Chesten

Google isn't helping me much. Just returning running stores.

My bubba has been walking for a couple of weeks and I want to buy his first shoes. Preferably not online. What chains offer a shoe-fitting service? I can't seem to find one near me.

I'm finding myself comparing what I did with his older brother. With him I used the clarks concession in mothercare. They took a photo and he got a little pack "my first shoes". I guess I can recreate that easily enough but finding a shop that measures and fits is defeating me.

jjmb

Good luck in finding a store. Best thing to do is try several shoes. Its a pain but all the brands vary especially with kids shoes. I recently bought some running shoes for my grand-daughter at a local sports store. They were meant to have a shoe gauge but it had gone for a walk. Trying on various shoes, they varied from a 9 - 12. The better brands did seem more consistent.

CA-NY

Check out Kids Shoes from Stride Rite | Official Stride Rite Site

celticgrid

At the risk of asking the obvious... no Clarks store near you?

Anian

Isn't it recommended that very young kids just wear those soft leather shoes like Robeez?

ddsrph

You might have some family owned shoe stores in your area. A dying breed, but some of these shops have been family owned and operated for a generation or two and have a lot of knowledge not found in chain stores.
On the weekend travel front you might want to visit Mammoth cave national park in central Ky, near Glasgow.

Ecto17

Not sure where you are but we have a clarks locally to us and they measured my son but as already mentioned l have noticed that sizes vary a lot from brand to brand but that happens a bit in the U.K. too l guess.

mrken30

Stride Rite is about as close to Clarks as you get in the US. They will measure feet and come in multiple width fittings.

Chesten

Not really. I might have to reset my idea of what's near.

Chesten

Thanks for responses and suggestions.

mrken30

Stride Rite have stores in many major shopping malls. You can also order their shoes online.

petitefrancaise

+1
It's a very British thing this fitting of kids shoes. After several countries and asking podiatrists, pediatricians and a great chiropractor..... the advice given to me was keep them out of proper shoes for as long as possible (those soft leather booties are perfect) to allow the feet to move as naturally as possible.

Then shoes should have a finger width of space at the toes for about 3 months' worth of growth, not fit tightly across the foot but the heel should not move up and down in the shoe.

Chesten

To some extent I think I know this. Which is why I wanted a specific shoe type and for it to be fitted. He's been taking steps for six weeks and walking confidently for three He's been barefoot thus far but I need something for outdoors. His brother waited to 16/17 months but he walked much later and maybe was indoors more.

Now possibly the first shoes that clarks and other decent brands sell are still considered too restrictive for a young toddler. News to me, they seemed pretty good, so thanks for the advice.

Anyhow I do need something as soft as possible for outdoors walking. Your advice on fitting is exactly what I need and most helpful PF. It's the width element that I'm most uncomfortable with. I think my little man has quite wide feet. It's going to have to be an off the shelf job, but I'm still finding selection v limited locally. I'll ask in the baby/ toddler room at my eldest's preK.

petitefrancaise

My kids all had really narrow feet and heels so the opposite problem to you but a problem nonetheless. Even going to Clarks in the UK could be frustrating since they don't stock the narrowest fittings in all the sizes and all the shoes. Same thing with start-rite.

My youngest seems to have spent almost all her life either barefoot or in flipflops/sandals and clarkes trainers and she has lovely feet.

Nutek

Crocs.