Do shoes/socks bug your kids?

[magicfan]

First it was socks... the seams bugged her. Try finding seamless socks.

Then it was shoes...she has several pairs of new shoes that she wont wear because they bug her in some way. They do fit her. I just hate it when you let them try on a lot of shoes and they say they love one of them, so you buy it, but then a couple days later they don't like the way they feel anymore. This is usually after they have worn them and you cannot return them. Funny thing is we bought an extra pair of sneakers this year for our DD. They were $45 shoes, but on clearance for $10. They were a size too big, but since they were a great deal we thought we'd save them for next year. Or, whenever she grew into them. Now she wants to wear those every day. The thing is, last year she refused to wear any shoe that was the slightest bit too big. I wish she'd make up her mind--it would make shoe buying a lot easier. So, once again, we have another brand new pair sitting in the closet not getting worn. I don't know if I should make her wear them, or just cut my loses.

 

[mickeyboat]

Hannah is almost 6 and she always complains about her shoes. She says "they tickle." She lives in flip flops, although she is not allowed to wear them to school. The first thing she does when she walks through the door is take off her shoes and socks.

She also likes to wear her shoes on the bigger side. That seems to make her happy.

Good luck.

Denae

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My older kids used to be this way. I'd always make them wear their shoes inside for a day before letting them wear them outdoors. Helped us to see if they really liked them and they fit well while they could still be returned.

I'm much more of a sandal person myself. I wore shoes the other evening and I couldn't wait to get them off. Really only wear shoes when it's cold outside.

T&B

 

[magicfan]

Even some sandals with straps bug my DD. She also loves her flip flops, but they are getting pretty ugly looking at this point. She has one cute pair that has beads on the top--really cute, but they are all dirty and torn up looking now, but she still loves them. I don't mind her wearing them, but it's emberrassing when you go out in public and realize your child is wearing a nice, pretty dress with old, dirty, torn flip flops! She wore them to church one day and I was horrified!

She also has one pair of cute sandals that she loves to wear, but they have some height to them (not the really high kind...I wont buy them for her) but I dont feel it is safe or appropriate for her to wear them if she is going to be out running around. They don't have any ankle straps,so they are more for wearing while dressing up, not playing.

Wearing them indoors first is a great idea, so you can still return them. Thanks!

 

[puffkin]

Just a guess here, but maybe you think the shoes are fitting her and they really aren't sized right. I would try taking her to a place that specializes in Children's shoes and have her professionally fit for a nice pair of shoes that would be acceptable for home and wearing out. You could explain to them what the problems are that she complains about and they might be able to suggest a brand/style and fit her to the correct size. A place like Stride Rite comes in mind but their are others out there, just search the net.

I never had a problem with shoes, but as soon as I get home, I kick them off. I love being barefoot (socks in winter). But I think growing kids should have their shoes professionally sized a few times when they are younger.

 

[dismom9761]

Finding socks for my DD6 and DS7 was a nightmare.Now they each have one brand that they like.Until they change again.
My DD1 is okay with sandals but I bought her a pair of tennis shoes the other day and she screamed until we took her socks and shoes off.It could be a long winter.

 

[Kermit]

Jacob is very picky about socks. The seams have to be centered just right on the top of the foot with nothing wrapped around to the bottom. He's not very picky about his shoes yet, but I have a feeling that it's just because he doesn't have a big enough vocabulary.

I do feel sorry for kids when it comes to clothes and shoes. I know that I frequently try things on that appear to fit, but they just don't feel comfortable on me. For that reason, I only buy stretchy knits for my babies until they're at least a year old. Jacob is 2.5, and all of his shirts are knits, and about half of his pants/shorts are, too. Nothing irritates me more than seeing an uncomfortable newborn in a scratchy, uncomfortable outfit.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I can totally relate about the socks since I'm picky about my socks. Sometimes I turn my socks inside out so the seem is more comfortable.

I agree that you should have the shoes sized at Stride Rite or another children's shoe store. They might be able to figure out what the issue is and they will make sure that they are not too small or large.

As far as the flip flop, just make sure she doesn't wear them to the White House.

My DH hates flip flops on our DD unless is going to the pool or is at the beach. She's older, though, and when she started wearing them to high school he just about had a fit. Most of the girls wear them, though, and it wasn't a battle that I was going to fight. He finally gave in even though he isn't crazy about them.

She wore them to a meal with my DH's orthodox Jewish relatives this summer and I thought my DH and my MIL were going to have a cow. Long story, but we were already making all the concessions for this meal to happen and I put my foot down and let her wear them (they were "nice" flip flops). Nobody even noticed or at least nobody said anything.

Fast forward to last night. My DD moved into college today and last night my DH presented her with a few little trinkets--a teeny "sticky" notepad, a magnetic notepad, a bookmark, and a necklace--all in the shape of flip flops. My DH finally figured out how to talk her language!

So, my long-winded point is that first of all the flip flop battle might continue for awhile and also that there are some battles that aren't worth fighting. Even if she has to wear shoes for school, she can still wear them at home, even when the weather is cold.

Has she tried clogs? I don't wear them, but my DD does and she likes them a lot. Maybe they wouldn't feel so confining to your DD.

Good luck! Oh, and is she picky about the labels on the back of her shirts?

T&B

 

[diznygirl]

Has she tried clogs? I don't wear them, but my DD does and she likes them a lot. Maybe they wouldn't feel so confining to your DD.

I second the clogs - go to the Hanna Anderson web site to check out all the cute ones they have!

 

[Sparx]

I had the sock thing when I was little. The seam on the toe was really uncomfortable. I grew out of it. I wear high top converses, they have alot of toe room if that is what she's looking for, and they fit close to the sides. Perfect for me, because I have long, thin feet and I hate flip flops.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Yes!
He's only 17 mos (well..almost 18 mos really) old and he already knows that he doesn't like socks/shoes. He pulls his socks off if we don't put shoes on him and when he IS wearing shoes (which hasn't been often this summer),he tries to take them off as well. Just does not like them.

Oh well..like mother like son, right?

TOV

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

My 14 DS has always been picky about his socks. He puts them on, then pulls the seam part around his toes to the back of his foot so it isn't on the edge of his toes.

My 15 DD used to hate tags on her clothes. When she was little I used to have to cut the tags out of her clothes. To this day she doesn't like shirts that have a design or anything on the inside of the shirt so that it rubs her belly or chest.

 

[Kippage]

I was the same way with socks growing up. The seam irritated me to no end - I would fiddle around with it all day long. I finally gave up on socks all together. I live in flip flops, and even when I wear sneakers, I don't wear socks with them. Unless I'm jogging, then I use the ultra low cut ones that can't be seen.

 

[dmslush]

I also have sock issues! I hate the seam!! So, I turn them inside out most of the time.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Believe me, I feel for you. Shoes are expensive!

Isabella has some sensory integration issues. If anything is the least bit itchy, uncomfortable or feels really snug she can't think of anything else. She is simply miserable if something uncomfortable is touching her skin. Tags or lace or even the seams in her panties can give her fits. She wears all cotton clothing with no tags or lumpy seams and only certain kinds of underwear! We constantly search for the right socks and comfy shoes too. She lives in flip flops in warm weather and clogs or one certain kind of boots with socks in cold weather. Occasionally she'll fall for some thing she thinks is SO fashionable at Children's Place but if it doesn't pass the 'no scratch, no lump' test she won't ask to buy it. When she first came to us nearly 3 years ago we had a devil of a time finding clothes and shoes that worked. Now we know that really good cotton clothes (Hannas as mentioned before) are great. She survived her first year here in Hanna dresses and tights in winter and Hanna dresses and bare feet in summer. We too went through a closet full of shoes/boots that didn't get worn. Arghhhhhhh.

 

[golfgal]

Believe me, I feel for you. Shoes are expensive!

Isabella has some sensory integration issues. If anything is the least bit itchy, uncomfortable or feels really snug she can't think of anything else. She is simply miserable if something uncomfortable is touching her skin. Tags or lace or even the seams in her panties can give her fits. She wears all cotton clothing with no tags or lumpy seams and only certain kinds of underwear! We constantly search for the right socks and comfy shoes too. She lives in flip flops in warm weather and clogs or one certain kind of boots with socks in cold weather. Occasionally she'll fall for some thing she thinks is SO fashionable at Children's Place but if it doesn't pass the 'no scratch, no lump' test she won't ask to buy it. When she first came to us nearly 3 years ago we had a devil of a time finding clothes and shoes that worked. Now we know that really good cotton clothes (Hannas as mentioned before) are great. She survived her first year here in Hanna dresses and tights in winter and Hanna dresses and bare feet in summer. We too went through a closet full of shoes/boots that didn't get worn. Arghhhhhhh.

DS had these issues too. He still does but not as bad. A friends DD would take at least a half hour in the morning to get her socks and shoes on just so. After doing some sensory therapy, they are both a lot better.

I would suggest wearing the socks inside out. That worked wonders for DS. As for the shoes, if you find a brand that works, stick with that. When buying shoes for DS we make him wear them in the store for at least 1/2 and ask if it is pushing, rubbing, what ever. He is old enough now to figure that out, but it was harder when he was younger.

 

[Albertan mom]

Yep, we do that too. My DS7 is sensitive to both. We pick out shoes (after much time and frustration!) and he wears them around the store for awhile before I buy them. I found some socks that he really liked, so I bought 15 pairs of them. I haven't had to buy new socks in about a year! And they are easy to sort, I just throw them all in his drawer, I never have to match them up!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

My kids both have sensory integration issues. DD hates shoes and socks. She wears flip flops or goes barefoot most of the time. In the winter she'll wear clogs, slide tennis shoes (with no back) or shoes with the toe and heel out. My MIL complains that her feet must be cold, but it's that or let her go around with bare feet. She can't keep them on.

Her occupational therapist said that sock/shoe issues and tag issues can be a sign of SI disorder. Guess it's pretty common.