Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on April 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best shoe brands for kids with extra wide feet.
If you have a child with extra wide feet you are probably aware of how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to find shoes that fit. Most parents find themselves trying several different shoe styles just to end up empty handed.
I have helped hundreds of children find shoes to accommodate the shape of their fabulously large, thick feet with high insteps. Let’s take a look at some examples of children with extra wide feet:
The most common mistake that I see parents make is to assume that once they provide their children with a shoe that is labeled as extra wide (XW), that shoe style will automatically fit the shape of the child’s extra wide feet. There are other two key factors that your kids’ shoes need to provide and I will explain them shortly.
Do you feel like you always have a hard time getting your child’s shoes on? Do you notice imprints on the top of your child’s feet every time your child takes the shoes off? Those are some of the most common signs that your child’s shoes are not wide enough.
Some children have extra wide feet with a high instep, which makes it even harder to find shoes that properly fit. Do you know what the instep of the foot is? The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it requires a shoe that is really deep to prevent it from rubbing against the top part of the shoe. See the image below for clarification purposes:
Notice how much extra foot volume needs to be fitted inside the shoes:
I have found that there are certain children’s shoe brands that tend to be more consistent when it comes to fitting a child with extra wide feet.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, and this experience has afforded me many insights into children’s shoes and the way they fit.
From my experience fitting thousands of kids, I have become familiar with the best shoe brands for children with extra wide feet and the best styles among those brands.
Several parents seem to have one question in common: What is the best shoe brand for children with extra wide feet?
If you have tried extra wide shoes in different shoe brands for your little one but still feel like the shoes are not wide enough for their feet, there are two shoe brands that have proven to be the best ones when it comes to manufacturing shoes for children with extra wide feet.
New Balance
Specifically for toddlers and older children. I have found that New Balance makes some of the deepest shoes with the roundest toe-boxes, in addition to being labeled as extra wide. There are 2 specific shoe styles that I have found to be the most effective ones from New Balance, and I will describe them shortly.
Stride Rite
Specifically for babies. I want to clarify that I have found Stride Rite baby’s shoes to be effective for babies with extra wide feet, but not for toddlers or older children. With that said, Stride Rite definitely makes some of the widest babies’ shoes, but please keep in mind that there are only a few shoe styles that will work for your babies’ extra wide feet, and I will also describe them shortly.
I want to clarify that not all shoes from these two shoe brands will fit a child with extra wide feet. There are specific shoe styles among those 2 brands that fit a lot wider than others and those are the ones I recommend.
Shoes for Kids with Extra Wide Feet – 2 Key Features!
In addition to finding a pair of shoes that come labeled as extra wide (“XW”), there are 2 other key features that the shoes must provide to keep your kids’ feet healthy:
✅ Extra Depth: This feature allows the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of the child’s feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. I want you to be able to visualize the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left?
✅ Rounder Toe-Box: This feature prevents the child’s toes from overlapping one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes. Let’s compare the difference between a shoe that provides a round toe-box versus one that doesn’t. These shoes are the same length and width, but do you notice how the shoe on the right has a rounder toe-box compared to the shoe on the left?
In addition to finding shoes that are labeled as extra wide, provide extra depth and a round toe-box, it’s important to provide your child with the correct shoe size, otherwise, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.
How to Figure Out Your Child’s Exact Foot Size – Let’s Find Out!
Another common mistake that parents seem to make is to provide their children with shoes that are too long to take the pressure away from the widest area of the shoe. Providing children with longer shoes means that they won’t complain about the shoes feeling too tight, but they end up compromising your children’s stability, making your children more prone to falling and hurting themselves.
I always recommend parents to take their children to their local specialized children’s shoe store. Start by taking a look at a resource that I created that showcases the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state. Go to the link below:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then take a look at an article that I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s actual foot size from home:
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.
Now that you know your child’s exact foot size, let’s take a look at the best widest shoes among New Balance and Stride Rite.
I only recommend shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoe Brands for Kids with Extra Wide Feet
New Balance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
New Balance is my go-to shoe brand for children who have extra wide feet, high insteps, or need an orthotic to be fitted inside the shoes. The deepest and widest shoe styles are the 990V5 and the 680v5, and you can find a breakdown of both these styles below.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Suede/mesh upper
- Velcro closure
- EVA-cushioned midsole
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Suede/mesh upper
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Suede and mesh uppers
- Padded tongue and collar offer a snug, comfy fit
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Dual-layered EVA midsole for cushioning
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Suede/mesh upper
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
Children can wear any of these shoe styles as their everyday pair of sneakers since these shoes are supportive, lightweight, flexible, and durable.
In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
Best Shoe Brands for Babies with Extra Wide Feet
Stride Rite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stride Rite is my go-to shoe brand for babies who are learning how to walk. Most babies have wide to extra wide feet, since they still carry some fat pad on their feet. You can find a breakdown of the best extra wide shoes for babies below:
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Seamless construction
- Removable insoles
- Oversized opening and pull tab on the back offer easy on and off
- Order this shoe the same size as your baby’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium and wide widths
- The footbed is crafted with Ortholite memory foam for enhanced, superior comfort
- Oversized opening for easy on-and-off, also suitable for wider feet
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Foam padding placed around the ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
These shoe styles all come with sensory pods on the soles to allow your baby to get a better feel off the ground and feel more confident and stable when taking those first steps.
In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
How to Check if the Shoes Are Wide Enough for Your Child’s Feet?
With your child’s shoes on, have your child stand up and look straight ahead. Inspect the widest area of the shoe, which is where the pinky toe (small toe) ends. Do you notice a small bump around that area? This is a sign that the shoes are not wide enough. Take a look at the image below for clarification:
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Still not sure which shoe style is best for your child’s extra wide feet? Email me your child’s shoe size (length and width), along with any photos you might have of your child’s feet and I will send you specific shoe recommendations:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
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