Shoes

I am trying to develop a shoe-buying strategy. Our hand-me-down source moved away! At the same time, my boys (Jackson in particular) are turning into Big Foot!!

So, I'm wondering... do kids typically need every single shoe size? Or will they wear a size 6.5 in October, then maybe a 7.5 in December (skipping size 7 altogether)?

I'd like if Jacob could use Jack's hand-me-down shoes (his foot is almost a full size smaller) but I don't know if that's going to happen if we don't end up buying every shoe size. Is this making sense? I know a half size makes a HUGE difference for me when buying shoes...

I'm just trying to see if I can find some bargains in larger sizes on eBay, etc.... but I won't bother if we won't necessarily use them.

 

I think it varies from kid to kid. Emma was in a 7 before Lauren but then stayed there while Lauren jumped a size up. I think it all matters too in how big you buy them to begin with and how long you let them wear that pair. I tend to get my girls remeasured about every 1.5 sizes. So they wore their size 4 Stride Rites until they were measuring 4.5 and I bought them a size 6. Does that make sense? I think it's so hard to buy their shoes too far in advance. One of the guys at Stride Rite once told me that when they hit size 8 they start to slow down.

 

We have skipped half sizes so far. Amy's feet seem to be a little smaller, but it was more noticeable when they were tiny (she wore a 2 and Sarah wore a 3 when they were 12 months). She has worn Sarah's hand-me-downs once, but for the most part I buy new shoes for both of them when they need them, if we don't have any hand-me-downs in the appropriate size & season. When Amy grows into a size, Sarah isn't necessarily ready to grow out of it.

I think Amy might have actually skipped all the way from a 4 to a 6 -- that sounds wrong, but I know I bought her size 6's when they were too big for her, but she wanted to wear them anyway. And the 4's were getting pretty tight. Anyway, I've never bought a half size. But I also haven't had their feet measured (bad momma) since they were 12 months -- so for all I know, their shoes aren't actually the right size. (I'm going to get their feet measured before I buy the next new pair....)

 

both of mine skipped a size but right when they started walking--ally went from size 2 to 4 and bear from a 3 to a 5. i think it had more to do with their foot spreading out once they put all their weight on it....

so far mine haven't lasted more than 2 months in a single size--they are major foot growers, but apparently not anywhere else in their bodies LOL

 

What about the robeez are they size differently ? I know those are known to stay on better. not sure about getting any great deals with those though.


What about the robeez are they size differently ? I know those are known to stay on better. not sure about getting any great deals with those though.

 

I once bought a pair, and then a month later it was a full size too small--we hit a growth spurt. I can never guess on shoes, and the only thing we hand down are cleats and dress shoes. Everyday shoes mold to the foot, so they really should have their own shoes for an everyday type shoe.

 

We have skipped sizes and we've been different sizes in different brands. I don't recommend buying shoes in advance.

 

The boys almost always skipped a size. They slowed down now at age 5, but their feet are almost as big as mine now.

 

QUOTE(sharongl @ Oct 31 2008, 04:53 AM) [snapback]1049864[/snapback]
I once bought a pair, and then a month later it was a full size too small--we hit a growth spurt. I can never guess on shoes, and the only thing we hand down are cleats and dress shoes. Everyday shoes mold to the foot, so they really should have their own shoes for an everyday type shoe.


I agree with Sharon on this one. Shoes that are going to be used daily need to be new for each child. I would also say that most children that would come into our store (I sold shoes retail for 2+ yrs) would skip sizes all the time. It was very common for a kid to come in with a size 4 on and go out in a 6. Unfortunately little kids cannot/will not complain when their shoes are getting tight. They just don't realize that their feet aren't supposed to feel like that. This is why it is so important to get your kids foot measured every 3-6 mos depending on their age. The younger they are, the more often they need to be checked. You can go into just about any place that sells shoes and use their foot scale with no obligation to buy anything. I do it all the time. Even though I have sold shoes and should "know better," I got the nice guilty feeling when I bought Brandon's most recent pair of shoes. I had just bought him some 8's at the end of last season (Aprilish) and they had been large on him then. I knew we needed to look for the big boys some new shoes, but I thought his were just fine. Imagine my shock when he stood up and his toes were over the size 9 line . Luckily we had just switched back to tennis shoes a week or two earlier, but his toes had to have been so cramped in those 8's. Now he is in 10's. Moral of my rambling... get their feet measured often, and buy new shoes for each kid for every day wear.

 

My kids went through every full size (not half sizes) but I am very conscientious about making sure their shoes fit. Some sizes only fit for a little while due to a growth spurt but we've never skipped a size. Dax has gone through 4 sizes in the last 7 months and the girls grew even faster at that age. I also buy one pair in each size ahead of time so that I'm ready to go when I determine that he needs the next size shoe. I have the girls' old pairs of shoes as well in case he gets his pair dirty and needs another pair for the day.

 

My guys just recently skipped size 8. They were in a 7 and I just bought 9's instead of an 8 because their wasn't much difference. They were in a 6 for the longest period of time.