Problem solved. Thanks.

[OceanAnnie]

Nevermind.

 

[HM]

I've never bought a pair of shoes for my kids that didn't get tried on before purchasing, unless it was from a company like Zappos or Shoebuy that will take back items with free shipping (and I've only done that now that they are teens with feet that have just about stopped growing).

Sorry that happened to you. Can you do an even exchange at the store you bought them? Did you use a credit card so that you have a record of the purchase (in lieu of the receipt)?

 

[sksjasams]

Shoes are like jeans - the sizes (and also width) really vary between brands and styles.

Maybe you can exchange them at the store with no reciept for a bigger size or different style as long as they haven't been worn outside. Otherwise try posting them on craigslist.

I have never bought a pair of shoes without DS trying them on first either.

 

[Leajess99]

Honestly, if the kids are complaining than I would NOT have them wearing them. That is a good way to hurt or ruin their feet. I have found with my middle child that her shoes wear differently from brand to brand and she has flat feet with an extra bone so no choice but to make her try them on. I have problems with my feet and I have learned a lot from my podiatrist so my kids try on their shoes before they leave the store or they are taken back if they cannot wear them or complain of them hurting. I won't force my kids to wear shoes that hurt their feet nor would I expect them to wear shoes that you know would cause them injury per your bandaids statement. Please see about exchanging them and take the kids at their word if they say they hurt.

 

[dawson5]

We have that issue with underarmour shoes and nike (boys cleats mainly). also the socks that they are wearing can make a shoe seem small.

This is my errand this weekend, need to buy middle son two pairs of shoes. One for track/running and one for baseball. His current shoes are 9 1/2 (nike), he tried on 10's (adidas & underarmour) in the store and they were too snug. His older brother has a pair of 10 1/2's (nike) that are entirely too big. We'll be spending a few hours at the stores looking for shoes. fun.

Try for an even exchange, especially as you only need a bigger size.

 

[LoriABil]

My neighbor told us about a good deal. Sears has the Kidvantage Club. If you are a member, any shoes (And jeans!) you buy at sears are covered for the same size. So if the kiddo wears a hole in the shoe, and is still in the same size, you can trade it in for the same size. The rules say same pair, same size, but once they were out of that style, so let us trade for a different pair. Same goes for jeans.

I'm not sure if there is a certain size at which it ends, but it might be worth looking into if your kiddos wear out shoes before they out grow them!

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Shoe fit doesn't just depend on whether the toes have enough room or not, either. The correct fit should have the sole of the shoe bending at the ball of your child's foot.

Here are some really good fitting tips from the guys that make the Brannock device (the metal foot measuring device shoe stores use - you can also buy them for home use which is kind of cool):

http://www.brannock.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/brannock/instructions.html#top

Uncomfortable shoes make for crabby kids and they're not good for their feet so I'd see if you can sell them at a consignment store (esp. if they haven't been worn! ) and use the money towards new shoes.

 

[dawson5]

Uncomfortable shoes make for crabby kids and they're not good for their feet so I'd see if you can sell them at a consignment store (esp. if they haven't been worn! ) and use the money towards new shoes.

Lego's don't help either. My middle son was complaining about foot pain when he was little. We took of the shoe, check his foot and ankle, no pain. Put the shoe back on and he's having issues, plenty of room, etc. Turns out he had a lego in there and had been walking around on it.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Well, there is plenty of room in the shoes. That's the problem as I see it. I wouldn't get them to try it again if that weren't the case. It might have been a sock issue. One pair in particular was a little snugger around the heel. That could've been the socks. I'll have to look into that. They just don't fit exactly the same as their everyday shoes, that they have run in the ground. They didn't even walk in the the new shoes. Slipped a foot in and that was it. And they didn't want to do that.

I'll have to see what I can do.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I fixed the problem. I just bent the heels a bit, in and out so they weren't so stiff. That was the problem. Tried them on again and problem solved. I don't know why I didn't think of doing that to begin with.

Honestly, if the kids are complaining than I would NOT have them wearing them. That is a good way to hurt or ruin their feet. I have found with my middle child that her shoes wear differently from brand to brand and she has flat feet with an extra bone so no choice but to make her try them on. I have problems with my feet and I have learned a lot from my podiatrist so my kids try on their shoes before they leave the store or they are taken back if they cannot wear them or complain of them hurting. I won't force my kids to wear shoes that hurt their feet nor would I expect them to wear shoes that you know would cause them injury per your bandaids statement. Please see about exchanging them and take the kids at their word if they say they hurt.

Have you not broken in shoes for yourself? I guess not. The band aids would have been used for a buffer until the area on the shoes had a little give. Not for an injury from the shoes. Preemptive. It was a smidge tight in the heel, not a size too small. I think your post was totally uncalled for.

 

[Leajess99]

I fixed the problem. I just bent the heels a bit, in and out so they weren't so stiff. That was the problem. Tried them on again and problem solved. I don't know why I didn't think of doing that to begin with.



Have you not broken in shoes for yourself? I guess not. The band aids would have been used for a buffer until the area on the shoes had a little give. Not for an injury from the shoes. Preemptive. It was a smidge tight in the heel, not a size too small. I think your post was totally uncalled for.

I have never had to "break" in any shoes. I have not had to use bandaids for wearing shoes unless the shoes caused a blister and in that case they do not fit properly so I do not wear them. Sorry if you feel my post was "uncalled for" but I do not force my kids to wear shoes that do not fit and that is my choice as their parent. If they complain about them than I do not waste the money on them and if I did buy them than I return them and find something that fits them right.

 

[Pembo]

I don't believe in the "breaking in your shoes" idea either. If they don't feel comfortable when I try them on, I don't buy them. I have to agree with Leajess, I don't force my kids to wear shoes that aren't the best fit either.

We just finished a quest looking for shoes for dd...she has a very narrow, hard to fit foot and we finally found a small shoe store that could fit her. DS has a wide foot and again it's always a quest to find a shoe that fits properly.

 

[OceanAnnie]

As I stated, it was the stiffness of the back of the shoes. It was resolved. And I never mentioned forcing my kids to wear shoes that didn't fit. But others did. Some posters are a little harsh.

ETA- Have you never read a thread of people breaking in shoes to go to Disney? There have been plenty.

Have a great day.

 

[thebeesknees]

Glad you were able to solve the problem! I bought sneakers the other day, and to get the style I wanted to fit, I had to go from my usual size 9 to a 10! They had room in the toe, but felt snug through the arch or something. Weird!

 

[Nicolepa]

Have you not broken in shoes for yourself? I guess not. The band aids would have been used for a buffer until the area on the shoes had a little give. Not for an injury from the shoes. Preemptive. It was a smidge tight in the heel, not a size too small. I think your post was totally uncalled for.

Nope if the shoes aren't comfortable when I try them on I don't buy them. I'd never expect my kids to wear uncomfortable shoes either. I have one with sensory issues, trust me it is a nightmare to buy him shoes. Slightest rub and he won't wear them.

 

[hugabearjo]

I have had to "break in" shoes before. That was before I knew better. I have now gotten old and have less tolerance for pain. I am sure at some point I probably had my kids wear shoes that also required breaking in. So please, understand that I am not trying to judge your parenting techniques. But what I have learned and from doctors, and people in general is that everyones feet are different that is why what someone would say is the most comfortable shoe they have ever warn is horrible for others.

I now know that the shoe shouldn't need to be broke in, even if it is a stiff heal issue. I take my kids (and they hate it) shoe shopping and they have to walk around the store repeatitively and I inspect their feet for red spots, that are rubbing. If there are any we try on another pair. I have learned through the years that in my opinion it isn't worth the fight. Shoes should feel like Augh!!!!! these are comfortable from the moment you put them on. My kids I am sure get tired of hearing about it but, I always ask them even with no red spots. "Are these walk around Disney comfortable?"

Lastly, I have had this philosophy for years now and we took a adult friend with us to disney this last year. When buying shoes I asked her the same thing. Walk around Disney all day long comfortable? and she said yes to one pair of shoes that I didn't know she had to use bandaids to prevent problems with. Half a day at EPCOT and she was dying. So I offered to switch shoes with her (we wear the same size). Boy was that a mistake. I hadn't had blisters for years. It reminded me how not worth shoes that don't feel AUGHHHH!!! are. We spent a great deal of time in first aid for more bandaids. And sore feet.

Just my 2 cents worth. Shoes shouldn't need to be broke in. I learned this through the years the hard way.