Baby Shoes for Wide Feet – The Best Shoes for a Baby with Wide or Extra Wide Feet!

January 6, 2023 Baby Shoes Juan Pablo Valenzuela 4 - Comments

Do you have a baby with wide or extra wide feet and you can’t seem to find shoes that are wide enough to accommodate the shape of your baby’s feet? Do you feel like you always have a hard time putting your baby’s shoes on, and when you take them off there are always indentations and red marks on your baby’s feet? I know which are the best baby shoes for wide feet from having fitted them before.

Do Most Babies Have Wide Feet?

I have noticed how most babies have wide or extra wide feet. If you always have a hard time putting your baby’s shoes on, then that is the first sign that your baby’s shoes might be too narrow.

The shoes that you provide for your baby must be the correct shoe size, and that involves getting the correct shoe length and the correct shoe width.

One important factor to keep in mind and that I am always emphasizing to parents is that babies’ toes are constantly wiggling, which is nature’s way of exercising the foot for development. You don’t want to constrict this toe movement, so please make sure that the first walking shoes that you provide for your baby are not too narrow.

What Makes the Baby’s Shoes I Recommend Effective for Wide Feet?

One of the most common mistakes that I see parents make when trying to find shoes for their babies with wide feet is assuming that once they find a shoe style that is labeled as wide (W), that shoe will automatically accommodate the shape of their baby’s wide feet. In addition to finding a shoe style that is available in wide widths, your baby’s shoes must provide the following 2 key features:

1️⃣ Extra Depth: Shoes that provide extra depth allow your baby’s feet to sit deeply inside the shoes and prevent the top part of the feet (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. This feature also prevents blisters by preventing the top part of your baby’s toes from rubbing against the top front part of the shoes. Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t:

2️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: This feature helps prevent your babies’ toes from overlapping against one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes. Let me show you the difference between a pair of baby shoes that provides a round toe-box versus one that doesn’t:

Those 2 features are exactly what the baby shoes I will recommend shortly provide.

Did you know that providing your baby with the correct type of shoes is the best thing that you can do to promote healthy muscle development?

The sole of the shoe must be soft enough and come with sensory pods to allow your baby to feel the ground with the toes. Toe gripping is essential for gait balance when the child is learning how to walk. The baby shoes that I will describe shortly all provide sensory pods.

One of the most popular shoe brands for babies that are learning how to walk is Stride Rite. This shoe brand makes shoes in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide. However, other shoe brands such as Pediped also make first walker shoes in different widths. Among both of these brands, certain styles fit wider than others.

I only write reviews of shoes that I have fitted before since that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best baby shoes for wide feet. 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.

The Best Baby Shoes for Wide Feet

Below you can find a selection of the best baby shoes for wide feet that are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (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

I have chosen to review these particular shoes because they are the ones that provide extra depth and come with the roundest toe-boxes, two key factors when fitting babies with wide feet.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:

[email protected]

Baby’s Shoes for Wide Feet – The 5 Most Important Features!

In addition to providing extra depth, a rounder toe-box, and being labeled as wide (W) and extra wide (XW), these are the 5 most important features that the shoes I just recommended provide:

1️⃣ Flexible Soles: If you grab your baby’s shoes you should be able to bend the toe of the shoe up about 50 degrees easily. Please keep in mind that a baby doesn’t have the strength to bend a harder sole. Once the child is walking and running the shoes must be more substantial and supportive. Take a look at the image below for clarification purposes:

2️⃣ Sensory Pods: Sensory pods allow your baby to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip. The shoes need to provide sensory pods to prevent your babies from losing balance, slipping and falling. Nonskid leather or rubber soles are ideal.

3️⃣ Wider Opening: For parents to avoid struggling every time they have to put their babies’ shoes on, the shoes must open up widely.

4️⃣ Extra Padding: The shoes need to come well-padded on the heel backs and around the ankles to minimize rubbing, and on the bottom inside for comfort. This feature helps prevent the formation of blisters.

5️⃣ Breathable: Babies’ feet sweat up to 2-3 times more than adults. The shoes that you provide for them must allow air in and allow moisture out, as this will help keep your baby’s feet stay dry, cool and healthy.

I always emphasize how it doesn’t matter how many features a particular shoe style provides, if the shoes are not fitted properly, your baby won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer. What’s even worse, you will end up creating all sorts of foot issues for your baby’s feet such as blisters, calluses, and corns.

How to Retrieve Your Baby’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

If you don’t have a local children’s shoe store in your area where you can have your baby’s feet properly measured, I recommend that you read an article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your baby’s exact foot size from home.

In that article, I help parents determine their baby’s exact foot size and whether the baby has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your baby has a high instep or not.

Please remember the importance of allowing your babies to wiggle their toes comfortably as that leads to them being able to exercise their feet for healthy foot development. Here is a general guide to find out your baby’s shoe size by age – this should be taken as an estimate only since the most effective method to know your baby’s exact foot size is to measure his/her feet:

  • 0-3 months: Size 1
  • 3-6 months: Size 2
  • 6-9 months: Size 2.5 or 3
  • 9-12 months: Size 3.5 or 4
  • 12-18 months: Size 4.5 or 5
  • 18-24 months: Size 5.5 or 6

Before you leave, I want to tell you that socks also play an important role in keeping your baby’s feet healthy.

For example, once you provide your baby with a pair of shoes you must stay away from socks that come with grippers on the bottom. The main reason for this is that the grippers of the socks will stick to the bottom of the shoe, and this will prevent your kids’ toes from moving freely.

The Best Socks for Babies with Wide Feet

I want to clarify that grippers socks are great when babies are walking around the house barefoot, but not when they are wearing shoes.

One important feature that we need your babies’ socks to provide is for them to be seamless. I have found this to be a great feature as it allows babies to freely move their toes inside the socks and they provide the most comfort. Below you can find a selection of the best seamless and breathable socks for babies:

  • Socks made by Epeius
  • 76% combed cotton, 21% polyester and 3% spandex
  • Seamless cable/ribbed knit knee high socks for babies
  • Breathable
  • Machine wash
  • Socks made by SeriSimple
  • Smooth toe seam provides less irritation and bulk for sensitive toes and feet 
  • Made of 82% bamboo and 18% elastane
  • Socks made by Jefferies
  • 73% Cotton, 23% Nylon, 4% Spandex
  • Seamless toe linking construction eliminates bulky toe seam 
  • Machine wash
  • Socks made by Jefferies
  • Seamless smooth toe provides optimal comfort and less irritation
  • Stay-up top prevents slipping on legs
  • Machine wash

Now that you know which are the best wide baby shoes and the key role that socks play in keeping your baby’s feet healthy, you are ready to make a better a well-informed decision.

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style for your baby’s wide feet. You might be having trouble findings a pair of sandals, dress shoes, or boots, and I can guarantee you that certain styles will accommodate your baby’s wide feet.

Do you have a children’s shoe store in your area that you trust? I get contacted by parents daily asking me if I know about a good fitting children’s shoe store in their area. If you happen to have one, please let us know in the comments section below so we can all benefit from your experiences.