Shoes for a toddler with very small (size1) feet - can you buy them?

[buttercupbabe]

Hi I'm posting for my friend whose dd 13 months is starting to walk but is only size 1. My friend is desperate to buy her proper shoes to support her feet properly but is having no luck. Apparently Clarks start at about size 2. At the moment my friend is having to put her in soft shoes from places like 'next' which are very pretty but not exactly walking shoes. Does anyone have any experience of this or know where she can find her proper walking shoes at a small size?

She doesn't need them. They really don't need shoes to support their feet - they are better off walking barefoot in the beginning.
Even Clarks will tell you this (at the same time as trying to sell you 'cruising shoes ).

Agree she doesn't need them yet. And she will be a size 2 in a few weeks anyway, the way feet grow at that age.

The problem is she is going to need them. She was a tiny baby just under 4lb and as a toddler is still very small. She's going to need a more supportive shoe for walking in the park etc over the next few months and my friend is concerned that she probably wont be a size 2 for many months to come.

Maybe would need to be from a specialist supplier then? I don't think I've ever seen 'proper' shoes in a size 1.

This is what I'm thinking. I wonder if there are such places? Anyone?

I'd have said she doesn't need them either, but what do you do when they want to walk when you're outside?

Vertbaudet has "proper" shoes that start at a european 17 (UK 1). Or try and independent shops that stocks continental brands.

an independent shop

Thanks for the replies, so far.

clarks and startrite both do a size 2. she may have to wait until she fits into those for proper shoes. otherwise i can highly recommend soft leather shoes like shoo shoos, bobux, daisy roots etc.

Yes, I'd def wait

DS1 walked at 9 months, but I didn;t get him shoes til 12 months. DS2 had his first pair at 17 months.

Oooh, sorry, I didn;t read your subsequent posts.

I'd say it's definitely worth going to an independent shop. They would probably be able to source smaller shoes

Try a European shoe stockist . Ricosta, Naturino, Geox, Richter and what was elefanten (Umi now iirc) do small sizes. dd was an 18 to start with iirc. Startite tend to come up smaller than Clarks too, so their 2 might fit.