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Kids’ Shoes with Wide Toe Box – The Best Shoes for Kids with Wide or Extra Wide Feet!

wide-shoes-for-kids

Are you having a hard time finding a pair of shoes to accommodate the shape of your child’s wide feet? Have you noticed red marks or indentations on the top of your kids’ feet (instep) or have you noticed your kids’ toes overlapping one another? I am going to show you a list of the best kids’ shoes with wide toe box based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!

I have been fitting children’s shoes for the last 10 years, working for a specialized shoe store that focuses on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg pain, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I have helped hundreds of children with wide feet find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, as I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles fit wider than others.

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A shoe with a wide toe-box simply implies that the shoe has more of a round shape in the front rather than a pointy one. The wide toe-box ensures that there is an appropriate space for the growth and development of your children’s toes.

When children are not able to move their toes freely inside the shoes, the toes can get cramped against each other and that constant friction can lead to blisters, calluses, and corns. The most common reason why these issues arise is from wearing shoes that are too narrow, so let’s keep your kids’ feet healthy by providing them with shoes that fit properly.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Wide Feet?

Parents need to keep in mind that shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). However, one of the most common mistakes that I see parents make is to assume that once they find a shoe that is labeled as wide (W) or extra wide (XW), that shoe will automatically fit the shape of their kids’ wide feet. There are actually 2 other key features that your kids’ shoes must provide:

1️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes:  The front part of the shoe (the toe-box), can be either rounded or pointy, and this directly affects how the shoe fits the shape of your child’s feet. Take a look at the image to visualize the difference between a shoe with a rounder toe-box versus one with a pointier toe-box. These shoes are the same length and width.

kids'-shoes-with-round-toe-boxes

Do you notice how the New Balance shoe (right image) has a much rounder toe-box compared to the Saucony one (left image)

2️⃣ Extra Depth: Deeper shoes allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevent the top part of the child’s feet (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes.

shoes-for-kids-with-high-instep

Therefore, you might choose a shoe in a wide width (W) assuming that it will fit the shape of your child’s wide feet, but if the shoe has a pointy toe-box it might end up pinching your kids’ toes.

Certain shoe brands tend to be more consistent in making good-quality shoes for children with wide or extra wide feet. I have noticed that New Balance makes the best shoes for children with wide or extra wide feet, as it manufactures deeper shoes with the roundest toe-boxes.

Before I provide you with a selection of the best kids’ shoes with a wide toe box, I want to first make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size. If you are going to buy your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s foot size.

Start by taking a look at a resource I created where I describe the best children’s shoe stores by state:

The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores – Where To Go for Proper Fittings

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a good fitting kids’ shoe store in your area, then take a look at an article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size:

How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell the amount of support that the shoes provide, the materials the shoes are made of,  and how they fit. 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best kids’ shoes with wide toe-box. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

The Best Kids’ Shoes with Wide Toe Box ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The shoes below provide the roundest toe-boxes and will fit the shape of a child with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet. These shoes can also fit the shape of children with high insteps.

I have fitted all of these shoe styles before and I can tell you that they provide excellent support and they are lightweight and flexible at the same time. I can also tell you that these shoes are extremely durable, and your child will outgrow them before they wear them out.

Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?

In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

What Is the Best Shoe Brand for Kids with Wide or Extra Wide Feet?

New Balance kids’ shoes come with the roundest, widest toe-boxes, making them the most comfortable and best-fitting shoes for children with wide or extra wide feet. Every time a child comes to the shoe store with wide or extra wide feet – or needs a pair of orthotics to be fitted inside the shoes, I always fit them in a pair of New Balance shoes.

new-balance-shoes-for-kids

I always explain to parents that allowing their children to wear shoes without socks can create several foot issues. Socks act as a barrier between the feet and the shoes, and prevent the buildup of bacteria inside the shoes.

Let’s Keep Your Kids’ Feet Healthy – Don’t Forget About the Socks!

Certain children feel every bump and lump as soon as they put their socks on. The good news is that I have the solution to stop the fussing! Have you ever heard of seamless socks? Parents call them “miracle socks” since they truly make a difference in the way the socks feel.

Another important advantage of seamless socks is that they help prevent your kids’ toes from overlapping each other, which is really important especially if your child has wide or extra wide feet. You can see a selection of the best seamless socks for kids here:

Seamless Socks for Kids – Stop the Struggle of Putting Socks On!

Do you happen to need a pair of shoes with a round toe-box for yourself? I actually wrote an article where I describe the best women’s shoes with a wide toe box and you can find it here:

Women’s Shoes with a Wide Toe Box – The Best Shoe Styles with Round Toe Boxes!

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well for your child’s wide feet? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.

STOP BUYING THE WRONG PAIR OF SHOES FOR YOUR CHILDREN.LETS START TAKING CARE OF THEIR FEET!

I created this webpage to help parents understand the importance that shoes have in healthy foot development and how they can prevent foot problems in the future.Join the rest of the parents who are taking care of their kids feet and get my guide for free: 10 Mistakes Parents Must Avoid When Buying Shoes for their Kids.






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8 Comments on Kids’ Shoes with Wide Toe Box – The Best Shoes for Kids with Wide or Extra Wide Feet!

    • Hello Amy,

      There are certain shoe styles that come with a wide toe-box and a narrow heel. In order to provide you better advice I will need to know your child’s shoe size. If your child is willing to tie his/her shoes then this will make a tremendous difference, since we can take advantage of a she lacing technique that will secure your child’s heels.

      Here are my recommendations:

      Wide Toe-Box: Option 1

      Wide Toe-Box: Option 2

      If your child has a really wide toe-box that requires an extra wide shoe, then I would recommend option 1 and choose the extra wide width (“XW”).

      Then you will proceed to trying this shoe lacing technique:

      Lacing Shoes with Narrow Heel and Wide Toe Box – Learn How to Do it in Less Than 30 Seconds!

      If the shoes still feel too wide around the heels, then I recommend inserting a pair of tongue pads inside the shoes, which will push your kids’ heel back and secure them against the back of the shoes.

      Leather Shoe Tongue Pads – Stop Heel Slippage

      I hope this helps!

  1. Good Day,

    My 12 yr old son is a soccer goalie & we have been told by podiatrist, if we do not find him proper cleats, he may not be able to play anymore. He wears 7.5 shoe size & is toe box is 4.25 inches wide. E5/6. It’s restricting his growth plates & cause him all kinds of problems from feet to posture to hip pain. He will be going to physical therapy & prosthetics are being made.
    Can you PLEASE help? We have exhausted all options & he is heartbroken he may have to give up his dream.

    Sincerely,
    Desperate mom

    • Hi Christina,

      I am sorry to hear this, but I am confidently we will figure this out. I have a soccer cleat in mind, but I think it’s important that we get the size right. So, I need to know whether your son has medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also need to know if your son has a high instep. If you can please follow the instructions on the article below so I can figure that out:

      How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

      You don’t need to send me your child’s length measurements if you are 100% sure that he needs a shoe size 7 1/2, but I strongly recommend that you do this so we don’t leave room for any mistakes.

      The specific soccer cleat I have in mind is made by the shoe company Zephz. It provides extra depth, a rounder toe-box, and it’s available in wide widths:

      Zephz Soccer Cleat

      It’s important that we get your son’s foot size right, so I strongly suggest that you follow the instructions described in the article above before you order the shoes.

  2. What are the current New Balance extra wide kids shoes with a large toe bed? I have two grandchildren that were born with 6 toes, as a result they need the extra wide shoes. I have ordered the 680 v6 for my grandchildren but they seem to be in short supply. I was wondering if they are coming out with a newer model.

    • Hello Harriet,

      The 990v5 and 574 both provide rounder toe-boxes and extra depth in addition to being available in wide (W) and extra wide widths (XW).

      If you tell me your grandsons’ shoe sizes I am happy to help you find the shoes in the correct size.

  3. Stride rite Wes sneaker has worked well for us because it has a wide toe. But they only have them in little kids sizes up to size 10 and my son is moving into a size 11 wide.

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