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Grandchildren and eXtra wide feet

(11 Posts)
silverlining48 Sat 26-Aug-17 15:27:26

Went to buy new school shoes for grandchildren this week. Both have wide feet Hplus in clarks. despite trying clarks and start rite and other quality shoes there was precious little choice and what there was, didnt fit. We ended up with a pair and advised to buy half insoles. However that would reduce further the width of shoe, so think this advice was to get us out of the shop....grrr Nearly £100 spent on 2 pairs neither of which fit properly.
Apart from having shoes made to measure, (totally impracticable due to cost/they grow out of them quickly, ) has anyone any suggestions please?

pensionpat Sat 26-Aug-17 15:37:02

My own two had very wide feet. Our local Clarks shop did not stock their fitting. I used to feel like putting the boxes on their feet ?

silverlining48 Sat 26-Aug-17 16:13:44

Ha ha, i feel your pain. And shoeboxes, what a good idea. In the rain just put inside plastic bags.

Yes it was supposed to be a pleasurable grandma treat, it turned out to be hot and hellish and we all wanted nothing more than to get home pdq. Not what i had in mind when i first somewhat foolishly made the offer. To think i have to go through this for the next 14 odd years. Noooooooo!!

M0nica Sat 26-Aug-17 16:49:11

I had this problem with DC, especially DD, but DDiL has brought narrower feet into the family gene pool so it is not a problem we have any longer

DD often ended up with shoes half a size larger or more and we stuffed the toes with cotton wool. By the time she grew to size the shoes had usually stretched enough for her to wear them without the extra stuffing in the toe.

harrigran Sat 26-Aug-17 17:08:54

This year I have been spared the pain of trying to find shoes to fit. Seven year old takes an adult size 5 but she likes little girlie shoes, so difficult. Eldest GC has massive feet and has to wear adult shoes.

Cherrytree59 Sat 26-Aug-17 17:27:07

My little DGS is an H fitting.
I take him to Clarks to get feet measured.
DD then goes on Clarks website chooses a few different styles they are then sent to our local Clarks who send text to say when in store.
We take him to try on the shoes and take advice on the best shoe for his feet. Phew...
Then gran pays (family tradition) smile

midgey Sat 26-Aug-17 18:00:54

I remember taking DD1 shoe shopping, we came out with the only pair in town that fitted......and a single tear running down her face. She wore them and never said a word but they were horrible! GD has so far failed to find anything wide enough with a sufficiently high instep.

kittylester Sat 26-Aug-17 18:26:23

Sorry - but I expected this to be about Shoe Zone - who definitely wouldn't have what you require.

CherryTree's idea seems like a good one.

When my girls were at school the HeadMistress(!!) decreed that one of only 5 styles (3 Startrite and 2 Clark's) would be allowed. Unfortunately, she forgot to tell the shoe shop who soon ran out of the decreed styles!

HildaW Sat 26-Aug-17 18:29:27

We do the old get them measured in the shop and then buy on internet.....works well. Also DD buys at odd times in the school year often picking bargains up in the sales once she knows what size they are.

M0nica Sat 26-Aug-17 20:44:16

DD had a school like your DDs Kittylester. She and I had great pleasure ignoring the rules, saying, when questioned, that DH had very wide feet and none of the recommended styles fitted her properly and the shop had advised that we bought her a different style (which they had) and we did.

GrandmaMoira Sun 27-Aug-17 14:20:06

I don't have the wide feet issue with my DGD, but big feet. I recently foolishly agreed to buy sandals for the size 8 11 year old. Two high streets and 12 shops later, we finally found something she liked that fitted. I never go in that many shops when out shopping for myself - it was exhausting.