[shockandawe]

OK, so I had Maggie measured at payless the other day. I noticed her current shoes were getting a bit tougher to put on the last few days and with her starting to walk, I want to make sure that I've gotten her shoes that fit and feel good for her. Turns out she's an exact size 3. The clerk (whom I trust as far as I could throw him, but mostly because he's a teenager and this is his part time job), suggeted that size 4's then would be the better choice.

So, I'm on board with going up a size in her clothes. I can roll hems and sleeves all day long. BUT, I can't see that going up a size in her shoes is helpful. Especially for her trying to walk. What do btdt mommies say about how to buy shoes for your kids? My only frame of reference here is my mom. She went the extra mile to make sure we had good shoes when we were growing up, but I'm gathering that there weren't a whole lot of choices like we have now. If I put the 4's on her, I can only imagine that they'll be impossible for her to walk in. I did buy her a pair of dress shoes today in a size 4, but they're intended to be used with her dresses this winter. I have a few months before she'll be actually wearing them I think.

I'm starting to hear those voices in my head - something about spending ridiculous amounts of money on kids shoes just for them to grow out of them in a week.

[sfarrow3]

Well from my experience as they get older it seems to slow down a bit. I do find myself ALWAYS buying shoes though (outside of my shoe addiction..lol). I would personally buy her the 3s, especially since the 4's will cause her to have problems walking. Now for Caden I would have probably bought the bigger size just because he is older and it wouldn't affect his walking much and he could honestly grow into them. Unless it was insanely big! I think for Maggie, especially since she is just starting out walking, I would get the 3.

[shockandawe]

That's what I thought too. thanks for responding. I was honestly starting to wonder if I was crazy and he was right.

[Ally-Mac]

I go to a speciality kids store near my house -- the guy is super good at sizing, etc. He goes by the pinky rule -- she should have a pinky of room at the toe area of the shoe. Pretty much the width of your pinky finger...this gives her room to grow into it, but it will still be good for her walking.

what shantel and Ally said.

[Daffodil]

I go half a size up when I start putting her in shoes and by the next week they fit her perfectly. But sometimes I buy her bigger shoes so they are ready once she outgrows the ones she currently wears.

[*BabyMaMa*]

Do they carry half sizes. I too would go with a 3.5. Leah's feet seem to have been growing pretty fast. I have bought her shoes a size up, and she walks fine in them. I'd just hate for you to buy a size 3, and next week her feet can't squeeze into them, ya know? Shoes can get really expensive.

[shockandawe]

Thanks ladies. You confirmed that I was right to think how I was thinking. I was also thinking the half size solution Kim, but I didn't see any half sizes there. Then again, this was payless. I'm sure if I went to a proper kids shoe store, that I'd be better off finding them. I'll wait a couple weeks (she can still wear the ones she has for a little while), and then I'll go hunt down a proper shoe store for her.