Best Water Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet – Protect Your Child’s Feet from Blisters and Cuts!

April 15, 2023 Summer Shoes Juan Pablo Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Are you looking for a pair of easy-on-and-off water shoes for your child? Does your child have a “complex” foot shape such as wide feet that it’s making it challenging to find a pair of comfortable water shoes? Maybe you noticed that every single water shoe that you try leaves red marks or indentations on the top part (instep) of your child’s feet. I am going to show you a list of the best water shoes for kids with wide feet based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

I truly believe that the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older. 

Please note that some children in addition to having wide feet might have high insteps as well. The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more challenging to get the shoes on and off. Below you can find an image that shows where the instep of the foot is located:

Are Water Shoes the Same Thing As Sandals?

I want to clarify that the water shoes I will show you in this article are not sandals. The main difference between water shoes and sandals is that water shoes are meant to be worn inside the water such as swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans, which are filled with potential dangers for a barefoot child. If you are looking for a pair of sandals capable of accommodating your child’s wide feet then there is a different resource you should explore.

Sometimes when your child’s feet are underwater you can’t see what’s below their feet, and there could be rocks or any other sharp objects that might hurt their feet. Even in a swimming pool the floor could be scrapped and hurt your child’s feet.

What Makes the Water Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Kids with Wide Feet?

1️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes: This feature prevents your child’s toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the water shoes. Let me show you the difference between a water shoe that comes with a round toe-box versus one that doesn’t. Do you notice how the water on the right has a much rounder toe-box compared to the water shoe on the left?

2️⃣ Extra Deep: This feature allows your child’s feet to fit deeply inside the water shoes and prevents the top part of your child’s feet (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. This is a really important feature, especially if your child has a high instep. Let me show you the difference between a pair of water shoes that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t:

3️⃣ Oversized Openings: This feature prevents parents and children from having to struggle every time they want to get the water shoes on and off.

In addition to fitting the shape of your child’s wide feet, all of the water shoes that I recommend are designed with an open mesh upper for breathability and quick-drying capabilities. Parents also love the fact that all of the water shoes that I recommend are made of soft materials around the foot. This is important to note as some water shoes have rough closures that might end up hurting the child’s feet.

Best Water Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet

Note that the New Balance water shoes that I recommend below are available in wide widths, which makes them ideal for children with wide feet. Just make sure that when you select your child’s shoe size you choose the wide width option. 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.

Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)

  • Shoe style Aqua Drift V1 by New balance
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Ground Contact EVA outsole with rubber pods offers protection and helps prevents slips and falls
  • Bootie upper construction hugs your toddler’s foot for a snug, supportive fit
  • Quick-dry body
  • Shoe style Bare Steps H2o Chroma by Merrell
  • Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
  • Extra wide toe box gives wiggle room to growing toes 
  • Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off 
  • M Select GRIP for flexible, non-marking traction
  • Shoe style Aqua Drift V1 by New balance
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Ground Contact EVA outsole with rubber pods offers protection and helps prevents slips and falls
  • Bootie upper construction hugs your toddler’s foot for a snug, supportive fit
  • Quick-dry body
  • Shoe style Bare Steps H20 by Keen
  • Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
  • Extra wide toe box gives wiggle room to growing toes 
  • Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off 
  • M Select GRIP for flexible, non-marking traction

Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)

  • Shoe style Aqua Drift V1 by New balance
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Ground Contact EVA outsole with rubber pods offers protection and helps prevents slips and falls
  • Bootie upper construction hugs your toddler’s foot for a snug, supportive fit
  • Quick-dry body
  • Order this water shoe a whole size bigger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Aqua Drift V1 by New balance
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Ground Contact EVA outsole with rubber pods offers protection and helps prevents slips and falls
  • Bootie upper construction hugs your toddler’s foot for a snug, supportive fit
  • Quick-dry body
  • Order this water shoe a whole size bigger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Water Shoes Sports by Cior
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • EVA material sole with rubber pods provides an exceptionally lightweight midsole with excellent bounce-back and durability
  • Breathable insoles with holes also made of soft EVA materials help absorb shock 
  • Excellent traction
  • Order this water shoe a half size bigger than your child’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Water Shoes Sports by Cior
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • EVA material sole with rubber pods provides an exceptionally lightweight midsole with excellent bounce-back and durability
  • Breathable insoles with holes also made of soft EVA materials help absorb shock 
  • Excellent traction
  • Order this water shoe a half size bigger than your child’s current foot size

Are These Water Shoes Better Than Natives or Crocs?

I believe that they are, as they stay on better than Natives and Crocs. The water shoes I recommended provide better comfort, support, and stability, which is really important considering your child will be walking around wet surfaces.

Find Out Your Child Exact Foot Length and Shape

Some parents believe that their children have wide feet when in fact they might have extra wide feet. Do you know whether your child has a high instep or not? These are all important factors that determine the final shoe size that your child should wear.

I created a free resource that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s exact foot size from home.

It is always advisable to visit your local shoe store to get a proper shoe fitting if that is possible. However, if you don’t have any near follow the instructions on the previous link!

The correct types of water shoes provide children with a barrier between their feet and hazards located not just around water, but on the beach as well. Let me know in the comments section below if you have found a specific pair of water shoes that worked well for your child’s wide feet!