Childrens Shoes

thomasm

Can anyone tell me why childrens shoes are so expensive. €42 for a pair for our 18mth old in Clarkes at weekend that will last about 6 weeks before he grows out of them.

Have always bought from them as advised by numerous people rightly or wrongly that for proper development the shoes had to be a good fit and the ones from Dunnes, Pennys etc tend to be ill fitting and did not have enough in terms of half sizes and proper width options.

Am I bonkers paying that much

Ayla

I personally think a lot of the hype is just that - hype.

That said, I've gotten most of my girls' shoes at Clarkes, but only when they're on 1/2 price sale. When I've caught the sale I've gotten a few shoes for the next few sizes up.

What I can't understand is why most kids seem to grow out of shoes so quickly...are my kids the only ones who wear shoes for 6+ months? They must be mutated somehow b/c their shoes last a *long* time...usually until they're worn out. Even then, when the shoes are worn out, they still fit the feet (and we only get 1/2 size bigger to begin with.)

Guess we're just lucky

Greystoner

Most of the Clarks shoes seem to be made in Vietnam (you can bet the people who make them are not paid much!)

I assume the costs mount up when there are shop overheads (rent, staff etc) and transporting the shoes.

I always buy Clarks though as they are fitted properly and I won't compromise on my childrens' feet.

When I can, I get Clarks over in the UK. The outlet centres sell good styles for about £15!

So, you are not bonkers; just doing your best, as every parent tries to!(it's just one of those things you might have to pay just a bit more for).

Ayla

Greystoner wrote: »

Most of the Clarks shoes seem to be made in Vietnam (you can bet the people who make them are not paid much!)

This should read "most of the clarks shoes seem to be made in Vietnam." Just about everything we all wear is made in Asia, so pinpointing Clarke's for this isn't really fair.

crazy cat lady

We got Megans first par of shoes in Clarkes and they lasted for ages! When we brought her to buy another pair after Christmas we had her measured in Clarkes but all of their shoes were quite hideous at the time and the only pair we did like they didn't have in her size and they refused to order in a pair!

Ended up getting her a pair of Lelli Kelly's and she is still comfortably wearing them. She has other shoes too, a few pairs from Next, some sandals from Penneys and a pair from a local shoe shop. She also has a 3 euro Dunnes pair!

I will be geting her a nice pair of winter shoes/boots soon, and they probably will be from Clarkes. Its nice to have the cheaper shoes for a bit of variety, but I try and keep her in the Lelli Kelly's as much as possible as they were correctly fitted and have the nice suportive leather insole.

Your child shouldn't be growing out of their shoes after 6 weeks if they are fitted properly. They should be sold to you with growing room.

Das Kitty

My husband has very flat feet so I'm really nervous about putting my little guy in cheaper shoes. We're on our 3rd pair of Clarks now. He spends most of his day in his socks as a result of my paranoia about his developing arches!

I'm going to get him wellies soon though.

Neyite

crazy cat lady wrote: »

Your child shouldn't be growing out of their shoes after 6 weeks if they are fitted properly. They should be sold to you with growing room.

Double check the fitting of the shoes before you buy: You should loosen the shoe on both feet - laces and straps as wide open as they can go.Slide the childs foot down the opened shoe to the toe as far as it can go. You should then be able to put your index finger comfortably between the childs heel and the heel of the shoe. If you have small fingers, use your middle finger to check. This is the toe room they should have when the shoe is fastened. All our feet expand and spread slightly when our weight is put on the foot ( see the difference yourself in flipflops or sandals.) so this room might seem like a lot but its needed. Do this on both feet as sometimes one could be slightly bigger. This is how I was trained years ago to fit childrens shoes by the StartRite brand.

Ayla

Das Kitty wrote: »

My husband has very flat feet so I'm really nervous about putting my little guy in cheaper shoes. We're on our 3rd pair of Clarks now. He spends most of his day in his socks as a result of my paranoia about his developing arches! I'm going to get him wellies soon though.

Ummm, sorry, no disrespect meant, but....huh?

Edit: oh, wait, I think I get it...are you saying that you're trying to use the Clarke's so your child's arches don't fall (or he develops some) but that he won't wear them and so he spends most days in socks? If that's what you're saying I'm on the same page with my daughter...has yet to wear the new shoes we've bought her but instead runs around barefoot (or in her bigger sister's shoes) all day

Das Kitty

Ayla wrote: »

Ummm, sorry, no disrespect meant, but....huh?

That he may have inherited his Daddy's feet? He has the same toes anyway!

Want to give his arches the best chance to develop I can because my husband has quite bad physical problems due to his flat feet.

Ayla

Das Kitty wrote: »

...my husband has quite bad physical problems due to his flat feet.

Me too, so I fear the same for my girls.

Gotcha now

Tayla

thomasm wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why childrens shoes are so expensive. €42 for a pair for our 18mth old in Clarkes at weekend that will last about 6 weeks before he grows out of them.

Have always bought from them as advised by numerous people rightly or wrongly that for proper development the shoes had to be a good fit and the ones from Dunnes, Pennys etc tend to be ill fitting and did not have enough in terms of half sizes and proper width options.

Am I bonkers paying that much

When I had my first child and brought him to get his feet measured in Clarks, they said he was wider than a H (their widest size) and she made out that they had never in the history of the shop came across kids with a wider foot than a H......his feet didn't even look that big..:rolleyes: so I just took my little big foot and bought him some runners.

There's a brand called bubblegummers which are really good, they're great value and they smell like bubblegum.

I got my daughter a pair of shoes which squeak as she walks (like a squeaky dog toy)...sounds like it would be annoying but it's so so cute and handy for when we're in the playground and she tries to leg it off, i'm able to hear her running You can take the squeakers out though if you want, they're good quality as well and I think they were around €25 and are by a brand called Freycoo.

sillysocks

There's a Clarkes in Kildare Village if you're anywhere near there and I remember someone saying before that they offer all the same measuring etc as other Clarks shops.

Moonbeam

The shoes last the kids just grow out of them!!
My big girl is on her 4rth set of shoes 4,5,6 and now 7!
1st set were bought in Arnotts and then I discovered how much cheaper they were up north and especially in sales so last 2 pairs cost me 12 and 14 pounds in Clarks.

bulmersgal

I was lucky and bought 2 pairs in sale but have bought 4th pair of clarks shoes now and she is walking 6 months. I did buy sandels in sales so thats only reason I had to buy new shoes now. She grew from a 3 to 4 1/2 in the last 6 months, have tried her in cheaper shoes but fit is never right or she can't walk. Have bought new shoes last week so hoping these last till the next sale

RubyGirl

Hi Op, yes I pay €50 to €57 for my son & daughters shoes, they both have narrow feet so dunnes, penneys, leli kelly, etc are too wide for her and him. They wear them until they are in tatters literally. Summer one's do wear faster than winter with toes being ripped on bike's etc.

Any way get to the point says you, try and keep an eye on sale shoes and others have said or I find TK Maxx good aswell for good branded shoes.

Boys are also easier to fit as they dont need as many pairs as girls.

Moonbeam

I have a very narrow foot and still can't wear most shoes comfortably:(

I think once they are 5 or 6 it matters less but as toddlers their shoes are so important.

thomasm

So the general consensus is that it's better to have them in good shoes in the early years. Thanks to neyite for the fitting advice, very useful.



Still unsure about price of them. I can get a pair of decent clarkes shoes for myself for €50 and toddlers ones at a tenth of the size and materials cost €40-50.

part time punk

As someone mentioned the Clarkes in Kildare village outlet centre is quite good. We've been there a few times for our toddler and you might get 2 good pairs for the price of 1 in Clarkes in Dublin. Daughter is nearly 2 and a half and the shoes might last around 6 months or so till she grows out of them Last time I used the money saved to get myself a nice fleece from one of the outdoor stores !

*Mod Note*

Please do not use abbreviations like ds and dd.

Chesty LaRue

I just purchased my son first pair of shoes in Clarks (Euro 33.00)....I think it is a bit OTT but wanted to get him measured especially for his first or two pairs....then once he is running around I will be going for cheaper options. BTW, my other son suffers with flat feet and we brought him to a specialist who advised us NOT to spend money in Clarks or similar retailers as shoes are not good for babies feet and ideally they should go without shoes for the first 3yrs. Dont know how he expects a child up to 3 get around without shoes but he definitely thinks expensive shoes for babies is
ridiculous and a NO NO.

*Mod Note*

Please do not use abbreviations like DS etc...

Supermummy

Ive two kids under 3 and I do buy clarkes shoes for them, they are only ones that will stay on properly and wont be damaged as easily as cheaper brand. I went to clarkes slae in jan and bought my daughter two pairs of shoes both next size up for 12 euro each and my son one pair for €18 euro. They have the sale each jan and in july so if you go and get them fitted a month before hand and then buy in sale.

cynder

I purchased all my kids shoes in clarks or start rite. They all had wide fittings H they are all now G fittings. Ive only ever purchased 1 pair of clark shoes that rubbed her ankle i went back to them the very same day and they gave me a different style of shoe.

now my kids are 12, 6 and almost 5 and live in mostly runners which are bought from lifestyle or elverys (shoes are not allowed at school due to hard soles marking the new halla), crocs in dunnes were very handy this year it was the first year my boys didnt get doodles sandles, the 12 year old (girl) is in size 6-7 adult shoe size. so no more kids shoes for her.

part time punk

These kids boots/shoes in Lidl on sale Thursday look very good value. It's a German brand of shoe so presumably good quality. Lidl's offers usually are in my experience
http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_ri_ie/hs.xsl/index_13190.htm
... Just please don't take them all from my local Lidl !

Lucyfur

Das Kitty wrote: »

My husband has very flat feet so I'm really nervous about putting my little guy in cheaper shoes. We're on our 3rd pair of Clarks now. He spends most of his day in his socks as a result of my paranoia about his developing arches!

I'm going to get him wellies soon though.

Das Kitty what age is he?

My lad has flat feet and hyper flexibility. He wears arch supports and because of the hyper flexibility he will more than likely always need them. But, we do one exercise that has been BRILLIANT for giving him a little bit of an arch.....spread shaving gel on the floor (not the carpet, obviously;)) and ''draw'' pictures using your big toe. Sounds a bit mad but it's fantastic for the muscles supporting the arch area:) Stick a sheet of plastic down if you don't want it directly on the floor...but it's easily cleaned up:)...Can also be done on the beach on the wet sand:)

Das Kitty

Lucyfur wrote: »

Das Kitty what age is he?

My lad has flat feet and hyper flexibility. He wears arch supports and because of the hyper flexibility he will more than likely always need them. But, we do one exercise that has been BRILLIANT for giving him a little bit of an arch.....spread shaving gel on the floor (not the carpet, obviously;)) and ''draw'' pictures using your big toe. Sounds a bit mad but it's fantastic for the muscles supporting the arch area:) Stick a sheet of plastic down if you don't want it directly on the floor...but it's easily cleaned up:)...Can also be done on the beach on the wet sand:)

Thanks missus. My son is 1 and a half, his arches seem to be developing well so far thank god.

My husband's problems are from childhood when a doctor told his mum there was nothing that could be done! I finally convinced him to go to a clinic two years ago and the doctor had never seen the like of it. Got students in to take a look and there was even talk of a textbook!

wolfpawnat

I have gotten 6 pairs from Clarkes, one pair of runners from Puma, and now a pair of runners from Dunnes, but I will be going to Clarkes for pair number 7 soon.

My son has quite wide feet, (thanks dad!!! the one thing he gets from my side of the family!) so I feel I cannot risk going cheap too often with him.

But they are an absolute rip off, especially since my shoes from Clarkes were 50e!!!!