Refuse to replace destroyed Startrite school shoes 6 weeks in...

[RubberDuck]

... what's a good cheap alternative and how do I know if they're fitting properly?

Don't mind replacing for proper shoes next term, but object to buying another £36 pair 6 weeks in.

So where do I go? Asda? Tesco? Next? I know the running your fingers over the toe area thing, what other things do I look for when checking fitting?

Black pumps from wollies for £3 - a lesson learned.

Overall if you want to use next,asda or tesco you can pay more for cr*p that is no better than the £3 black plain pumps from wollies.

Childs feet maybe a little cold though?

What has happened to the shoes?

Might be worth taking them back to the shop.

This is a real pain in the arse. I am sick of buying expensive shoes (DS has the widest fitting so is not easy to buy shoes for). Within 6 weeks they look like a scummy pair of old shoes dragged from a skip. DS has this tendency to scuff them beyond all repair/facelift stuff.

If your little one has normal width feet then most shoes will fit well.

Boys: he's been dragging the toes across the playground and completely ripped through the leather - hardly the shoe manufacturer's fault, but am loathe to "reward" him by replacing them. At the same time, don't want him to have sore feet!

Ivy: he has some black pumps for PE, but suspect that they just won't be dry enough for general every day wear outside.

Jolly: I think he's fairly "normal" in width fitting. 9 1/2 G.

I know growing up I could never fit a fitted shoe, but cheap off-the-shelf shoes were always really comfortable. So I know that expensive doesn't have to always mean the best, but at the same time nervous of getting it wrong!

I bought some Hush Puppy expensive black shoes for Ds when he started school last year - there was a hole in the toe area within six weeks. You are right - boys!

Asda do good school type shoes for a quarter of the price that Clarks charge.

Personally I think you'll end up with him doing the same to the cheap shoes in less time.

Ah I see

Really Soupy? Bugger... was just hoping I could see him through to after Christmas

Okay, alternatively - who markets steel toe-capped childrens shoes

If he's scuffing the toes to that extent, then yes I suspect he'd go through cheaper shoes quicker. I don't think the problem is with the shoes but with the treatment they've received.

Any ideas on how to stop him? Telling him off seems to be water off a duck's back atm. He just grins and thinks its terribly funny.

This is just a week after his brother came home with whiteboard pen all over his school polo shirt, too.

Kids. Can't live with them. Can't sell 'em on Ebay.

Make him wear the ripped ones. no, there isn't a way to stop him - if he gets pocket money you could make him pay for replacements.

Read a study once that said children in "off the peg" from Woollies etc often had better fitting shoes because the mothers took such care doing the fitting themselves.

I'd take them back, they are meant to last up to 6 weeks wear and tear, i'd have a dicky fit if mine got through them that quickly, at the shop not the child.

if your child is a 'normal' width (whatever that is) barrats fit for length at about £20-£25, which is more palatable than start-rite

G isn't the average width fitting, I suspect - it runs from C to H so G would be wide.

have a look on ebay - if you know the size you need you can get some ok ones on there

i tend to stock up in the sale

or clarks outlet shops do fitting and shoes are max 15 quid

Chipmunk shoes (do an ebay search and there are lots of ebay sellers with brand-new ones) are really good and quite wide-fitting. My two have had them with no problems - they're leather and only about £8 a pair.

You are not alone. Both my boys have totally trashed theirs

there is something like putting finger down between heel of child and back of shoe to make sure there is enough room to grow a bit. is all very tricky though, the last pair of shoes ds grew out of it was above his toes, rather than width or lengthwise.

My DD is the same with her Start Rites (she has a big brother, which may explain it). She can (and has done twice) destroy a pair within a fortnight. Before the Start Rites, she demolished a pair of Clarks. I'm afraid she just has to wear destroyed shoes and put up with it [mean mummy emoticon].

To my mind, replacing the shoes even with cheap ones would give her the idea that she can destroy things and they'll be replaced (my DD certainly wouldn't be able to distinguish between the value of Primark and Start Rite shoes - all she'd see is New Shoes!!)

Thanks for all the tips. Shame it seems he's a bit wide - might go check out some cheapy shoes anyway, worth having a proper try on at least.

Dottoressa: yes, I am wary of giving him the green light to destroy stuff to get it replaced. I think if it wasn't shoes (and rather a big hole so he's likely to get very wet feet in the rain) then he'd have to live with it. Getting cheap replacements is a sort of compromise position

make him wear his wellies for a few days??!!!