Shortage of Extra Wide Shoes for Kids – Let Me Help You Find Them!

Are you having a hard time finding children’s shoes in extra wide width? Finding a pair of shoes for a child with extra wide feet can surely be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, specially nowadays that companies are having a hard time restocking their shoes.

Why Are Most Extra Wide Widths Kids’ Shoes Out of Stock?

Currently, all shoe companies are having a hard time restocking their shoes, especially their wide and extra wide width ones. This is mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected all sectors across the world. Unfortunately, a growing number of shoe stores are being forced to close their stores, specially small and local shoe stores. 

There is certainly an increasing global issue with material shortages, factory shutdowns, high freight costs, and port congestion, which is making it even more challenging for shoe companies to secure enough inventory and maintain their business. 

In addition, the truth is not all shoe companies make shoes in all the different widths and often they don’t consider wider feet and extra wide feet. Shoe companies are able to keep the cost of mass produced shoes low by producing only the most common styles (medium width). The less variations there are, the less the cost is for shoe companies.

Even though they may be limited shoe styles available, I want you to remember that there is always at least one shoe style out there that will fit the shape of your child’s extra wide feet perfectly, and I will help you find it. I have done extensive research online and have put together a list of kids’ shoes that are available in extra wide widths.

Let me share with you that one of the most common mistakes that I notice parents make is to assume that once they find a shoe that is labeled as extra wide that shoe will automatically fit the shape of the child’s extra wide feet. I will share my knowledge with you, as well as other key features to consider when fitting extra wide feet. 

Finding the Correct Shoe Size for Your Child

Let’s not underestimate the value of adequately measuring the feet and doing this from time to time, to ensure that kids are always wearing their correct shoe size. 

My recommendation to parents is to have their children’s feet properly measured at their local children’s shoe store, where a shoe fitter can find the perfect pair of shoes for your child. The issue is that most parents don’t have a local kids’ shoe store in their area, specially given the current situation and they end up buying their kids’ shoes online.

Based on this, I created a resource that describes the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state.

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

Understandably, if you still can’t find a local store in your area, then you may find useful a free resource where I describe the simplest and most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.

Extra Wide Feet – Other 2 Key Features to Consider

In addition to the shoes being labeled as extra wide, there are other 2 additional key features that the shoes I recommend provide:

  • Rounder Toe-Box: This feature prevents the child’s toes from overlapping or rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. The shoes below are the same length and width but have very different toe-boxes:
  • Extra Depth: This feature allows the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of the feet (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes:

I’m now ready to share my selection of shoes for children with extra wide feet also bearing in mind the 2 key features described above. 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. 

The Shoe Selection for Your Child’s Extra Wide Feet

All of the shoes below come labeled as extra wide (XW), so please choose the shoe width accordingly.

Contact Us – Get a Personalized Recommendation! 

If your child’s shoe size is not available in the extra wide width you can leave me message in the comment section below or send me an email to:

[email protected]

I will do my best to provide you with different shoe recommendations.

Avoid Shoes That Are Too Narrow – Find Out Why

Aside from being highly uncomfortable, if your child is wearing shoes that are too small or too narrow, you are putting your child at risk of developing serious foot deformities such as bunions, corns, blisters, or ingrown toenails.

Help me make this resource even better by sharing your favorite shoe recommendations for kids with extra wide feet!