone done this before, and if so what were your gauges for shoe sizes and age?

Thank you

Iøve done it, with varying degress of succes, but most of the time my predictions were correct. I usually bought them 1 size up for wear 6 month to a year later. Go for it, but only buy with at least 50% off! You can always ebay them.

I have done with occasional wear shoes, like party shoes or wellies, but wouldn't even attempt it for day to day stuff. It's not just the size, it's the width fitting too. And different brands/styles fit completely differently so very often we end up with fitted shoes in a size completely different from the measured size.

I've also done it, but it has been hit-and-miss, and I've had sizes the DCs' feet have skipped entirely or wrong shoes for the wrong season. And now my two are a bit older they have very strong opinions (especially the 3yo) on which shoes they will/will not wear!

As a PP has said, I now stick to advance-buying for stuff like wellies, party shoes, and also Crocs for summer where there is a bit of give in them.

But not for day-to-day shoes.

I've tried this and never had any luck! DS1's feet skip sizes and change width fittings and different brands require totally different sizes!

I now just buy when I need them.

However, I will happily take him into Clarks to be measured and then buy online (Charles Clinkard website often have Clarks shoes in the sale when they are still full price in Clarks stores). You can also get measured for Start Rite in Jones the Bootmaker, but then buy much cheaper from the Start Rite outlet shop on eBay.

I do kids shopping online mostly so that they can choose they favourite things easily and it is my responsibility to find out that selected items is proper or not. Last week I bought footwear for my DS only from trusted online stores and always prefer to do price comparison for that.

If you are in East Anglia (unlikely I know!) then you can use the Startrite factory shop near Norwich which sells their previous season shoes for half the price.
Otherwise I would agree and say that it is hard to guess what size they will be in advance, particularly the width fitting.