Shoes!!!

Hi all,

I need some advice on shoes. DD has been working for nearly 2 weeks, before that from 11 months she was walking all around things and pushing her walker everywhere.

I really want to get her measured for shoes today or tomorrow because its so much easier to take her outside in the heat. Yesterday she walked around the shops with her converse and loved it.

I keep getting told to wait another couple of weeks but then my Mum said they neer waited for when we were young to get shoes and thinks its fine.

Her feet are so flat so I have been told that flat feet are ready for shoes????

Please help!!!

xxxx

we got sophie her first shoes about a month after she started walking we get clarkes, id get fitted in case you have her in the wrong size, i think once they start walking getting proper shoes it ok

Yep, My little missy E is in proper clark's sandals. I didn't have her measured though, I buy them on ebay. I make sure I get ones that are adjustable at the toe end as well as the ankle end.

How long did you wait Marydean to get her measured?

We got DD's feet measured and bought her some Clarkes about a month after she started walking. She also has always walked with flat feet. She had them for her first birthday.

I think its fine to get them now. DD only wears hers when she is outside or we go out somewhere. She is barefoot or with socks most of the time.

I think the recommendations are to get shoes when they start walking outside as bare feet is best for foot development. Then as long as you get comfortable shoes in the right size then you will be right.

I didn't get her measured, but I'd bought her some Clarks pre-walkers in a smaller size so it was easy to see when he feet were getting bigger that she needed the next size up. They fit her well so I'm not worried with width etc fittings at this stage. When she's older and likely to be wearing any pair of shoes for more than a few months (Ie when her growth slows down) I might get her feet measured then. Until then, I can't afford $50-60-70-80 on shoes. That's why ebay's good.

Lis, you kind of already know some of my thoughts on shoes. Even if you don't want to spend a fortune, I'd still be taking her into a shop to at least get her feet measured - you don't have to buy straight away, and if you're looking for an excuse, tell them that your mum wants to buy the first shoes, so you're getting her measured & choosing a style so that your mum can come in to purchase later that day (or whatever).

Also, I think flat feet a normal for babies/toddlers, but again, if you want to check, ask the person who measures her up. The Clarks fitting people I've dealt with have been very helpful.

where i gets DD clarkes shoes they have a bin with last years stock in them for $49 for sandles instead of $70, so there are options to buy quality a bit cheaper

Riv's first *shoes* were soft soled ones. I think he might have got his first harder soled shoes not long before he turned two, when it was winter and needed easier to clean shoes. Given that we're almost up to summer, maybe try some leather soft soled shoes? You can get some with a double or thick layer on the bottom, so that stones and other hard surfaces aren't such an issue.

I still let Riv go barefoot as much as I can though.

Thanks all for your suggestions and opinions.

I got her measured and bought some shoes yesterday. She is a 5F (wide foot like me). I still have her in bare feet as much as possible, its just nice to have her walking with me sometimes. I can't carry her anyway now, she always wants to get down and she cracks it for too long in the pram (if she doesn't have anything to eat hehe).

I got $70 ones, nice white sandals with velcro at the toe so they can be lose around there or tight, as well as a buckle. SHe cracked it when we were putting them on her, but she is ok with them now :)

Thanks again
xxx

Yeh i think it is recommended bare feet for a little while, but can you get some soft sole prewalkers or something maybe? Least its something on her feet and nothing that will do too much damage or anything iykwim.

There is an outlet that sells clarkes on Darebin Rd in Fairfield. I got DS fitted at a recommended retailer (from the Clarkes website) then went and bought the shoes at the outlet. RRP $65 and I got them for $49.

The woman working in the outlet said that most of the customers do this.

I just had DD fitted and bought her first clarks for her the other day. Also I just won a pair on ebay for $10 that had barely been worn and had been purchased a month ago for $60 odd. So definately check out ebay. Also the lady at Betts Kids told me that if you get open toe sandles theres a bit more room for growth.