Outdoor shoes for walking 10 month old

[Babyblue2]

DD2 is walking unaided and has been for 2 or 3 weeks now. We've been pretty much housebound since DD2 was born due to no car but from next week we're getting a car and I want to go out and about to the park with both DDs (DD1 hardly eats anything and my father thinks its because she doesn't get out for much fresh air). Are there any shoes more suited to a 10 month old. If I remember rightly the shoes from Clarks are quite heavy and clumpy and i'm worried that they'll be too heavy for her little feet at such a young age. I know you can get the pre-walker ones but don't know if they're suitable for outside. Can't put DD2 in pushchair or rucksack cos she gets restless and cries. Can anyone help?

[poppiesinaline]

My DD didn't walk particularly early (11 1/2 months) but she was so tiny I had real problems getting proper shoes for her. I just used to use the pre-walker ones but they get trashed outside - I think we went through quite a few pairs! And you have to be careful where they walk - watch for sharp stones etc.

[hana]

if she's been walking for awhile, the clarks shoes shouldn't be too clumpy or heavy , but you might have a problem getting the right size, don't think proper walking shoes start until size 3

[gingernut]

We had pre-walkers fo ds2 so we could go down to the playground. He wasn't walking when we first got them - more cruising and crawling. He's recently started walking more and I have finally got him some proper shoes because he was growing out of the pre-walkers. He probably had the pre-walkers for about 4 months during which time we went out maybe once a week so they haven't had heavy use, but they are still in very good condition. OTOH, even though he has been walking properly now for only 3 weeks or so he is getting on fine with his proper shoes which are very soft and flexible.

[MamaG]

I had pre walkers for DS and used them outside, maybe twice a week - now have Clarks First Shoes which have a tougher sole than pre walkers, but are still lovely and flexible.

He walks a LOT outside now and they are fine and last until he has grown out of them.

I have used First Shoes for a year now as I don't like the idea of his little feet being in hard shoes either

[Highlander]

I had Clark's "cruisers" for DS, but they aren't apparently designed for proper walking as such. I know what you mean about the first shoes - they are very clumpy, and DS trips in them when he is tired.

I think maybe some other MNers gave Start-Rite the thumbs up?

[MamaG]

If you choose the first shoes carefully, it should be ok - some of them are clumpier than others. Sounds silly, but its def true.

[Babyblue2]

I think we'll have a trip to Clarks this weekend as they're more local and see what there is. If there are none that are suitable, we'll go further afield to the start-rite shop - thanks highlander, hadn't even thought of them. I think she'll have to have first shoes rather than pre-walkers cos her walking ability is increasing each day.

[uwila]

My DD had small as well. And Clarks wanted to sell me the shoes for crawlers rather than walkers because they insisted they fit properly. I bought the walkers anyway because I wasn't going to have her walking outside in shoes that had no proper soles. Persobnally, I like Step Rite (I think that's what they are called??)better. I would go to a John Lewis or Russell and Bromley for the irst fitting because you will have more shoes to choose from (including clarks in case those are what fit) but at Clarks you will have only clarks to choose from.

[Babyblue2]

Thanks uwila. Unfortunately in Cumbria we've never heard of John Lewis or Russell and Bromley. We've only just started getting topshop for goodness sake lol. If Clarks suggest pre-walkers I shall make my way to the Start-Rite shop which is a little further afield.

[uwila]

Oh. Sorry. I don't even know where Cumbria is. Probably need to get out more.

[Hulababy]

DD got her first shoes at 10 months and they were a size 2.5E. They were cruiser type shoes, with the softer sole and leather uppers, made by Kickers. Lovely little black patent leather ones - very cute

[MamaG]

LOL babyblue2! I moved from Leeds to Cumbria 18 months ago and still email my sister and my friends with shopping lists!

[Babyblue2]

uwila - Cumbria is the home of the Lake District .

MamaG - you are the 3rd person this week that I have found that lives in Cumbria!

[gingernut]

The pre-walkers we had had proper soles, fine for outdoor use (they have 2 types, some are more like pram shoes with softer soles and some are more robust). But as MamaG says, some of the first shoes are less clumpy than others so I'm sure you'll be able to find something she can get on with.

[misdee]

i tried to buy my dd3 some walking shoes, but all clarks had in her size 2.5 were too wide. they dont do e fittings even in crawling shoes

[jessicaandrebeccasmummy]

WHEN did dd3 start WALKING misdee???? Missed that one!!!!

[aprilmeadow]

I used to work for Clarks and would lecture people for bringing their children in too early, bone developemtn etc... but then when my DS 9.5mths started to get steady on his feet, walking as you hold him etc, i started to think of getting him some shoes - completely forgettingmy training. I got a catalogue sent to me by Clarks and it showed all the new ranges they did for the various stages of baby. We took him down and he was already measuring a 3G. HE loves them, i dont put him in them often or for long periods of time as i am worried about it effecting his bones, but he seems quite happy in them. The only thing i do begrudge is that they cost me £18!

[chipkid]

I have just bought a pair of strt-rite shoes for dd-called bubble I think-they are the smallest that they do size three and are as light as a feather-even though they have aproper sole.
I too was worried about clumpiness-but these are great
def go for start-rite

[misdee]

she is cruising very well now. not letting go, but wants to walk holding hands when we're at the hospital (kills my back as she is sooo small). i got her somer inch blues, but she managed to pull them off.

[Babyblue2]

Yeah the cost of shoes are rather expensive. I don't plan to keep her in the shoes for any long periods of time until she's fully on her way i.e. totally stopped crawling which she is still doing occassionally. I just want to be able to have the freedom of putting her down to have a totter around if i'm in the park or in the garden type thing and to get her used to walking about outside.

[mewart]

hi babyblue 2 there is a shop in carlisle that sells start rite shoes although i dont know what they r like cos i always go to clarks cos they r cheaper, maybe u could try when u r here next week

[poppiesinaline]

DD had her first proper shoes from Start-Rite. As I said, she was walking from 11 1/2 months but at 18 months she still only measured a 1 1/2 in Start-Rite. Their shoes started at size 2 (they come up smaller than clarkes). I did find Start-Rite better - but more expensive She had an older brother to race around too and screamed if we were out and in the buggy so I had to put her in pre-walker things for 6 months! They weren't even proper pre walker shoes as such because they didn't go down small enough. Her feet don't seem to have suffered for it.

[Babyblue2]

Hi mewart. Shall have to look up where start-rite shop is. I think on the web i recall seeing one in Carlisle and one in Whitehaven. I've yet to confirm but I think it'll be Monday when i'm popping over but if thats no good for you I can pop over another day. I shall email you for def though

[mewart]

any day apart from tues aft is fine for me babyblue2 although my car has gone in to be fixed but hopefully i will have it back by then!

[Babyblue2]

Well i'm quite happy to come to your home to deliver said item. Not a problem. It'll be such a novelty for me to be out and about in a car (buddy ell, freedom).