With so many types of retailers, such as Supermarkets, Discount Outlet, Sports Brands and High Street chains offering trainers for girls, how are you supposed to choose the one which provides the best deals whilst maintaining quality such that the shoes are not going to damage your daughter's feet?
As well as having to assess your budget with prices ranging from £5-£10 in most supermarkets and up to £50-£60 for the branded trainers with special finishes, you are also bombarded with a choice of materials, colours, lights, characters and special selling features that all have an impact on your (and more importantly your daughters) buying decision.
Reebok Shoes
So where do you start? Below I have listed some of the requirements you may want to consider before making your purchase. Being informed before you make your purchase should ensure that your purchase is correct, whatever your budget.
1. Before anything, get your daughters feet measured
Regardless of where you ultimately want to buy your trainers from, get your daughter's feet measured before you buy. Money is tighter now than ever (regardless of your budget) so buying the correct size with enough growth room, is of the utmost importance. Shoe retailers should offer this service without the pressure of you buying anything, so don't be bullied by them to buy there and then!
2. Assess and understand your daughters' feet.
What width fitting was she when measured? Supermarkets only sell trainers in a standard 'F' fitting. Therefore if your daughter has a particularly wide foot, you may find these are too narrow for your child. Also the brands such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas only produce trainers in an 'F' fitting and to be honest they're often so sleek in their styling that sometimes they're closer to an 'E' Fitting.
Does your daughter have a particularly low or high instep? As the vast majority of trainers have double Velcro fastenings, trainers are offer less of a problem than other forms of footwear. However just make sure there is the necessary adjustment on the foot to ensure the trainer remains securely on, without the child having to claw their foot to keep them on.
Does your daughter have sweaty feet? Nobody likes to admit they have sweaty feet, but good foot hygiene is really important for healthy feet. As trainers are generally most likely to be worn during physical activity they will get extra hot and sweaty. Therefore, if your child already has a problem, it is better to invest in trainers that have breathable linings and uppers. The supermarket brands are always made out of man-made materials to get into price point, so avoid these if your child has sweaty feet. Instead buy leather and suede trainers from the sports and quality brands. Some brands, whether sports or regular footwear brands, offer special anti-bacterial finishes on their linings to prevent the build up of bacteria which causes nasty smells and Athletes Foot - so look out for those if your daughter has a problem.
3. How regularly will she wear them and when will she wear them?
As trainers are now part of everyday shoe fashion, quite often they are simply worn 'around town'. If it is the case that for the vast majority of the time they are being worn whilst relaxing at the weekend then the cheaper supermarket trainers are perfect. They offer a great choice of colour and fun finishes. Often they feature key characters that they enjoy watching on Television or the Internet.
If, however, they will be wearing them regularly day-in day-out and for more strenuous activity, you should then consider investing in a better pair that offers greater support to the foot around the arch and ankle.
4. Do the trainers need to be waterproof?
There are quality brands like Superfit that offer fantastic trainers, with great support as well as providing a Gortex layering within them. Gortex is a special membrane sandwiched between the lining and the outer material which make the shoe breathable and waterproof. This is ideal for toddler girls that are 'attracted' to muddy puddles, but also good if your child enjoys cross-country running or sports where they could get wet whilst doing the activity.
5. Do they need to be machine washable?
Both supermarkets and branded companies, offer trainer ranges that are machine washable. If budgets are tighter, I would definitely recommend searching out machine washable trainers in the supermarkets. Not only will this ensure the trainer looks good for longer, but also eliminates any nasty smells!
6. Do they need to have lights, a character and other design features on their trainers?
When making decisions to buy trainers you should understand the rule that says 'the more they have on them, the less they'll have in them' and you won't go far wrong. Wherever you buy your trainers from, the retailer will have designed the shoe to a specific price point. Adding lights, beading, sequins and embroidery all add a great deal of cost a onto the shoe. As a result the quality of the materials used for linings, padding and the outer will all have to be reduced to compensate. This is particularly true for cheaper supermarket trainers. When a trainer has a character attached to it, the retailer has to pay between £1 and £3 to the licensee purely for the privilege of putting a Peppa Pig or Barbie on them. This also needs to be taken out of the material or added onto the retail price!
7. How long do you want her to have them?
Obviously children's feet grow fast, particularly when they are toddlers. But once they hit the age of around 5, the speed of growth slows considerably. So before you buy your daughter's trainers, ask how long you want them to last and is she due a growth spurt? If she has remained the same size for the last 6 months or so, there will be a greater likelihood that she may be due another growth spurt - therefore, going down the cheaper supermarket route may be wise. However, if she is a bit older and just had some growth, it may be wiser to invest in a good pair that will last a good 6-8 months. Buying one good pair now, will be far cheaper than buying several cheap pairs that need replacing due to their poorer quality.
Summary
So when purchasing trainers for your daughter, be as specific as you can as to what you (and she) want out of them. As I have stated, if you follow the rule that 'the more they have on them, the less they'll have in them' then you will be able to assess if you want to go the cheap supermarket character route or whether quality brands are more appropriate. Remember, the quality brands may not offer a TV character badge on the side or a fancy logo, but they do offer the foot the best support and environment to grow in.
I would also recommend looking to buy trainers for girls from good established on-line shoe retailers. If you find a good site it can eliminate hours spent trawling the High Street and you'll often get free and continuous advice. Of course you will need to search for a quality website which not only offers fitting advice, but also has a 'no quibble' return policy.
Trainers For Girls - 7 Points to Consider Before Making Your Purchase
Click on trainers for girls for more information and great deals on a superb range of children's trainers or visit www.ShoesOn.co.uk for a great range of great ladies and childrens shoes on line along with free measuring and fitting advice.