Baby Shoes for High Instep – Extra Deep Shoes for an Easy On and Off!
Are you finding it almost impossible to get your baby shoes on? Do you feel like you are always shoving your baby’s feet inside the shoes and once they go on you are worried that they might be too narrow? I have put together a list of the best baby shoes for high instep based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
It is a fact that most babies have wide or extra wide feet, as they tend to carry baby fat. The good news is that babies’ shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). The issue comes when a baby has a high instep, it makes it really hard to find shoes that fit.
How Does a Baby’s Foot with a High Instep Looks Like?
The instep is the top part of the foot and when it’s high you need to find deeper shoes as there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside of the shoes. Below you can find a picture of a baby with a high instep:
Just so you know, if your baby has a high instep I recommend that you stay away from shoe brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, since their shoes tend to be too narrow and too shallow. I mention this because I know that these are some of the most popular shoe brands and parents sometimes like it when their babies wear the same shoe brands as they do.
Our main goal is to find a pair of shoes that provides extra depth to allow your baby’s feet to sit comfortably inside the shoes.
What Makes the Baby Shoes I Recommend Effective for High Insteps?
In addition to the shoes being labeled as wide (W) or extra wide (XW), your baby shoes need to provide 2 other key features:
1️⃣ Extra Depth: This is the most important feature as it will allow your baby’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of their feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Shoes with extra depth also make it easier for parents to put their babies’ shoes on.
Let’s take a look at the difference in depth between one of the shoes I recommend made by See Kai Run and a different style made by Nike:
2️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: This feature doesn’t have to do anything with the instep, but shoes need to with rounder toe-boxes to keep your baby’s feet and toes healthy. Babies like to wiggle their toes as that is their way of exercising their feet. We need to make sure that we don’t constrict this toe movement. In addition, shoes with rounder toe-boxes help prevent your babies’ toes from overlapping against one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes.
Let me show the difference in toe-boxes between the same Nike shoe I showed you above and one of the See Kai Run shoe styles I recommend:
Baby Shoes for High Instep – 3 Additional Features!
In addition to providing extra depth and rounder toe-boxes the baby shoes I recommend provide these 3 important additional features:
➡️ Sensory Pods: This is a new technology that allows babies to “feel” the ground when taking those first steps. This helps babies feel more stable and confident when taking their first steps.
➡️ Oversized Openings: This feature makes it easier for parents to get the shoes on and off. Shoes that open up widely help prevent you from shoving your babies’ feet inside of the shoes:
➡️ Lightweight and Flexible: Baby shoes need to be lightweight and flexible as babies lack the step thrust to bend a harder sole.
Before I show you a selection of the best baby shoes for high instep I want to make sure that you know your baby’s exact foot size.
Are You Certain of Your Baby’s Foot Size?
I developed the most effective way to determine your child’s exact foot size from your home and will personally assist you with a custom fitting tailored to your child’s individual needs. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine their child’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height.
I always recommend parents to take their babies to be fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. However, if you don’t have a local store in your area that you trust take a look at this resource.
Now that you know what features your baby shoes must provide and how to measure your baby’s feet from home, let’s take a look at the best baby shoes for high instep. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Baby Shoes for High Instep
Below you can find a selection of the best baby shoes for high instep. These baby shoes are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide widths (XW).
Boys
- Shoe style SRT SM Artie by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style 2510 Racer by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your baby’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style Wes by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SM Adamby Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Foam padding placed around the ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Martin by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Oversized opening and pull tab on the back offer easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kennedy by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SM Zip Runner by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
Girls
- Shoe style SM Adalyn by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Zips Runner by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Padded tongue and collar
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Susie Mary Jane by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Black patent leather upper with full leather lining and insole
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Soft Motion Baby by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Thompson by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Soft Motion Baby by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style StevieII by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
Another awesome feature that these baby shoes provide is extra padding. Your baby shoes to come well-padded on the heel backs and around the ankles to minimize rubbing, as this helps prevent the formation of blisters.
Other Shoe Alternatives?
These are the deepest and widest baby shoes that I have fitted before. If they happen to still be too narrow for your baby’s feet please contact me either via the comment section below or via email.
Your baby’s first pair of walking shoes are the most important ones. Allow your baby to take those first steps with confidence and prevent foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
I encourage you to share your feedback in the comments section so other families can learn and benefit from your experiences.
