Toddler Shoes... My Gripe

[Indadhanu]

We bought some sandals for Jazz, cos she loves to run around the park these days, and I didn't think, bought the velcro, and within 5 minutes of putting them on I heard *RIP* giggle giggle giggle, and over the side of the pram they went

[AnyDream]

A lot of that so called vast choice of girls clothes are ridiculously impractical, don't wash well, and don't get me started on the inappropriate slogans/pictures that many of them have. I often buy plain boys clothes and mix and match them in with 'girls' clothes, just because they wear better and last longer and often are cheaper.

The grass is always greener I guess.

Apparently there was some sort of population boom the year my DD was born because there are *never* any of the thing I want in her size - dozens of the size bigger and smaller but none in the right size.

[butterfly_warrior]

Marydean, there was also a HUGE boom in boys around when Sam was born, too. I can always find stuff smaller or larger, but hardly ever in his size!

BW

[rufalina]

Oh sizes... my local store has NO size 0 or 1 boys clothes at all...

Interesting to hear that mums of girls feel the same about choice. I guess I just look at the vast racks and see variety, but I have not delved into them to see really what is on offer.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well, I love Velcro. DS can put his own shoes on now. (OK wrong feet every time but he can do it.) Laces were a nightmare. Took five times as long to get him into his lace-up shoes as it did his velcro ones.

DS is another fussy clothes boy. I find things from mothercare are generally not so pink for girls and DS-friendly in colours. Can you shop online from the UK? Or am I unhelpful here?

[Phteven]

No reason one can't shop online from the UK. I usually buy from the US because the exchange rate means I get better value for money. The differance in seasons means that I can get the stuff that is on special because it was made for the previous season so even with postage I end up getting great quality stuff for the same price as dodgy quality here. Gymboree has great sales and overstock and sierra trading often have great bargains too.

I'm a bit of a fan of velcro too - saves me from tying laces lol.
My children don't wear shoes a minute more than I can help it I think it's better for their feet to be barefoot so long as they aren't running about anywhere that they might injure their feet.

ETA - I also buy lots of clothes second hand on ebay and after reading about CO2 emissions caused by manufacturing clothing yesterday I'm planning to buy more second hand from ebay and op-shops (the article was in an inflight magazine - I wonder if they appreciated the irony lol)

[Daffodil Mumma]

I buy alot of clothes from ebay too....so much more variety than i can find locally and much cheaper too!! I got a snoopy tracksuit for a couple of bucks and it looked brand new!!!

I did notice in my local dept. store the girls tracksuits pants were reduced to half price and there was plenty to choose from...nothing reduced for boys and hardly anything in DS's size....so sssshhhh dont tell hubby, I bought a heap of the most non-girlie looking pants I could find hehehe

Velcro on shoes does seem like a PITA....my DS is only 6 months but already loves that riiippp sound of taking off his own nappy lol god help me when we have shoes!!! And speaking of nappies.....it bugs me how clothes are mainly sold in "sets" I like to buy a size up in pants to fit his cloth bum and also hes got pretty long legs...but an up size top swims on him!! Whatever happened to the good ole mix n match that wasnt just totally plain!!!

[CrazyLady]

A lot of that so called vast choice of girls clothes are ridiculously impractical, don't wash well, and don't get me started on the inappropriate slogans/pictures that many of them have. I often buy plain boys clothes and mix and match them in with 'girls' clothes, just because they wear better and last longer and often are cheaper.

:yeahthat:
All of the girls things i have bought are now stretched/distorted/pilling especially the sleeves. No idea what i'm going to do when she starts crawling. Well i guess it might be in summer so let her be naked?

[Phteven]

lol Helen, I buy stuff from the girl's section all the time. We use the Big W trackie pants as PJ bottoms for winter and the girl's ones fit my skinny boys perfectly while the boy's ones fall down.
Tights too - they're great for putting under shorts when the seasons are turning but they only sell them in the girl's section.

[ClareBear28]

I work as a manager in a large Sports Store, and have had many conversations with companies such as Nike, Puma etc as to the sizing and styles of infant/toddler shoes...so I can give you the major reasons as to why many shoe manufacturers make shoes in Velcro. After receiving copious amounts of complaints from customers, I made it a point of passing on the 'feedback' and constantly received the same answers (excuses) over and over again -
1. Young children scrunch their toes up, so Velcro allows the shoe to be easily opened-up by the parent to make sure the child's foot is properly sitting in the shoe. (They put this down to convenience)
2. It is hard for the manufacturers to accommodate all widths/depths (chubbiness) of childrens feet and Velcro is more forgiving and easier to fit around a young childs foot than lacing - lacing actually makes the shoe shallower, putting alot of pressure on the top of a childs foot and making the shoe gape (or have too much of a gap) across the top of the shoe. (They put this down to ensuring a better fit - I say it's because they can't be bothered to provide a range of different fitting styles like they provide adults with)

All in all, I find these to be excuses and have repeatedly told them so! Lachlan is 4mths old now, and I am dreading getting him shoes (and I work in the industry!), your frustrations are best put to good use by writing to the companies and telling them what you think (nobody likes negative feedback), and maybe (just maybe) with enough demand (and by going direct to the manufacturer) we might find that they realise that they could make some serious $ out of providing more appropriate footwear for infants/toddlers. Oh and also please try not to take your frustrations out on the salespeople, they don't have any say in the matter, the managers do the purchasing - and we can only buy what is available to us

[Phteven]

Alternatively you can just throw them out
Parents for Barefoot Children

[Inanna]

at the inflight mag Pony!!!!

I am for the no shoes too! My kids school encourages bare feet where there is no danger of injury. It's important for their little feet and also for their motor skills I believe...

I am all for the recycled clothing thing too. It is definitely worth switching over where you can to reduce our FOOT (get it!!! ) print on the Earth...

I have to say I LOVE velcro as they get older - saves all the lace tying. But on babies and toddlers nah...

[Daffodil Mumma]

lol Helen, I buy stuff from the girl's section all the time. We use the Big W trackie pants as PJ bottoms for winter and the girl's ones fit my skinny boys perfectly while the boy's ones fall down.
Tights too - they're great for putting under shorts when the seasons are turning but they only sell them in the girl's section.

That reminds me...DS desperately needed more winter pj's...BigW had the one piece suit things for $13.....or flanny pj's on clearance for $3, no boys ones ofcourse.....so DS now has gorgeous pairs of fairy and crazy flower pj's....hubby actually lets him wear them...so long as we dont have visitors lol

[thepixie]

Ruf I'm not sure if you solved your shoe problem in the end but Kmart have some really cute boy's lace up sneakers in toddler sizes... I nearly bought a pair for DD (blue check converse style sneakers) but they didn't have her size. They are having a 25% off sale at the moment if you have one nearby

[Sequoia]

And while I am at it, can anyone explain the inequality in choice for boys and girls, not only in shoes, but in clothing too... Please dont get me started on that topic....

Really? I have no trouble finding funky items for my little man. Most everyday stuff is from Target but I also buy from Fred Bare and Country Road (the spend and save offers are fantastic!). I'm not a fan of Pumpkin Patch as I don't like logos and writing over each piece of clothing. My sister lives OS and buys a lot of Gap and Benetton for him also which wears very well.

[Jennifer13]

Ruf, there are a couple of good factory outlet stores at DFO at Homebush. I always got DD's shoes there when she was littler. And I bought both velcro and non-velcro, depending on the intention. Preschool always got the velcro shoes! You tend to find that the more expensive brands seem to make good shoes for kids that include buckles and laces, but I shudder at the usual prices. Lately we've found what we want at DJs and Myers when they have their throw-out sales at the end of season. I always buy the sizes ahead and a few staples for each size, so it doesn't bother me what season the sale is for. And my tip is if you find a shoe that's perfect, buy it in the next size or two as well, 'cause there's no way you'll ever find it again!

(We encourage bare feet at home too and I did get second-hand shoes from my Mum whose foster-daughter has CP and didn't walk for quite a while. But I'm very reluctant to go second-hand shoes otherwise, my DD has a very narrow, long foot and only new shoes give her a snug fit. Same as me, so I don't like to take the chance that they come off easily.) As for pink... Can you believe I managed to find a lovely dress for DD for our photo shoot on Sunday that is completely blue!