Are you having a hard time finding a pair of shoes to accommodate your toddler’s high instep? Do you feel like you try several different shoe brands and styles but they are all too difficult to get on and off, leaving red marks on the top of your toddler’s feet? The best shoes for toddlers with high insteps are the ones that provide one key feature: extra depth.
I have been working at a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years, where we focus on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes, foot conditions, and leg conditions. I handle approximately 100 shoe fittings/try-ons per week and have learned through my experience the best shoes for toddlers with high insteps.
What is the Instep of the Foot?
The instep is the top middle portion of the foot (between the toes and the ankle). I also like to describe the instep as the total amount of foot volume that needs to be fitted inside a shoe. Higher insteps can make it more difficult to find shoes that both fit and are comfortable.
Let’s take a look at an image of a toddler with a high instep:
Is Having a High Instep the Same as Having a High Arch?
The instep and the arch are unrelated. Having a high instep doesn’t mean that a child will automatically have a high arch. I have seen children with flat feet have high insteps.
The image below may help you visualize where the instep and the arch are located:
How to Figure Out if Your Toddler has a High Instep?
I can tell whether a child has a high instep or not simply by looking at their feet. Below I have listed some of the most common signs of a high instep to see if your own toddler likely has a high instep:
- Having a difficult getting the shoes on and off.
- Noticing red marks on the top part (the instep) of your toddler’s feet. I would say that red marks on the instep of a child’s foot are the most common sign that the child has a high instep.
- ● Having a difficult time pulling straps to match the end of the velcro:
- Noticing your child is constantly removing his or her shoes:
What Shoes are Good for Toddlers with High Instep?
I recommend shoes that provide extra depth to allow a toddler’s foot to fit deeply inside their shoe and prevent their instep from rubbing uncomfortably against the top of the shoe.
Let’s take a look at two shoes that are the same length and width but provide different levels of depth. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper than the shoe on the left? This greater depth is ideal for toddlers with high insteps.
I have put together a list of the best shoes for toddlers with high insteps below. However, before you order the shoes, I recommend that you learn your toddler’s exact foot shape.
Are You 100% Sure of Your Toddler’s Foot Shape?
I always suggest taking your child to be properly measured and fitted for shoes at a specialized children’s shoe store. However, with the increasing scarcity of these types of specialized shoe stores (even before the pandemic), it can be difficult for families to know where to get their children’s feet properly fitted.
For those families who don’t have a specialized or independent shoe store in their area, I created a free resource that helps them retrieve their toddler’s exact foot shape and length.
You can learn more about this resource in the article below:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Now that you know your toddler’s exact foot shape and what shoe features are needed to accommodate a high instep, let’s take a look at the best shoes for toddlers with high insteps. Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click the links below and make purchases.
Best Shoes for Toddlers with High Instep ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All of the shoes I recommend open up widely so you can easily slide them on and off your toddler’s. Most of the shoes are available in different widths (medium [M], wide [W], extra wide [WX], etc).
Look at the description below each shoe recommendation to figure out what specific foot shape that shoe style can accommodate.
Sneakers
Fits Medium, Wide, Extra WideCheck PriceFits Medium, Wide, Extra WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium, Wide, Extra WideCheck PriceFits Medium, Wide, Extra WideCheck Price
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these shoes half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.5 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Dress Shoes
Fits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium, Wide, Extra WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck Price
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these dress shoes half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.5 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Sandals
Fits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck Price
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these sandals half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.5 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the sandals.
Boots
Fits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck Price
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these boots half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.5 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the boots.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a pair of shoes that fit the shape of your toddler’s high instep. I am happy to assist you in finding a pair that fit: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a specific shoe style or brand that has worked well for your toddler’s high instep? Let us know in the comment section below so other families can benefit from your experiences 🙂
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