Shoes for Toddlers with Fat Feet – Extra Depth, Rounder Toe-Boxes, and Available in Extra Wide Widths!

Do you always have a hard time putting your toddler’s shoes on and taking them off? Have you noticed imprints on the top of your toddler’s feet when you take the shoes off? Most parents refer to their toddlers as having fat feet when they have wide or extra wide feet. I have helped several parents who referred to their toddler’s feet as “Fred Flintstone feet”, “frying pans”, or “paddles for feet” find the perfect pair of shoes.

I understand that finding a pair of shoes for a toddler with “fat” or extra wide feet can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. The good news is that I know exactly which shoes are capable of fitting toddlers with extra wide feet from having fitted them before.

If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of wide and extra wide shoes for toddlers with fat feet.

Does Your Toddler Have High Insteps As Well?

Some toddlers in addition to having extra wide feet have high insteps as well. Do you know what the instep is? The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. Let me show you where the instep of the foot is located:

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

The most effective way to accommodate the shape of a toddler with extra wide feet is to find shoes that provide the 3 following features:

1️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: This feature is going to prevent your toddler’s toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. Let me show you the difference between a shoe with a round toe-box versus one with a narrow toe-box. The shoes below are the same length and width:

2️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature is going to allow your toddler’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevent the top part of the feet (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Let me show you the difference in depth between 2 shoes that are the same length and width:

3️⃣ Oversized Openings: This feature helps parents to easily slide their toddler’s shoes on and off:

The only way to tell which shoes provide rounder toe-boxes and extra depth is by having fitted those shoes before. This is where I come into play. I know exactly which toddler shoes provide these 3 features from having fitted them before.

Best Shoe Brands for Toddlers with Fat Feet: New Balance, Stride Rite, or See Kai Run?

 The best shoe brand for toddlers with “fat” or extra wide feet is New Balance. 

New Balance manufactures the deepest shoes with the roundest toe-boxes that are also available in extra wide (XW) widths.

Stride Rite and See Kai Run also have certain shoes that are capable of accommodating toddlers with extra wide feet, but I always tend to stick with New Balance.

If your toddler has extra wide feet and a high instep then I recommend sticking to New Balance, as it manufactures the deepest and widest shoes for toddlers and older children as well.

New Balance shoes provide the 2 important features that I recommend at the beginning of the article — extra depth and rounder toe-boxes.

The Risks of Buying Shoes that are Too Narrow – Short/Long-Term Effects

Wearing shoes that are too narrow can lead to minor foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns, to more serious ones such as hammer toes, crossover toes, and ingrown toenails.

Shoes that are too narrow can make your toddler’s toes overlap one another, which can lead to foot deformities in the future.

It’s important to mention that toddlers like to wiggle their toes as a way of exercising their feet, so you need to make sure that the shoes don’t constrict this toe movement.

You won’t believe the number of parents that contact me wishing that their parents would have taken care of their feet sooner. Below you can find an example of a picture of a parent who wore shoes that were too narrow as a child:

You can avoid all of these issues by start taking care of your toddler’s feet from an early stage!

Where Do You Buy Your Toddler’s Shoes? – Avoid these Places!

Before I provide you with a selection of the best shoes for toddlers with fat feet, I want to make sure that you know your toddler’s exact foot size.

I understand that some families might be tempted to buy cheaper shoes at places like Walmart, Target or Payless, as toddlers outgrow their shoes pretty quickly. Even when we leave the correct amount of growing room inside the shoes, you can expect your toddler to outgrow his/her shoes between 3 to 4 months.

The issue is that those places usually sell low-quality and unsupportive children’s shoes that are not available in wide (W) or extra wide (WX) widths. Some families who bought their shoes at Walmart and Target reported having found cardboard inside the shoes.

I always recommend parents take their toddlers to be properly fitted for shoes at their local specialized children’s shoe store. The issue is that most parents don’t have one in their area, and they have to end up buying their kids’ shoes online.

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

If you don’t have a store close by, then take a look at a different resource I created describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your toddler’s foot size from home.

Keep in mind that you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if you don’t know your toddler’s exact foot size to begin with. Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best shoes for toddlers with fat feet. The shoes below are supportive, lightweight, flexible, and breathable.

I only review shoes that I fitted before as that’s the only way for me to tell how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 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. This allows us to create free content and resources for many families around the world. 

Best Shoes for Toddlers with Fat Feet

Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for toddlers with fat feet, make sure that you order the extra wide width (XW). Many of the shoes featured below come in several color options, so if you want the shoes to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.

Make sure that you provide your toddler with the correct amount of growing room, as you don’t want your toddler outgrowing the shoes before 3 months.

Additional Resources for Toddlers with Extra Wide Feet

I also got you covered if you happen to need a different pair of shoes such as dress shoes, sandals, or boots to fit the shape of your toddler’s extra wide feet.

Socks for Toddlers with Fat Feet – Seamless and Breathable!

Most parents allow their toddlers to wear their shoes without socks, as toddlers can get pretty fussy about wearing socks. Please keep in mind that socks act as a barrier between your toddler’s feet and the shoes and prevent the buildup of bacteria inside the shoes.

The socks that I recommend for toddlers with fat feet are seamless, as this helps prevent the toddlers’ toes from being cramped against one another. In addition to being seamless, the socks are breathable to prevent your toddler’s feet from sweating excessively.

Below you can find a selection of the best socks for toddlers with fat feet:

Make sure that you order your toddler’s socks in the correct size. Socks that are too short can constrict toe movement and socks that are too long can bunch up below the feet and create discomfort.

I showed you the best shoes and socks for a toddler with fat feet. It’s important to keep your toddler’s feet healthy from an early stage to prevent foot issues and foot pain in the future.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes to fit the shape of your toddler’s “fat” or extra wide feet. I have fitted dress shoes, sandals, and boots for toddlers with extra wide feet and I will help you find them:

[email protected] 

Have you found a particular shoe that has worked well for your toddler’s fat feet? I encourage parents to share their findings below so other families can benefit from their experiences.