my little boy is growing up so fast - he now running around like a crazy freak. so we need some proper footwear for him.

Where would be the best place to go for shoes and would they measure him etc?

any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

Clinkards in Meadowhall are very good ...I bought the twins there first pair of kickers there ...Quite expensive but they support the ankles and my two loved them ...:thumbsup:

I used to go to the really cheap Clarks Store in Doncaster when my boys were small...it's on the Yorkshire outlet bit !!

There might be last years styles etc but your child is professional measured and fitted with a quality shoe !!

:thumbsup:

thanks guys - been reading reviews about clarks and they're very mixed:-
some people rave and some people say they're a rip off I mean £28 for a apir of shoes which he'll outgrow in 2-3months!!!!

I had to get Clarks for my son as he was an extremely wide fitt and even then we had sometimes to travel around to get the right shoe. Always go somewhere there is a trained fitter. We used to go to a factory shop in Beeston near Nottingham that had really cheap Clarks but don't know if that was still there. Incidentally I was told boots weren't suitable for first walkers as they are too restrictive.

It was only £20 for us for a new pair of first shoes from Clarks. He's still not grown out of them (I've had him remeasured) and we bought them 3 months ago. I also spotted a pair in a different style that were on sale for £5 and we bought those for him too. I'll get him measured again on the premise of 'checking his size' but then I might shop around for different styles - Barratts in Meadowhall have some lovely styles and now he's walking around a lot I'd love to get him some Kickers, Converse, or Doc Martens like mine!

Brantanos will measure and fit, and they sell all the good brands - Clarks, Hush Puppies, etc at lower prices.

I got my son's feet measured and then went elsewhere. You aren't obligated to buy just because you get your child measured. I had my son measured a while ago, but they didn't have shoes small enough for him so I couldn't buy any (he was ready for walkers and they don't start till size 2).

Some places are very pricey for shoes that will be outgrown so quickly, imo.

I hate clarks due to the snotty assistants, and the price of the shoe. I also hate being made to feel a bad parent cos I refuse to pay £20+ for a pair of kids shoes ('your childs feet are priceless!' maybe but i'd rather use the money to put food in their bellies :loopy:) when I was a child clarks shoes were kind of 'dorky' so what do they do? shove a plastic toy in the heel and push the price up. and don't get me started on lelli kelli's lol.
Anyway I'd go with whats been suggested above, find somewhere you trust, get them measured, then go elsewhere. Or learn to judge yourself which is what I do these days after getting my eldest daughters professionally measured (incidentaly at clarks) only to be told shes a size 9, when shes been in an 11 for a year. she couldnt even get her foot into the size 9 she 'fitted' according to them. :roll:

I personally avoid Clarkes and John Lewis's after bad service.

I use Twinkletoes and Clever Clogs.

I do spend alot of money on my 3yr old's shoes. The last pair cost me £35 but he wears them everyday and due to his love of the outdoors they really take some hammer and I have sussed what brands can outlast him.


I think it's a childhood thing cos' my mother ensured we were all 'Start-rite' kids and even if money was short, our footwear was something not scrimped on because she believed it would ensure our feet would grow and develop properly.

Loads of comments already on this but I think for the first pair of shoes you need to have there feet measured and so on which is why I paid that bit extra.

I have bought my daughters shoes from all over - Clarks @ Doncaster Outlook cheep enough but the cost of fuel out ways the discount on the shoe, Clinkards @ Meadowhell always packed with screaming snotty kids and Clark.

Clark to me is the best place to get there feet done as it isn't that busy and the atmosphere is normally relaxed the young lad who is a bit feminine (not sure how to be pc with this) is excellent.

From my experience kids hate having there feet measured and he was very good and even got a smile out of my daughter.

We are now nearly 2 and agree with some on hear that they are very expensive when they need a new pair every 3 months. I have just paid £28 which I don't think is bad when I know she will get a lot of wear out of them.

My daughter however loves shoes so I also buy her shoes and carpet slippers from JJ's and Soccer Sport - we have 2 babies in the family that love swapping shoes Emma crams her feet into her cousins shoes who is a full size smaller plus she lover my heels and can walk better in them than me so I do sometimes wonder why spend all that money when I could save it for some Jimmy Choo's. :hihi::love:

I agree its important to get the right fitting shoes for kids, I do mine, but then again so did my Mum for me and I have terrible feet :hihi: Already had two bunions and one toe operated on :rolleyes:

Beware the "Shoe Cost" one-upmanship. Measuring a child's feet is simple - my mother used to do it for a living and she says it takes about 10 minutes to learn - I 'fit' our baby's pram shoes myself. As already said, you can buy all the shoes cheaper nowadays, even Brantano measure their feet, and there's no need to pay a lot of money when they'll have outgrown them in a couple of months. Better to pay less and buy pairs in higher sizes more frequently. :thumbsup:

Hi. my son has v. wide feet and I've found Clarks to be the best at Meadowhall. Some assistants have bad days & can be a bit sharp, but if you tell them, they are very sorry about it. They are only human - I mean measuring kids all day for shoes & some are such a nightmare - & that is just the mums .... lol :hihi:
Shoes are not cheap (not as pricey as Clinks I think after looking in there last time), but they are only place I've found that the shoes take a battering & are still up for more & more.
Plus with his wide feet & they are really good with my son, I've found them the best to be honest.

Hi. my son has v. wide feet and I've found Clarks to be the best at Meadowhall. Some assistants have bad days & can be a bit sharp, but if you tell them, they are very sorry about it. They are only human - I mean measuring kids all day for shoes & some are such a nightmare - & that is just the mums .... lol :hihi:
Shoes are not cheap (not as pricey as Clinks I think after looking in there last time), but they are only place I've found that the shoes take a battering & are still up for more & more.
Plus with his wide feet & they are really good with my son, I've found them the best to be honest.

we all have bad days but to be told that they weren't going to measure my sons feet as he couldnt stand up doesnt constitute ANY excuse in my book. He is disabled and in a wheelchair, but was 3 at the time, so as entitled to a pair of shoes as anyone. I only went there as he was starting to use a standing frame and needed ankle support. Went in my favour though, I went to shoezone and got some bob the builder boots that did the trick for about £8!

I'd always err on the side of financial tightness in this day and age. Get the child measured or do it yourself, properly, then go on eBay, the shoes for the age you are buying are never worn out, if anything will be in near pristine condition and will cost about a sixth of the price.
I used to get the girls measured at Clarks or Brantano, only buy the reduced shoes but buy any on eBay since most were about £5 and I could get all the same styles usually too.
At their age all the shoes are battered to hell and back as most kids of 2.5 are so I don't do eBay for slightly worn Clarks anymore.

However, for any parents reading, I have spent £20 on 9 pairs of shoes and boots for the gruesome twosome in the incredible sale which is currently on at The Big W. They won't be needing shoes until sometime in 2009/10 now.

I'd always err on the side of financial tightness in this day and age. Get the child measured or do it yourself, properly, then go on eBay, the shoes for the age you are buying are never worn out, if anything will be in near pristine condition and will cost about a sixth of the price.
I used to get the girls measured at Clarks or Brantano, only buy the reduced shoes but buy any on eBay since most were about £5 and I could get all the same styles usually too.
At their age all the shoes are battered to hell and back as most kids of 2.5 are so I don't do eBay for slightly worn Clarks anymore.

However, for any parents reading, I have spent £20 on 9 pairs of shoes and boots for the gruesome twosome in the incredible sale which is currently on at The Big W. They won't be needing shoes until sometime in 2009/10 now.

:hihi: oh dear zebra, did you end up there too? I've been twice in the past few days and spent a fortune! On the plus side I've got almost all the xmas pressies :hihi:

My mum told me something else - it's as important to have correctly fitting socks as it is shoes! She said she used to measure loads of kids' feet that were wearing badly fitting socks and it made the expensive shoes the parents were buying pretty pointless. She reckons tight socks are one of the worst things for causing foot problems.

Hi

We used to go to Clinks in meadowhall with my son and then realised they were using a clarks measure and then guessing at size he was in startrite as the manufacturers shoe sizes are slightly different. Stopped going when they tried to get me to buy shoes which he didn't need and which were clearly slopping up and down on his feet.

Now go to twinkle toes in Fulwood which costs same as clinks/ clarks etc but they don't push you into making a sale - been a couple of times now and told DS didn't need new shoes yet. Have to wait there sometimes as always seem to have a stead strem of customers, but they have great play area of lo's while you wait.

I used to go to the really cheap Clarks Store in Doncaster when my boys were small...it's on the Yorkshire outlet bit !!

There might be last years styles etc but your child is professional measured and fitted with a quality shoe !!

:thumbsup:

My wives first job was working in the kids department at clarks, they take kids feet very seriously, get it wrong and your kids will suffer.

If cost is a problem go to clarks, get them measured and then buy from somewhere cheaper, naughty I know but apparently lots do it.

we all have bad days but to be told that they weren't going to measure my sons feet as he couldnt stand up doesnt constitute ANY excuse in my book. He is disabled and in a wheelchair, but was 3 at the time, so as entitled to a pair of shoes as anyone. I only went there as he was starting to use a standing frame and needed ankle support. Went in my favour though, I went to shoezone and got some bob the builder boots that did the trick for about £8!

That is awful. They measured my son's feet when sat down, as I wanted some for when he was just starting to stand/stumble, no problem. Personally I'd have kicked up a right fuss with manager & demanded 1/2 price pair if not free pair!
Mind you saying that the one I had today was a bit prim & proper. Had to tell her to stop shouting at my son - he didn't like it. :|
There is a large lady there who is great & always happy/smiley and v. good with kids/measuring.

:hihi: oh dear zebra, did you end up there too? I've been twice in the past few days and spent a fortune! On the plus side I've got almost all the xmas pressies :hihi:
Yeah, I also went twice in 2 days, spent about £45 in total and I did very well out of it!

Shoes start at a size 4 in there for anyone who wants to know.

Yeah, I also went twice in 2 days, spent about £45 in total and I did very well out of it!

Shoes start at a size 4 in there for anyone who wants to know.

I got my youngest daughter a pair of size 3 boots for winter - assuming she'll grow into them by then!

That is awful. They measured my son's feet when sat down, as I wanted some for when he was just starting to stand/stumble, no problem. Personally I'd have kicked up a right fuss with manager & demanded 1/2 price pair if not free pair!
Mind you saying that the one I had today was a bit prim & proper. Had to tell her to stop shouting at my son - he didn't like it. :|
There is a large lady there who is great & always happy/smiley and v. good with kids/measuring.

Yeah I know, looking back I should have, but this was when I was very sensitive to the way people treated him, so I just walked out and burst into tears :(
I dare someone to try it these days :suspect: :hihi:

I got my youngest daughter a pair of size 3 boots for winter - assuming she'll grow into them by then!
Yep, you're right! They do have smaller ones, I was thinking that after my last post.
Sorry :)
She probs will be in them by winter, I bought sizes 8 and 9 and those prices so they can't fool me by growing!

Yep, you're right! They do have smaller ones, I was thinking that after my last post.
Sorry :)
She probs will be in them by winter, I bought sizes 8 and 9 and those prices so they can't fool me by growing!

I found ONE size 3 welly boot - and wandered all over the shop looking for the other one, didnt find it though grr! :(

Yeah I spent eons looking for the size 9s I wanted, found one left foot and 5 or 6 more left boots but no rights, went back the next day and found them immediately, still fastened together too.
I then wandered around with one pink canvas shoe for about 10 minutes before giving up on finding its mate.

Hint on how to check your child is outgrowing their shoes. Draw round his her feet on piece of old cereal pack. Cut out feet outline and place in shoe. If there's still room in shoe you've still got some time. If toe shape right against edge, go to shoe shop. Also was told by shoe shop if you put talcum powder in shoe and then put shoe on, when you take it off you will see from the imprint if the shoe fits. The cardboard cutout is great for when your children are older to find likely shoes rather than trying lots of shoes on an unwilling child.

Hint on how to check your child is outgrowing their shoes. Draw round his her feet on piece of old cereal pack. Cut out feet outline and place in shoe. If there's still room in shoe you've still got some time. If toe shape right against edge, go to shoe shop. Also was told by shoe shop if you put talcum powder in shoe and then put shoe on, when you take it off you will see from the imprint if the shoe fits. The cardboard cutout is great for when your children are older to find likely shoes rather than trying lots of shoes on an unwilling child.

thats a fab idea!