Top 5 Shoes for Toddlers with Extra Wide Feet Reviewed – Supportive, Lightweight, Flexible, and Affordable!
Are you having a hard time finding a pair of shoes for your toddler with extra wide feet and high insteps? Do you feel like you try a whole bunch of different shoes but you always end up empty-handed? I have put together a list of the top 5 shoes for toddlers with extra wide feet reviewed, and I will show you these shoes shortly.
If you always have a hard time getting your toddler shoes on and notice indentations and red marks on the top part of your toddlers’ feet, then it’s highly likely that your toddler has extra wide feet. The good news is that I will show you the 5 widest shoe styles for toddlers that I have fitted before.
Did you know that most toddlers have wide or extra wide feet? Most parents come to the store complaining about how their kids’ shoes won’t even go on their feet. If the shoes that you buy for your toddler are too narrow, you might end up creating several issues with your toddler’s feet such as blisters, calluses, and corns. What’s even worse, you might also compromise your toddler’s stability and make your toddler more prone to falling.
The most common mistake that I see parents make is to assume that once they provide their toddlers with a pair of shoes that are labeled as extra wide (XW), those shoes will automatically fit the shape of their toddler’s extra wide feet.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Extra Wide Feet?
There are 3 other key features that the shoes I recommend provide that make them the best choice for toddlers with extra wide feet and high insteps:
1️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature allows your toddler’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of your toddler’s feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Shoes that provide extra depth also prevent toddlers from getting blisters on their toes, by preventing the top part of your toddler’s toes from rubbing against the top front part of the shoes. Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth and one that doesn’t:
2️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: Shoes with round toe-boxes help prevent your toddler’s toes from rubbing against the side of the shoes or overlapping one another. Let me show you the difference between a pair of shoes that provides a rounder toe-box versus one that doesn’t:
3️⃣ Oversized Openings: This feature helps parents easily slide their toddler’s shoes on and off:
I know which shoes are deeper and have rounder toe-boxes than others from actually having fitted those shoes myself.
I will provide you with a selection of the top 5 shoes for toddlers with extra wide feet shortly, but first I want to show you what features these shoe styles provide and how you can figure out your toddler’s exact foot size from home.
Extra Wide Shoes for Toddlers – The 5 Most Important Features!
In addition to providing extra depth and a rounder toe-box, these are the 5 most important features that the shoes I describe below provide:
1️⃣ Support: The shoes that you provide for your toddler must be lightweight and flexible, but at the same time supportive to minimize the impact their feet receive every time they become in contact with the ground.
2️⃣ Semi-Firm Heel Counter: This is important to provide your toddler with good ankle and heel support. This is especially important for toddlers as most of the time they are performing lateral movements.
3️⃣ Lightweight/Flexible: The shoes must be lightweight for your child’s feet and legs to not become tired easily.
4️⃣ Traction: This is also really important as we don’t want your toddler slipping and falling, especially when walking around slippery surfaces.
5️⃣ Breathable: To prevent the build of bacteria and prevent foot odor, the shoes must be breathable.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 5 shoes for toddlers with extra wide feet. Please pay close attention to the third row of the description of the shoe called “Who is this shoe style for”, as that will let you know if the shoe is suitable for your toddler who is learning how to walk or for your toddler who is already walking.
The Best Extra Wide Shoes for Toddlers
All of the shoes below are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). 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.
Take a look at the description of each shoe to check whether that shoe is appropriate for a toddler who is still learning how to walk or a toddler who is already walking.
Shoe Style Name: Stride Rite Soft Motion
What type of foot does this shoe style fit: Medium – Wide – Extra Wide
Who is this shoe style for? Toddlers who are learning how to walk.
Removable Insole: No
Accommodates Orthotics: No
How does the shoe style fit: True to size
Cheapest place to buy: Amazon
- 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 half a size larger than your toddler’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 half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Shoe Style Name: Stride Rite Soft Motion Kennedy Sneaker
What type of foot does this shoe style fit: Medium – Wide – Extra Wide
Who is this shoe style for? Toddlers who are learning how to walk.
Removable Insole: No
Accommodates Orthotics: No
How does the shoe style fit: True to size
Cheapest place to buy: Amazon
- 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 half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- 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
Shoe Style Name: Stride Rite SRTech Elliot Bootie (Infant/Toddler)
What type of foot does this shoe style fit: Medium – Wide – Extra Wide
Who is this shoe style for? Toddlers who are already walking
Removable Insole: Yes
Accommodates Orthotics: Yes
How does the shoe style fit: True to size
Cheapest place to buy: Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’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
Shoe Style Name: Saucony Kids’ Baby Ride 10 Sneaker
What type of foot does this shoe style fit: Medium – Wide -Extra Wide
Who is this shoe style for? Toddlers who are already walking
Removable Insole: Yes
Accommodates Orthotics: Yes
How does the shoe style fit: Short
Cheapest place to buy: Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Shoe Style Name: New Balance 574
What type of foot does this shoe style fit: Medium – Wide – Extra Wide
Who is this shoe style for? Toddlers who are already walking
Removable Insole: Yes
Accommodates Orthotics: Yes
How does the shoe style fit: True to size
Cheapest place to buy: New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
These are the 5 most versatile shoe styles for toddlers who are either learning how to walk or that already walking. They are the deepest shoes that I have fitted before that also come with a very round toe-box. These shoes are also capable of fitting a toddler with a high instep.
Are you 100% Sure of Your Toddlers’ Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!
I always recommend parents take their toddlers to a local fitting children’s shoe stores, the issue is that most local children’s shoe stores have been closing down, and we are left with big retailers such as Nordstrom’s or Payless, which don’t do a good job fitting children’s shoes.
If you don’t have a specialized children’s shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at my virtual shoe fitting service that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.
These are the 5 most versatile shoe styles for toddlers who are either learning how to walk or that already walking. They are the deepest shoes that I have fitted before that also come with a very round toe-box. These shoes are also capable of fitting a toddler with a high instep.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having a hard time finding any other types of shoes for your toddler’s extra wide feet, such as sandals, boots, dress shoes, or sport shoes. It’s highly likely that I have fitted those shoes before and I will help you find them. You can contact me at:
Have you tried any of these shoe styles before? Is there a particular shoe style that you can recommend for a toddler with extra wide feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
