Best Sneakers for Toddlers with Wide Feet and High Insteps – Extra Deep, Rounded Toe-Boxes, and Easy On and Off!

Do you always struggle to get your toddler’s shoes on and off and notice that the velcro straps of the shoes don’t extend far enough across the shoes? Does your toddler’s foot have a higher height than average and usually notice red marks on the top part of your toddler’s feet? Have you tried many different shoe brands and styles but you always end up empty-handed? The best sneakers for toddlers with wide feet and high insteps provide extra depth, rounded toe-boxes, and oversized openings for easy on and off.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I am familiar with sneakers provide rounded toe-boxes and extra depth from having fitted them before. Shoes play a very important role in a child’s life, especially at an early stage. I believe that it takes a great responsibility and conscientious effort on my part to fit children’s shoes, since the future health and development of the child’s foot is my personal responsibility and parents are placing their complete trust in me.

Are You Struggling to Get Your Toddler’s Shoes On and Off?

Do you feel like you always struggle getting your toddler’s shoes on and off and when you take them off you notice imprints or indentations on the top part (instep) of your toddler’s feet?

When families struggle to get their toddler’s shoes on and off that’s a sign that the child might have wide feet and high insteps, or that the shoes are the wrong size.

3 Key Shoe Features for Toddlers with Wide Feet and High Insteps

1️⃣ Rounded Toe-Boxes: This feature helps prevent your toddler’s toes from overlapping or rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. Below you can find two toddler sneakers that are the same size in length, but the sneaker on the right is available in wide and extra wide widths. Do you notice how the shoe on the right (New Balance) has a rounded toe-box compared to the shoe on the left (Nike)? I will provide you with a link to this specific sneaker shortly.

2️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature is really important as it allows your toddler’s feet to sit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of the foot (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the boots. For example, take a look at the image below that shows two sneakers that are the same size in length but provide different levels of depth. Do you notice how the sneaker on the right is a lot deeper compared to the boot on the left? I will also provide you with a link to this specific sneaker shortly.

3️⃣ Oversized Openings: This is an awesome feature for parents and toddlers as it makes it a lot easier to get shoes on and off. Many families complain that they waste a lot of time and energy trying to get their toddler’s shoes on and off.

Top 5 Shoe Brands for Toddlers with Wide Feet and High Insteps

• New Balance
• See Kai Run
• Stride Rite
• Saucony
• Tsukihoshi

Keep in mind that not all shoes from the shoe brands below are going to be effective for your toddler’s wide feet and high insteps. There are specific models among the shoe brands that work a lot better than others, and those are the ones I will describe shortly.

Best Sneakers for Toddlers with Wide Feet and High Insteps

Take your time to explore the sneaker options as shown below. Make sure that you click on the specific model that you like as the shoe is probably available in many different colors. 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.

I also want to point out that all of the sneakers that I recommend below provide a stable base of support but are lightweight and flexible at the same time, as heavy and rigid sneakers can make it harder for toddlers to walk around.

Find Out Your Toddler’s Exact Shoe Size and Order the Correct Size Online

Parents should take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local shoe store. However, many department store employees work on commission. Their primary goal is to make a sale. So please take this into consideration when you shop. Independent stores will usually have the most experienced shoe fitters while department stores will usually have salespeople.

If you don’t have a children’s shoe store in your area that you trust, you should take a look at a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.

How Long Are Your Toddler’s Shoes Going to Last?

Toddlers should always outgrow their shoes before anything happens to them, as they grow pretty quickly. You should expect to replace your toddler’s shoes anywhere between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 months, even if you leave the correct amount of growing room.

How Can You Tell If Your Toddler Has a High Instep?

The most common sign that a child has a high instep is when you notice red marks on the top part of the child’s feet:

The second most common sign is if the velcro straps of the shoes don’t extend far enough across the shoes:

Additional Resources for Toddlers with Wide Feet and High Insteps

I have created many different resources over the years for families of toddlers who have wide feet and high insteps. Some of the ones families find the most helpful are the article on sandals, boots and dress shoes for toddlers with high insteps.

Can’t Find What You Are Looking For?

Toddler’s shoe needs can vary depending on any specific foot conditions they may have. Maybe you are looking for a more affordable sneaker or a style that comes in a specific color. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.