First shoes

[Mamaduke]

Today Jacob was fitted for his first shoes...yep, he's mobile!!
The Clarks 'specialist' insisted on a hard soled shoe which I didn't think was necessary yet but she said he'd been walking long enough and his foot was too big for the other type (you know the ones with the rubber sole but very movable).
He's a size 6 E+...
When she put them on him he looked like Forest Gump (when Forest had the calipers on as a boy) and he couldn't walk in them.
I was confused but thought well she's the 'Clarks fitting specialist' and you know how things 'they' say change from baby to baby, year to year so I bought the hard soled ones she suggested.
He won't walk in them.
I've heard of the Bobux I walk brand/type but am wanting to go into a shop and have them fitted for Jacob rather than buy them online.
Does anyone know of any stockists in Melbourne...preferably East/Outer East?
The poor child needs shoes for walking around outside...he loves to walk and thinks he's terribly clever but he just refuses to even try in the ones he got today!

[MrsMiggins]

Sorry, I don't know about the stockists, but IMO (a trained fitter in a "former life"!) Jacob would be fine in more flexible soled shoes. He probably would be more comfortable in something more solid than a pre-walker, but there is absolutely no issue with him wearing a shoe with a less than firm sole.

[FiveInTheBed]

How long has he been walking and how old is Jacob?

I know the shoes you are talking about...I didn't put my lot in them until agout 15months - they had been walking for about 5 months before that and only wore little Robeez , the little leather soles shoe.
Unless there is glass or big prickles they were fine for protecting their tootsies!

It does take a little getting used to ..they use all the senses in the bottom of their feet to help with balance etc.
And their little feet are still cartilage until around 18months...so don't need hard shoes to misshape their feet.

I used to fit shoes, and littlies vary so much! - she should not have sold them to you if he couldn't walk around the shop confidently with both on!!
:thumbsdown:

Sorry I can't help you with the other brand.

Hopefully you can get some use out of the clarks first walkers..because once they are used to them (ready for them) they really are a good shoe.

[Mamaduke]

Jacob is 13mths old and has been walking for the last 4/5 weeks. He's very confident walking in bare feet and wants to walk outside so that's why I was wanting to get him into a shoe.
In the ones I bought today he either stands like a statue or tries to twist his body to hold on to something to walk.
They're so much heavier than the Clarks first walker shoes I had for Lucas. I can't use those ones for Jacob because they're too small.
I think I'll take the ones I bought today back...they're useless.

[SorenLorensen]

http://www.bobux.com/contact-us

you can check the web site, i have no idea about Melbourne so better if you have a look rather then me.


although DD2 just got fitted for her first proper shoes yesterday. she got a pair of nike's and they have a sensory motion system....in normal terms :laughing: they have a rubber sole but it is thin enough to be able to 'feel' the ground beneath.
DD2 is only just getting into walking now and took 5 steps today in them :yelclap::yelclap::crying::crying: she is growing up.

[FiveInTheBed]

:eek:...he's not ready!!!

Definitley take them back.

If she is a 'specialist'...which trust me - half of them don't do the actual training or really remember it all...she should have measured BOTH feet..fitted BOTH shoes on and had him do a good walk around the shop...and he should have looked happy and confident in them! ...not plodding along or tripping or standing like a statue.

It sucks when you put your trust as a busy mum in these people who just want a sale...I know those aren't cheap.

I would keep him in some leather soles for a wee bit longer...
I found some online for about $15..they looked and felt exactly the same as the Robeez which retail for over $50.

:hugs:

[MrsMiggins]

:eek:...he's not ready!!!

Definitley take them back.

If she is a 'specialist'...which trust me - half of them don't do the actual training or really remember it all...she should have measured BOTH feet..fitted BOTH shoes on and had him do a good walk around the shop...and he should have looked happy and confident in them! ...not plodding along or tripping or standing like a statue.

It sucks when you put your trust as a busy mum in these people who just want a sale...I know those aren't cheap.

I would keep him in some leather soles for a wee bit longer...
I found some online for about $15..they looked and felt exactly the same as the Robeez which retail for over $50.

:hugs:
:iagree: Was this person who served you definitely one of the qualified fitters? Or did you go to a store that said they had qualified fitters? Because not all the staff may be qualified.

As FITB said, she should have had Jacob walking in them for starters! You can't even tell if a shoe fits corectly if the child doesn't walk in them. And given the fact that he's only been walking for 4 or 5 weeks - no way! Definitely not ready for firm, hard soles. :no: I always used to tell people that the child should be walking more than they are crawling before you have any shoes on for any length of time. Crawling in shoes can damage their growing bones, and if the soles have no flexibility, that makes it even worse!

Not to mention the weight of the shoe!! Heavy shoes are not going to be doing him any favours!

The Bobux ones (or similar) would be far better for Jacob at this stage.

[Mamaduke]

http://www.bobux.com/contact-us

you can check the web site, i have no idea about Melbourne so better if you have a look rather then me.


although DD2 just got fitted for her first proper shoes yesterday. she got a pair of nike's and they have a sensory motion system....in normal terms :laughing: they have a rubber sole but it is thin enough to be able to 'feel' the ground beneath.
DD2 is only just getting into walking now and took 5 steps today in them :yelclap::yelclap::crying::crying: she is growing up.

Thank you so much for that link...very helpful!!
It's lovely when they walk but once they do there is no turning back...they are babies no more. :(

[Shakey]

:iagree: take them back, I don't think kids under 18mths at least need hard soled shoes, there are a tone of other shoes out there more suitable

oh and I love bobox shoes, being a NZ'er i've seen them around for years, the only thing with thoes though, is that they can be a pain in the backside to get on, or they come off easily, and also I don't think they are suitable for outside walking (they will have a shorter life), they are absolutly fine for indoors though :yes:

I brought DD some shoes from best and less the other day, they are flexible as, and have soft rubber soles, I absolutley love them, and DD walks (well cruises as she's not walking yet) in them fine :yes:

ETA I forgot Bobux were making shoes for older kids now, they are absolutly fine, and super cute too

[Mamaduke]

:eek:...he's not ready!!!

Definitley take them back.

If she is a 'specialist'...which trust me - half of them don't do the actual training or really remember it all...she should have measured BOTH feet..fitted BOTH shoes on and had him do a good walk around the shop...and he should have looked happy and confident in them! ...not plodding along or tripping or standing like a statue.

It sucks when you put your trust as a busy mum in these people who just want a sale...I know those aren't cheap.

I would keep him in some leather soles for a wee bit longer...
I found some online for about $15..they looked and felt exactly the same as the Robeez which retail for over $50.

:hugs:


:iagree: Was this person who served you definitely one of the qualified fitters? Or did you go to a store that said they had qualified fitters? Because not all the staff may be qualified.

As FITB said, she should have had Jacob walking in them for starters! You can't even tell if a shoe fits corectly if the child doesn't walk in them. And given the fact that he's only been walking for 4 or 5 weeks - no way! Definitely not ready for firm, hard soles. :no: I always used to tell people that the child should be walking more than they are crawling before you have any shoes on for any length of time. Crawling in shoes can damage their growing bones, and if the soles have no flexibility, that makes it even worse!

Not to mention the weight of the shoe!! Heavy shoes are not going to be doing him any favours!

The Bobux ones (or similar) would be far better for Jacob at this stage.

It was a Clark's specialist childrens' shoe store in Ringwood.
She did measure both feet (length and width) but after the shoes were on and Jacob just stood there twisting and turning his torso to try and hold on to something she remarked that toddlers will do one of two things in new shoes;
they either stand still like statues
or
walk like robots.
I'm not going to keep these shoes so he can crawl in them and I couldn't really remember but I'm pretty sure neither Jesse nor Lucas had this sort of trouble when they first went into those first walker shoes.
I wonder if they'll kick up a stink about giving me a refund.

ETA...the 'specialist' said that Jacob has what they call a 'square foot' and that it's very very difficult to find the right size of shoe for toddlers/children with these types of feet which gave me the impression that I would never be able to buy him a pair from anywhere else other than a specialist shoe store...a.k.a the store she works in.
I really hope that this wasn't a marketing ploy.

[SorenLorensen]

she remarked that toddlers will do one of two things in new shoes;
they either stand still like statues
or
walk like robots.

i knwo every bub is different but yesterday DD2 got her shoes put on and then she was off, climbing over the stools, running around while holding on to the benches, like she did not even notice they were on. the lady and i were getting her to walk to and from each other and there was no change from her normal step, step, step, down i go :laughing:

[reAllytee]

Yep like SL said Jacob should be running riot ...

Thats also how I can tell whether certain types are ok for G because of the way he walks if he cant do what he does normally then they are out !

Ive said my piece elsewhere but yeah this woman was a tool :thumbsdown:

[Leeny]

I sympathise with you MD.. Although DD's a girl, which generally means petite feet (yeah right!).. Her's were huge very young, and now shes got foot problems to boot, so normal shoes are a no go zone.. When she was newborn, we had to cut the feet out of her jump suits :eek:

I'd be taking them back too.. Could you ring around stores and see if they have any other options for you?

[SorenLorensen]

I sympathise with you MD.. Although DD's a girl, which generally means petite feet (yeah right!).. Her's were huge very young, and now shes got foot problems to boot, so normal shoes are a no go zone.. When she was newborn, we had to cut the feet out of her jump suits :eek:

I'd be taking them back too.. Could you ring around stores and see if they have any other options for you?
:laughing:sorry i should not laugh but my niece is the same. i use to call her side show bob :laughing:
she was born just under 5lb and 00000 clothing were WAYYYYYY to big for her, she just got lost in them.
but her feet were WAYYYYY too big.

[mim1]

I recommend the Clarks shoeshop in Chirnside Park - that's where I get shoes for my ds. We were told not to get him shoes til he'd been walking for 2 months! Not 1 month! My ds has been in hard soled shoes since 16 months (he started walking at 14 months) and hasn't had any trouble with them. He also has wide feet and the cheaper shoes (eg. at Target) are simply a waste of money - the poor baby got blisters after he wore 1 pair for only 10 minutes!

Take the shoes back, it doesn't sound like he's worn them much. Say they are not suitable and ask for your money back.

[LilMissnBoo]

:eek:...he's not ready!!!

Definitley take them back.

If she is a 'specialist'...which trust me - half of them don't do the actual training or really remember it all...she should have measured BOTH feet..fitted BOTH shoes on and had him do a good walk around the shop...and he should have looked happy and confident in them! ...not plodding along or tripping or standing like a statue.

It sucks when you put your trust as a busy mum in these people who just want a sale...I know those aren't cheap.

I would keep him in some leather soles for a wee bit longer...

:hugs:

:iagree:

Did the sales assistant ask how long Jacob has been walking for? The place where I got DD's first shoes will not fit a child unless they have been walking for over 4 weeks.

DD got her first pair just over a month ago, and the lady was lovely (I'm on the peninsula) she fitted DD with Clarks sandles and she was so proud of herself and started wandering all around the shop, which is rare for her as she usually sticks by me!

[mummeeto2]

These are the same style as DD's first pair of shoes (not my listing) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Baby-girls-Goldbug-sandals-Baby-Banz-sunglasses_W0QQitemZ120380373222QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZAU_Baby_Shoes?hash=item120380373222&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Baby-girls-Goldbug-sandals-Baby-Banz-sunglasses_W0QQitemZ120380373222QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZAU_Baby_Shoes?hash=item120380373222&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

I got them at a baby shop, DD loved them. They're nice & soft, very flexible & sturdy at the same time. I think you'll find alot kids have wide feet until about 2yrs, I think it's to do with stability & finding their balance. These shoes were alot wider than most I came across

[sare]

I'm not sure about the bobux brand, but I had a look at the link posted and there is a kids shop in Ringwood Square that sells Blue Farm shoes which look to have a similar sole to the Bobux brand (the pict in the top right corner). I have bought a few pairs for the girls and they have been great. They wore them for about 2 months from when they first started walking. They were about $35 a pair, leather and hardwearing (but very flexible soles).

I also agree with mim1, the fitters at the Chirnside Park shoe shop (Kearney's Shoes) are brilliant. They spend so much time with you and get the kids to walk around a lot before selling the shoes to you.

[Mamaduke]

Ended up going to Shoes and Sox in Doncaster and Jacob was fitted for a pair of shoes. First he tried on the harder soles, but with more movement, and we sat around and observed how he walked in them. The sales assistant wasn't happy with how he was adjusting to having those on his feet so she then tried the tip toey joeys with some rubber sole but mostly made up of the leather.
He was much happier and walking around the store straight away so I bought those.

I took the others back and got the same saleslady who didn't seem very surprised at all that I was returning them. She was more concerned with me having a credit note instead of a refund but I insisted on a refund because I won't be going back there again.

After seeing Jacob in his new shoes I can't believe that a so called 'professional' from a store that prides itself on being a 'Clark's preferred childrens' shoe specialist' sold me shoes for my baby that he couldn't walk in and that could potentially harm him...all for a quick sale. :thumbsdown:

[FiveInTheBed]

Glad you got your refund!
and most of all gald you found some shoes for Jacob that he is comfortable in :goodvibes:

Makes a huge difference when you can trust the sales person hey?
I had sooooo many little kiddies coming in with blisters and bandaids all over their poor feet from being fitted incorrectly :(
If a customer chose to go with a shoe that I though wasn't 'perfect' ..I would inform them that I would write "SF" on the docket ie: self fitted...might sound harsh but I didn't want my 'reputation' bad mouthed...word of mouth is so important , especially when it comes to children.

Happy chasing!!!!:smiliedance: