Buying kids shoes...how big?

AviatorJJ · January 2012

When you buy shoes for your kids do you buy them larger than their foot size so they have room to grow? How much larger do you get them than their current foot size? 1/2 size? 1 whole size?

Jodi&Joe · January 2012

No, no, no.

Ill fitting shoes can ruin their feet. Spend the money and buy proper fitting shoes. They usually change sizes once or twice a year. Hardly something to skimp on.

Rebekah1021 · January 2012

if she measures a ten, then i go to a ten and a half...i am on my phone. sorry for the typos

jnicks19 · January 2012

I never size up. Plus, my kids can't stand shoes that are even a little too big.

CleoKitty · January 2012

When I got ds new shoes at last week the salesperson told me to always go up 1/2 size to allow a little room for growth.

Jodi&Joe · January 2012

CleoKitty:
When I got ds new shoes at last week the salesperson told me to always go up 1/2 size to allow a little room for growth.

Shittysalesman!

Seriously. Would you want your shoes 1/2 size too big? I get annoyed when my leather shoes stretch and that is only like 1/4 size bigger. I can only imagine clomping around in shoes that are 1/2 size bigger.

As you can tell, this is a hot topic for me!

cbidt*sgirl · January 2012

CleoKitty:
When I got ds new shoes at last week the salesperson told me to always go up 1/2 size to allow a little room for growth.

yes, this is what I've been told at Stride Rite too.

cbidt*sgirl · January 2012

Jodi&Joe:
CleoKitty:
When I got ds new shoes at last week the salesperson told me to always go up 1/2 size to allow a little room for growth.

Shittysalesman!

Seriously. Would you want your shoes 1/2 size too big? I get annoyed when my leather shoes stretch and that is only like 1/4 size bigger. I can only imagine clomping around in shoes that are 1/2 size bigger.

As you can tell, this is a hot topic for me!

but the measurement thing does not account for differences in shoe brand etc. I have some shoes that are a 6.5, some that are a 7 for myself. Also one foot is generally bigger than the other and most agree to buy for the bigger foot. Last time we bought for DS1 his feet were 1/2 size different from each other.

CTFandme · January 2012

jodi, who knew you were so passionate about kids shoe sizes!

I will go up only if it's been a while since they've been in that particular size. I bought both kids a pair of new shoes for school. They were measured, without socks, and when they put the shoes on neither of them would wear them because they were too small. That was a good waste of money!! I don't always buy shoes at a place that measures. yes, sometimes I buy shoes at Meijer or Target.

Jodi&Joe · January 2012

Again, have you ever walked in ill fitting shoes?! EEK!

At any rate, I think 1/2 a size isn't going to hurt anyone. It's just one of those things that I'm particular about. I just don't see the need to allow "room for growth." I'm the same way with their clothes/jackets. I don't buy them bigger just to get more use out of them. I guess if I can afford iPod Touches for them, for example, I also feel I should provide proper fitting shoes/clothing. I would eliminate the $52 trip to the movie theatres to afford a proper fitting pair of shoes before I went 1/2 size bigger for my own expense reasons!

Chapter79 · January 2012

I've never ever gone up a size (or 1/2) with my daughters shoes. I wear a size 8 and if I got 8.5 they would feel floppy? I know that when we went sneaker shopping for her before school, anything that was a smidge too big was uncomfortable for her. She walked clunky and they flopped. I get her exact size. It means I need to buy shoes more often, but I don't want shoes that don't fit exact for her I guess.

AviatorJJ · January 2012

Wow the people at stride rite told me to go up a whole size!

bumpuser260585 · January 2012

I agree with Jodi. Kids are wobbly & clumsy enough on their own, add in shoes that are too big & it makes it even worse. If tge kid isn't with you when you buy the shoes, then try them on when you get home & be prepared to either exchange them or wait to use them until they actually fit.

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