Baby shoes

[Booldawg]

I've just hit the roof! My partner has just bought a pair of shoes for our 15 month old daugter. 26 quid!!! She only walks 6 or 7 steps at a time and thats mainly around the house. Is that over the top for a pair of shoes that will only fit for a few months. What do other parents do when it comes to buying shoes?

[sherrardk]

When my boys began walking I waited until they were steady enough to walk out doors (ie able to manage quite a few steps without falling over) before buying any shoes. Then I bought them Clarke's shoes and they must be about 25 quid a pair - I will also do this for my daughter.

[PinkFizz]

I never bought proper shoes until they could walk outside,like sherrardk said.They are hardly going to wear them out on carpet!! Indoors if I got anything it was just the little slip on soft shoes - they grow way too quickly!

[Pippa68]

I am with the others ~ I didn't buy shoes for my kiddies until they were competant walkers..I always bought the best fitted ones I could afford (Clarks or Start Rite) so there was no way I would have bought them unless they were going to be used.

They grow out of the shoes before they get worn out!

[redcrx]

I bought my son cruisers from Clarks when he first started toddling at 9 months. They supported his foot when walking but were soft enough to crawl in. Walking shoes are not recommended until child has been walking fully for 6 weeks. I then got his feet measured 4 weeks after and then every 2 weeks. His feet have now gone up a size so i have bought him proper supportive walking shoes again from clarks. The cruisers cost �18 and the shoes cost �25.
I will continue to buy from Clarks and get his feet checked often until he is at least 3 years of age because IMO clarks are a trusted company.

[noxlumos]

It's about the right price for the shoes you've described but I never buy clarkes because of their outrageous price, I shop around and use my common sense to find a good fit in a cheaper shoe. I know that's technically the wrong answer, but even though we're not that hard up really it pains me to pay that amount for something the kid will grow out of in a few weeks and I personally think as long as there is room in the shoe for the child to be comfy that's all it needs.

[Hellion]

Hi Booldawg! Unfortunately that is about the right price for shoes - they say it costs about �25,000 to raise a child they don't tell you that �23,000 of that is shoes!! My niece has extra narrow feet and her shoes cost my sister �60 and their nothing special.

[Booldawg]

I mean, they're like about just bigger than dolls shoes. My yearly clothing budget blown on a pair of shoes!!! They are Clarks and it is important for foot development to but 'proper' shoes. Oh well, I'll put them in a glass display cabinet when she's outgrown them.

[lou 26]

i agree! the prices they charge are ridiculous! I always take my daughter to clarks to have her feet measured and then go elsewhere to buy the shoes!

[boobesque]

i would only ever buy clarkes or similar for my child, i have tried my 7 year old in next shoes and they caused much discomfort, i will do the same with this baby when she is born, babies feet need a lot of special care or they can end up with nasty feet as they get older

[toecrusher]

i only ever bought clarkes for my children when they were small, very expensive i agree, but you must look after those tiny feet, they have to last a long time,! so need plenty of tlc while developing

[Ms.Hijinx]

wait til she's bigger my 2 cost me �38 for my daughter and �56 for my son!!! you could have this first pair bronzed when shes out of them that might be a nice keepsake

[yummymummy]

I buy Clarks as my son has wide feet, but from Ebay. I know this isn't suitable for everyone though. I tend to get him measured properly, then have a look and buy them on Ebay. As kids don't wear them for long before they grow out of them, lots of people have some lovely nearly new ones from about �5 upwards.

It also disgusts and disappoints me that so many parents will just throw away baby clothes/shoes/accessories when there are so many people who want nice things but can't afford to buy them all new. Rant over!

[mimififi]

I buy startright shoes for my children as I find them to be much better fitting than clarks. They are fractionally more expensive, but have alot of growing room in and I typically only buy one pair a year as the summer months are typically spent in doodles or beach shoes.

My 18 month old regularly walks outside and even has a pair of wellies. We go to the beach which is shingle and so she needs good sturdy shoes which won't make her feet hurt when walking on unsteady ground. She also plays in the park everyday unless it is raining. She doesn't wear her shoes out as such but they get alot of wear. However, my son, was so active even as a toddler that he did wear his shoes out.

Don't know if this answers the question, but is what i do.