Are you struggling to find a pair of dress shoes that is capable of accommodating the shape of your toddler’s high instep? Do you feel like you try a whole bunch of different dress shoes, and always end up empty-handed? I always tell parents to pay extra attention to the height of the top part of their toddler’s feet, which is called the instep. I already created several resources describing the best shoes for toddlers with high insteps and “complex” foot shapes, but in this specific one, I will show you the best dress shoes for toddlers with high insteps.
How Does a Foot with a High Instep Look Like?
Take a look at where the instep of the foot is located:
When toddlers have high insteps, there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside the shoes:
I have been contacted by several parents of toddlers with high insteps who find themselves checking out a lot of different children’s stores and ordering multiple shoes online before finding one that fits, seems comfortable, and is good quality.
There is a small selection of dress shoes that are capable of accommodating the foot of a toddler with a high instep, and I know exactly which ones they are from having fitted them before.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years, and that experience helped me get familiar with the best shoe brands and the best shoe styles for toddlers with high insteps. We specialize in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
I noticed how some parents don’t put a lot of thought into the type of dress shoes that they provide for their toddlers, as they wear them once in a while and for short periods of time. However, you might want to rethink this. It takes only a couple of wears in the wrong shoe size or the wrong shoe style to develop foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
Before I provide you with a selection of the best dress shoes for toddlers with high insteps, let me show you how to make sure that your toddler has a high instep.
How to Tell if Your Toddler Has a High Instep? – Check these 3 Signs!
I already showed you how a foot with a high instep looks like. However, if you are unsure if your toddler has a high instep there are certain signs that you can look for:
➡️ Do you always have a hard time putting your toddler’s shoes on? This is the first sign that your toddler might have a high instep.
➡️ Do you notice imprints on the top of your toddler’s feet? This is the second sign that your toddler might have a high instep.
➡️ Do you have a hard time pulling the velcro strap to match the end of the Velcro?
Those are the 3 most common signs that your toddler might have a high instep. So, if your toddler indeed has a high instep, keep on reading because I will show you which dress shoes are going to be capable of fitting the shape of his/her feet.
What Makes the Dress Shoes I Recommend Effective for High Insteps?
Let me show you what makes the dress shoes that I recommend so effective in fitting the shape of a toddler with a high instep. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper than the shoe on the left? You can notice this difference in the height of the shoe across the instep and also across the toe area.
Shoes that provide extra depth allow the toddler’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of the foot (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes.
Remember that shoes don’t come labeled as “extra deep”, so the only way to tell which shoes are deeper than others is from having fitted them before. That’s where I come into play, as I know exactly which shoes are deeper than others.
Now let’s compare two different Mary Jane shoe styles for toddler girls. Do you notice how the Mary Jane on the right is a lot deeper than the Mary Jane on the left?
Now it’s time to make sure that you know your toddler’s exact foot size. If you don’t know your toddler’s exact foot size, you won’t know what shoe size to order.
Let’s start by checking if you don’t have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area. I created a resource that describes the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then proceed to take a look at a different article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your toddler’s exact foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best dress shoes for toddlers with high insteps. I know that most parents want to provide their toddlers with some extra growing space inside their shoes, especially when it comes to dress shoes as they might not wear them that often. However, there is a certain amount of growing room that you can leave inside the shoes without compromising your toddler’s stability. I will expand on this shortly.
Best Dress Shoes for Toddlers with High Insteps – Extra Deep and Rounder Toe-Boxes!
In addition to providing extra depth, some of the dress shoes below are available in wide (W) and extra wide (XW) widths. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Many of the dress shoes featured below come in several color options, so if you want the shoes to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.
Boys
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Ideal for toddlers who are learning how to walk
- APMA approved and built for toddlers
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Lace-up design
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Padded insole
- Dual goring at vamp
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Slip-on design
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Padded tongue and collar provide additional comfort and cushioning
- Genuine leather
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% genuine leather upper
- Velcro closure
- Alternative closure with fixed lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Padded tongue and collar provide additional comfort and cushioning
- Memory foam insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Lace-up design
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Padded tongue and collar provide additional comfort and cushioning
- 100% Synthetic
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Girls
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Ideal for toddlers who are learning how to walk
- APMA approved and built for toddlers
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Flex Fit system includes additional insole that can be removed as your child grows
- Oversized opening
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
- Oversized openings
- 100% leather
- Soft leather uppers with a black patent finish and scalloped topline edging
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Adjustable buckle closure with hidden elastic
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Ankle strap with hook-and-loop closure
- Leather lining for a soft feel
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Adjustable buckle secures the perfect fit every time
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Leather lining for a soft feel
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits toddlers with wide and extra wide feet
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Now you can keep your toddler’s feet stylish and comfortable at the same time!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes to fit the shape of your toddler’s high instep, as it’s highly likely that I have fitted them before, and I will help you find them:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Please make sure that your toddler is wearing the correct pair of everyday sneakers in the correct size. Wearing shoes in the wrong size won’t deform your toddler’s feet, but if the shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support, it can advance any abnormalities that your toddler’s feet may already have, such as flat feet.
What are the Best Sneakers for Toddlers with High Insteps?
The article below describes the best sneakers for toddlers with high insteps:
Shoes for Toddlers with High Insteps – Extra Depth is the Most Important Feature!
Have you found a specific dress shoe that has worked well for your toddler’s high instep? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
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