Renting baby shoes!

Hello there,

I am wondering if i could get your opinions on something? As we all know, our young ones grow out of their shoes much too fast- sometimes within 4-6 weeks!

What would you think of renting shoes for say 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12+ months? would you be open to renting say 5 pairs of shoes for 1 month periods? maybe, 2 pairs of smart shoes, 2 pairs of nike trainers or the like and 1 pair of house shoes? how much would you pay for this? £15, £20, £25?

Although shoes would not be brand new they would be in outstanding condition.

What do you think parents? would this appeal to you??????

Many thanks for your input!

No this isnt something I would do,you can pick up baby shoes for under a £5,I dont see the point in spending lots of money on childrens shoes anyway,

No definitely not up for that. Children's feet grow differently and shoes are individual. I also can't see the point in renting when you can buy them so cheaply.

I wouldn't rent I'm afraid as although they may be the same sizes as my children need, all children walk differently and mould the shoes to their own feet. I wouldn't want anyone to have my childrens shoes as they walk on tiptoes.

I think its a good idea though and I can see the reasoning behind it as my children get through some shoes!!

I also can see why you came up with this idea, childrens feet grow so fast! But i wouldn't be interested, mainly for the reasons already stated. Also, for a child under 12months (not walking) i don't think they need shoes very much? I certainly wouldn't have needed 4 pairs? Even to rent? Shoes for babies can be relatively cheap although as the child grows they get more expensive, expecially if you buy from somewhere like clarks. I think childrens feet do need well fitting shoes as they are growing and am not convinced you could feasibly share? Although childrens feet do grow fast, Lolly wore her shoes out too as she only had 1 or 2 pairs at a time and would scuff them playing in the park etc. very quickly. How would you keep them in such good condition? and what would happen if a pair you had hired got damaged or broken? xx

I can see where you are coming from, yes they do grow out of things fast and it is a good idea but to be honest I don't think it would work in practice because only the first couple of users would get good quality shoes. After that they would begin to get tatty. As for the ages, I don't see any reason for a baby under a year old to wear shoes except to 'look pretty'.

No I wouldnt consider it.

I have only ever bought Clarks shoes for my son since he started walking, yes they are expensive but they are properly measured to his feet and the sales staff make sure they fit. Even though I knpow his size I would NEVER go into Asda etc and just buy a pair of their shoes either- they are not fitted properly and could do so much damage to your childs feet. If you put shoes on a child which do not fit you create all sorts of problems for them in later life. Shoes are soooo IMPORTANT and worth the money IMO.

As for renting them, each child walks so differently and their feet are so different that shoes mould to the wearers feet, by the time you were the third or forth person to rent them the shoes would be ruined and what maybe started out as a 7F might be a 7G or H and then wouldnt fit your child proeprly.

I dont buy clarks because they are just to expensive,I didnt wear clarks shoes as a child either and I walk just fine and ethan never wears clarks and he is just fine,dont think you need to spend a fortune on shoes as long as they are the right size,conrad wears shoes that belonged to ethan and he is doing just fine,but I wouldnt was him to wear a strangers shoes

JOJO said:
I dont buy clarks because they are just to expensive,I didnt wear clarks shoes as a child either and I walk just fine and ethan never wears clarks and he is just fine,dont think you need to spend a fortune on shoes as long as they are the right size,conrad wears shoes that belonged to ethan and he is doing just fine,but I wouldnt was him to wear a strangers shoes

But the right size might not mean they fit propery though. They will have moulded to Ethans feet and may no longer be the original size. Also width fittings may be different.

he is walking just fine in them,but Ethan hardly wore them and conrad only wears them to keep his feet warm when we are out and about,but I dont think childrens feet should be in shoes all the time

I wouldn't bother either. My daughter had very few shoes in the first year. Her first infant shoes were free.

Actully are you talking about baby booties or actual baby shoes?

Before Martha was walking she didn't wear shoes - now luckily she has slow growing feet - she has Clarks for her main shoes but then I shop around! Normally have to go twice a year (touch wood) once for winter and once for summer

Elementary said:
Before Martha was walking she didn't wear shoes - now luckily she has slow growing feet - she has Clarks for her main shoes but then I shop around! Normally have to go twice a year (touch wood) once for winter and once for summer

same here hunny

I would never do that, you should not put fitted shoes on a baby until their feet have adjusted to walking, otherwise they can encounter serious problems. We only get our childrens shoes from Clarks as it is the only place we have found where they actually measure the feet and do it properly.
Shoes shape themselves to your feet, so the right size and width wouldn't fit, my feet are the same size as Franks, but I cannot wear his shoes due to how his feet have shaped them.