What Are the Best New Balance Shoes for Toddlers?
Has your child’s doctor, family member, or friend, recommended New Balance shoes for your toddler? Is your toddler dealing with a specific foot condition or a “complicated” foot shape such as wide or extra wide feet? One of the most common questions parents ask me at the shoe store where I work is: “What are the best New Balance shoes for toddlers?” Whether your toddler needs extra support from the shoes or a wider shoe to accommodate a wider foot shape, I will show you a list of the best New Balance toddler shoes.
Does Your Toddler Have a “Complicated” Foot Shape?
I have noticed that most toddlers either have wide or extra wide feet. This doesn’t mean that their feet will remain wide for the rest of their lives, but at this stage, they tend to carry some baby fat that makes their feet wider.
I helped both of those families find the perfect pair of New Balance extra wide toddler shoes, so I am confident I will be able to help your child as well.
New Balance Wide Toddler Shoes
New Balance understands that not all feet are created equal. That’s why they offer extra wide sizes specifically designed for toddlers with wide or extra wide feet. This ensures that the shoes provide ample room for toes to wiggle and grow, reducing the risk of discomfort and blisters. The extra width also accommodates the natural expansion of the foot that occurs during play and activity, ensuring a comfortable fit throughout the day.
The spacious design of New Balance shoes does not compromise on support. The shoes are engineered to provide a snug fit around the heel while allowing ample space in the toe box, creating a perfect balance between comfort and stability.
Key Features of Toddler New Balance Shoes
There are three features that the New Balance shoes I recommend provide that makes them ideal for toddlers with foot conditions or “complicated” foot shapes:
1. Lightweight and Flexible with a Stable Base of Support: The New Balance toddler shoes that I recommend provide a supportive outsole, but the shoes are lightweight and flexible at the same time to promote healthy foot development and help them balance.
2. Rounded Toe-Boxes: This feature allows the toes to spread and encourages natural movement to improve balance. Toddlers are constantly wiggling their toes – which is nature’s way of exercising their feet for healthy foot development – so it’s really important that you don’t constrict this movement.
3. Extra Depth: This feature allows the foot to sit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of the foot (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. If you notice red marks or indentations on the top part of your toddler’s feet (instep), it’s highly likely that his/her current shoes are not deep enough.
How to Order the Correct Shoe Size for your Toddler?
Shoes that are too small hinder the proper growth of the foot, diminishing blood circulation, and causing painful blisters, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, and many other foot problems. Shoes that are too large might prevent your toddler from maintaining grip on the ground properly, compromising your toddler’s stability. Moreover, toddlers wiggle their toes as a way of exercising their feet.
Most specialized children’s shoe stores have been closing down. COVID has accelerated this movement towards online shopping and stores closing, leaving many parents confused, as it’s very hard to shop for children’s shoes online. I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.
New Balance Toddler Shoes for Wide and Extra Wide Feet
Take a look at the description above each shoe to find out whether that shoe is available in your toddler’s foot shape (medium, wide, extra wide). By the way, all of the shoes below are available in a variety of colors. 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.
1. Shoe style 574 by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon or the New Balance website.
- Available in wide and extra wide widths.
- Received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
- Durable rubber outsole pods.
- Synthetic/mesh upper.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
2. Shoe Style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam Arisihi by New Balance on Amazon or the New Balance website.
- Available in wide and extra wide widths.
- No-sew tip for added durability where kids need it most.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
3. Shoe Style Rave Run v2 by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Rave Run by New Balance on Zappos or the New Balance website.
- Available in wide and extra wide widths.
- Breathable mesh upper.
- Padded collar and tongue.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
4. Shoe style 990v6 by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style 990v6 New Balance on Amazon or the New Balance website.
- Available in wide and extra wide widths.
- Leather upper.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
5. Shoe Style 990v6 by New Balance
Key Features
- You can order the 990v6 with laces on the New Balance website, Amazon, or Zappos.
- Available in wide and extra wide widths.
- Also available in pink and navy blue.
- There is also a Velcro version of these shoes available in navy blue and pink.
- I suggest getting this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
6. Shoe Style 2002 by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website.
- Available in wide widths.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
7. Dynasoft by New Balance
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Dynasoft by New Balance on Amazon or Zappos.
- Available in wide widths.
- Round toe design.
- Padded footbed.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
Just so you know, shoes with laces help provide better support and stability compared to shoes with velcro closure.
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
If you’re unsure about which New Balance shoes are best for your toddler, I’m here to help. With my experience in fitting children’s shoes, I can provide personalized recommendations based on your child’s unique foot shape and needs so feel free to contact me.
I have created many shoe resources for toddlers with wide feet over the years in case you are looking for a different type of shoe such as sandals, snow boots, or a pair of dress shoes.
Is New Balance the Most Popular Shoe Brand for Toddlers?
For children who are dealing with wide or extra wide feet New Balance is the best fitting shoe brand. With that said, there are other popular shoe brands for toddlers such as Stride Rite, See Kai Run, and Saucony. I usually go with New Balance when toddlers need extra support from their shoes or have wide or extra wide feet.
Comfortable shoes allow toddlers to move freely and confidently. When children are comfortable in their shoes, they are more likely to engage in physical activities, which is crucial for their physical and cognitive development. Have you found a specific New Balance shoe that has worked well for your toddler’s feet? Let us know in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
