Kids’ Shoes with Oversized Openings – Ideal for Kids with Extra Wide Feet, High Insteps, or Kids Who Wear Orthotics
Do you always struggle getting your child’s shoes on and off? Does your child have a “complicated” foot shape such as extra wide feet or a high instep which makes it challenging to find shoes that fit? Maybe your child has a foot condition and needs to wear orthotics, and your medical professional fitted your son for orthotics. If you are dealing with any of the scenarios I described above, a pair of kids’ shoes with oversized openings will likely make both your child’s and your life a lot easier!
What Are Shoes with Oversized Openings? – Easy On and Off!
Shoes with oversized openings simply open up a lot wider than other shoes, allowing the child’s feet to easily slide inside the shoes.
If your child happens to wear orthotics shoes with oversized openings will help allow you to easily slide the orthotics and your child’s feet inside the shoes.
I will provide you with links to the shoes in the images above shortly. I first want to explain how I know which shoes open up wider than others and also how to retrieve your child’s exact foot length and shape, so you can order the correct shoe size online.
Several medical professionals such as pediatricians and physical/occupational therapists refer families to the shoe store where I work to have children fitted for the correct types of shoes.
Who Can Benefit from Wearing Shoes with Oversized Openings?
- Children with extra wide feet
- Children with high insteps
- Children with high arches
- Children who wear orthotics
For example, have you noticed red marks or indentations on the top part of your child’s feet?
All of the shoes that I recommend provide two awesome features that will help increase your child’s comfort inside the shoes:
- Extra Depth
This feature will help allow your child’s feet to sit deeply inside of the shoes, preventing the topper of his or her feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes.
- Round Toe-Boxes
This feature is ideal if your child has wide or extra wide feet, as it will help prevent your child’s toes from rubbing or overlapping against one another.
Read This Before Buying Your Kids’ Shoes Online
One of the most important rules about shoe fitting is proper fit. I always underscore to families that none of the bells and whistles will matter if the shoe doesn’t fit your child’s foot shape correctly. Did you know that the proper fit of the shoes is just as important (if not more important) than the support or the material that the shoes are made of?
In this regard, I created a free resource to help families from all over the world retrieve their child’s exact foot length and shape, to make sure that their children wear the shoes in the correct size.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best kids’ shoes with oversized openings. 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.
The Best Kids’ Shoes with Oversized Openings
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out the features that it provides and the size that you should order to allow for the correct amount of growing room. You will also find out if the shoes are available in wide or extra wide widths.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style 990V6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style 990V6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Dean Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Adjustable extra-long straps
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Breathable mesh
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Dean Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Adjustable extra-long straps fit around AFOS but can also be cut to fit
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Breathable mesh
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Ryder Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Extra-long straps can be cut for a secure and custom fit with AFOs
- Mesh lining and removable mesh-lined sock liner deliver comfort
- Breathable mesh upper provides maximum durability and ultra-flexibility
- Velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Ryder Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Extra-long straps can be cut for a secure and custom fit with AFOs
- Mesh lining and removable mesh-lined sock liner deliver comfort
- Breathable mesh upper provides maximum durability and ultra-flexibility
- Velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Squeaker Switch by Ikiki is available for toddlers and little kids
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Removable insoles
- Velcro closure
- Squeaks encourage heel-to-toe walking
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Squeaker Switch by Ikiki is available for toddlers and little kids
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Oversized openings
- High-top style
- Squeaker can be turned on/off
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style M2P Journey 3.0 by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Breathable textile lining is effective in protecting your child’s feet from micro-organisms
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style M2P Journey 2 by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Breathable textile lining is effective in protecting your child’s feet from micro-organisms
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style SR Holly by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Squeaker Switch by Ikiki is available for toddlers and little kids
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Removable insoles
- Velcro closure
- Squeaks encourage heel-to-toe walking
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Squeaker Switch by Ikiki is available for toddlers and little kids
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Oversized openings
- High-top style
- Squeaker can be turned on/off
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Dean Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Adjustable extra-long straps fit around AFOS but can also be cut to fit
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Breathable mesh
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Dean Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Adjustable extra-long straps fit around AFOS but can also be cut to fit
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Breathable mesh
- Order this shoe half a size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style 990V6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style 990V6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Ryder Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Extra-long straps can be cut for a secure and custom fit with AFOs
- Mesh lining and removable mesh-lined sock liner deliver comfort
- Breathable mesh upper provides maximum durability and ultra-flexibility
- Velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Ryder Adapt by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Extra-long straps can be cut for a secure and custom fit with AFOs
- Mesh lining and removable mesh-lined sock liner deliver comfort
- Breathable mesh upper provides maximum durability and ultra-flexibility
- Velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style M2P Journey 3.0 by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Breathable textile lining is effective in protecting your child’s feet from micro-organisms
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style M2P Journey 3.0 by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Breathable textile lining is effective in protecting your child’s feet from micro-organisms
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style 990v6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Classic DR by Billy
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Two removable insoles
- Upper opens completely allowing for unobstructed entry and visual sizing confirmation.
- Wrap-around zipper closure provides fun and easy entry.
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style DR Short Wrap by Billy
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Two removable insoles
- Upper opens completely allowing for unobstructed entry and visual sizing confirmation.
- Wrap-around zipper closure provides fun and easy entry.
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
- Shoe style Classic DR II by Billy
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Two removable insoles
- Upper opens completely allowing for unobstructed entry and visual sizing confirmation.
- Wrap-around zipper closure provides fun and easy entry.
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
I have fitted children with extra wide feet, high insteps, and also children who wear orthotics in the shoes I recommended above. If you are not sure about which model might work best for your child don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will point you in the right direction.
Are You Having Trouble Finding a Different Pair of Shoes for Your Child?
Kindly post your question in the comments section below or you can also contact me via email:
