Shoes for a just walker - does good quality always cost ££££?

[cleanandclothed]

DS is just starting to walk. He doesn't wear shoes at the moment and I will put it off as long as I can but especially with winter coming I think this is only a matter of weeks. However even when he does need shoes I estimate he will only wear them for about 45 minutes per day.

I have no idea where to start. I have bought all his clothes so far from ebay so I haven't even been to a childrens clothes/shoe shop.

I presume however 2nd hand shoes are not good for his feet. So what should I look out for/where should I go (I live in London). I don't want to spend ages over it because I don't think he will find shoe shopping fun, but I don't want to go to a mega expensive shop and end up spending much more than I should, because I imagine they wont last long. So -

How much is reasonable to pay?
How long should they last?
Any recommendations?
Are the soft leather type shoes any good when children are walking properly?

Hi there,

I personally go to Clarks and get their advice. So far (my ds is 18 months) I've found them very good.

The major drawback for someone on a budget is they're pricey.

I would suggest getting him fitted there but don't actually buy - just find out his size.

Go on ebay and enter the size and sometimes pairs in good condition come up (not always - many pairs look very used!). What I do is get him fitted and buy a pair in Clarks then look for Clarks shoes, same size, in different styles on ebay. I can't afford to buy more than 1 pair at a time from Clarks.

just to quickly answer your qs

1. It really does depend.
2. Little feet grow quickly. I think average is 8-12 weeks, then you need a refitting (clarks leave room for growth which is v handy).
3. soft leather shoes are too soft for walking in.

All the best! I know what it's like to be on a budget and I too get lots on ebay. Have found it a Godsend. Also try NCT second-hand sales if you can.

Thank you - good idea about getting one pair new and fitted, and then I might take a chance on a second pair from ebay as he won't wear them muc.