Where do you buy your toddler's shoes?

[LaTrucha]

I'm looking for a pair of shoes for newly walking DD and I can't find any I like.

All I want is a plain pale colour, width-fitted shoe preferably that I can buy online (she's been measured).

Everything seems to either be a trainer or have a flower and a bow and a ruffle all in different colours. Not my cup of tea.

If anyone has been to Spain, the kind of shoe that all the toddlers wear there is what I want, although they don't do width fittings there as far as I know.

In case it makes any difference, DD is a 3H

[LaTrucha]

Thanks Mejon. I'll have a look tomorrow.

[mejon]

Sorry me again - I got DD some shoes very similar to the ones Thumbwitch linked to in Shoefayre (I think - the one on the main street in town opposite-ish Clarkes?). They are navy with an embroidered kite on but I think there were pale blue, navy ones with a yacht and pink with a flower or butterfly for a girl too. Great for messing about in the garden. There were definitely size 4 and possibly smaller too.

[LaTrucha]

Thumbwitch - those canvas ones are great for a summer shoe. I'll keep an eye out to see if they restock.

Mejon - not at all.

Solo - thanks. Interesting about 'depth' too.

MissBlythe - thanks for the tip about Cardiff. I'm in Aberystwyth so am off to look up Narbeth. Those greenshoes look like a good schoolish shoe. I like the look of those pedipeds very much and am off to investigate further. Thankyou very much.

Goodasgold - It's very disappointing, isn't it. I though it was going tobe really fun but it's not!

RamblingRosa - So I can stop having London envy then! I used to live there and dread the thought of going there with a pushchair. Interesting about Startrite. May check out TK Maxx as they have one in my Dad's nearest town. I agree about the fitting though.

[mejon]

Sorry for hijackng LaTrucha - missblythe - thanks for the tip about the shop in Narberth - may be worth a trip when the time comes. I agree about Funky Monkey Feet - I got DD some lovely sandals there last summer.

[missblythe]

Just realised she's only just walking- do these appeal?

www.pediped.com/Product/CategoryInfo.aspx?cid=49

DD had Pedipeds until she was 2, they are fabulously soft, but still suitable for wearing outside.

The official website if US, and shipping to teh Uk is pretty pricey, but there are plenty of uk websites that stock them. For example:

toddle2teen.com/shop.cgi?keyword=pediped&view_products=search

childrensalon.com/product_info.php?keywords=pediped&search_in_description=1&sort=3a&page=2&products_ id=10575

[RamblingRosa]

Glad to know I'm not the only one struggling to find decent shoes for toddler. Only shop nearby is Clarks (you'd think I'd be spoilt for choice living in London but I don't like taking DD into centre of town if I can avoid it) and I think they're rubbish. She's got a Startrite pair at the mo and they're much nicer.
They do some nice shoes in T K Maxx (European brands) but I'm scared to buy shoes for her without getting her properly fitted.

[missblythe]

These are nice, too, and you can have them made in which ever colour you like, but they start for a 4, so you'd have to wait until she's gone up a size. Not sure about width fittings, but you could give them a call.

www.greenshoes.co.uk/index.php?f=shop&p=product&id=29&c=girls&t=1&start=0

[missblythe]

If you do make it to Cardiff, there's a fab independent shoe shop called Funky Monkey Feet in the Castle Arcade. They stock Startrite (which we have found no good for DD's wide feet), but they also have lots of different continental brands so would probably have something to suit.

Not sure where in Wales you are, but if you ever go anywhere near Narbeth (west Wales) there a great children's shoe shop-not sure of the name, but it's opposite the clock tower.

[thumbwitch]

I bought these from jojomamanbebe - they are lovely, light and flexible, with proper soles. Looks unfortunately like they've sold out though, from the website - you might be able to get them instore somewhere? Only £7.

[SOLOisMeredithGrey]

LaTrucha, yes, I meant I'd get them fitted. Also, it was Clarkes that were deeper, not the Start Rites(thanks MrsBadger).

[goodasgold]

I have been struggling to find a first shoe for my son. I would rather him continue being bare foot than buy any of the horrid clumpy boys shoes that I have seen. I like the Start Rite Jo which is plain/unisex and would fit your daughter's g width, but does not go up to h for my baby.

With my daughters I always got the lightest shoes available for their first walking shoes, they all look so heavy on little baby feet, but for my son it appears that there are not any available. He is so beautiful, I would really like to get him some shoes that do him justice.

[mejon]

[LaTrucha]

They measured DD. Maybe they were having an off day.

Good idea about Cardiff. I must go there one day...

Will have a look at M+S. My favourite shop!

[mejon]

Glad to be of help! Brantano is a bit odd tbh - I was a bit that they don't measure feet for you just point you towards the rack of foot-guages - though I'm sure they measured DDs feet when we lived down south.

I'm glad DDs feet don't grow very quickly as I can use shoe-shopping as an excuse to go back down to Cardiff for some retail therapy!

[LaTrucha]

I've heard there's quite a good one in Llanidloes too, BTW.

[LaTrucha]

Wow thanks Mejon.

LaTrucha goes off to look for the bus timetable... and the number of the shop...

I was in Brantano today and I did like some of those but the sales assistant 'wouldn't advise' DD to wear them.

[mejon]

We're in the same neck of the woods LaTrucha (and I'm seriously missing the choice I used to have when I lived in the city!)

There is a small independent shoe shop on the main road through Aberaeron that sells Startrite and I think they also had other brands too (they were shut when I was there so only looked in the window). They may be worth a look. Failing that, there are some non-Clarkes shoes in Brantano which look quite wide (I think they are Chipmonks?) and not quite as flowery/glittery as Clarkes.

[LaTrucha]

Start Rite didn't do her size in ones I liked anyway. Are they really to be avoided MRs Badger?

[MrsBadger]

no, all those brands are ones that come up wide rather than having width fittings

startrite are rubbish for 'deep' feet (techinally known as 'high instep')

and always buy a t-bar or fully closed-in shoe, don't get a Mary Jane with one strap

[LaTrucha]

Oh !I've just realised I'm talking rubbish about Start Rite colours.

Excited now...

[LaTrucha]

She's tried Daisy Roots in the past. They don't seem to fit on her feet at all. I think her feet are deep aswell as wide!

[LaTrucha]

Ah! Mrs Badger - X-post. Did you fiind those brands just to be wide enough shoes or do they do width fittings? Maybe I didn't notice.

[LaTrucha]

Those baby Op shoes are gorgeous, but I'm having the same problem re: width fitting as I would in Spain. They don't really seem to do it there!

[LaTrucha]

Thanks Spicemonster. That's what I thought.

SOLOis - I'm kind of trapped by our location - it's a three hour journey to a Start-rite shop, which I would probably find an excuse to do if they had some pale ones. Did you mean you would get them fitted?