How to Figure Out If Your Child Has a High Instep – Find Out with Just Two Images of Your Child’s Feet

Do you always have a hard time getting your children’s shoes on and off? Does your child complain that the shoes feel too tight and when you remove the shoes sometimes you notice indentations on the top part of your child’s feet? These are all signs that your child might have a high instep. I will show you how to figure out if your child has a high instep shortly, but let’s first clarify what the instep of the foot is.

What Is the Instep of the Foot?

The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more challenging to find shoes that fit. Having a high instep means that there is extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside the shoes:

Most parents make the common mistake of buying bigger shoes until the child stops complaining that the shoes feel too tight. However, what parents should be doing is looking for shoes that provide extra depth, to allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and accommodate the instep.

Buying bigger shoes to compensate for the instep can compromise your child’s stability and make your child more prone to falling. Would you be able to walk and run around in shoes that are too big?

One common misconception is to assume that children who have a high arch automatically have a high instep, and vice versa. I have seen children with high insteps who don’t have a high arch, and I have also seen children with high arches who don’t have high insteps.

How to Figure Out If Your Child Has a High Instep

Since most children’s shoe stores are now closed, I have been helping parents figure out whether their children have a high instep or not by taking a look at two images of their child’s feet.

1️⃣ Make sure that your child is not wearing socks and that your child is standing up straight. Below you can see how the first image should look like:

2️⃣ Make sure that your child is standing straight and take another image of your child’s feet from a different angle. Below you can see how the second image should look like:

These two images will help me determine whether your child has a high instep or not. I also will be able to tell you whether your son has a flat, high, or regular arch.

Once you have these two images ready you need to email them to me and I will get back to you in less than 24 hours:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com 

The Two Most Common Signs That Your Child Has a High Instep

➡️ Indentations or red marks on the top part of your child’s feet:

➡️ Struggling to get your child’s shoes on and off:

Why Is It Important to Know Whether Your Child Has a High Instep or Not?

Having a high instep simply means that there will only be certain shoe brands and certain shoe styles among those brands capable of fitting the shape of your child’s feet. I have seen several cases of children who complained about foot pain simply because they were wearing the wrong shoe size.

What Are the Best Shoes for Children with High Insteps?

If your child has a high instep and you always feel like you have a hard time finding shoes that fit I suggest that you read a different resource I created.

Most children’s shoe stores are closed now, and parents don’t know where to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes. Finding a pair of shoes for a child with a high instep can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. However, I am here to make the whole process of finding shoes for your child easier, so do not hesitate to contact me with any questions as I will be happy to answer them.