Without a doubt, one of the cutest parts of any baby is their feet. They are just so soft and squishable, and the chubbier, the better! That is, of course, until they start to toddle around you need to squish those chubby toes into a pair of shoes! This goes double for a kid with wide feet.
It can be downright difficult to find the best shoes for toddlers with wide feet. But don’t you worry! I am here to help you with that!
In this article, I’ll give you everything you need to know to find the best shoes for your wide-footed walker. You’ll also be able to read through my in-depth reviews of the best shoes for wide feet on the market today, which will allow you to find the perfect pair for your little one.
Sound good? Alright then, let’s hop to it!
Best Shoes For Toddlers With Wide Feet
Shoes for Toddlers with Wide Feet |
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Stride Rite Soft Motion Artie Sneaker *Best Choice* |
(*) Below, you'll find my detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see prices and read customer reviews.
Buyer’s Guide
Shoe Type Matters
Now, there are literally hundreds of different shoe combinations out there that you could choose from for your toddler. However, it is my recommendation that you stick with something that has a hard sole and is closed up. That way your little one will get the support that they need to get going outdoors, and you won’t need to worry about any type of damage to their cute little toes.
That is why, as you can see on the list above and in the reviews below that I have only selected sneakers. These will provide the durability, stability, and protection that your new walker needs as they explore this big beautiful world of ours.
What To Keep In Mind When Looking For The Best Shoes For Toddlers With Wide Feet
Without a doubt, there is a lot to take into consideration when you are looking for the best shoes for toddlers with wide feet. In this section, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty details so that you can make an informed decision before you make your final purchase.
Finding the Right Fit – This can be kinda tough, since, you know, depending on your kid’s age, they won’t be able to give you a heads up whether or not the shoe feels good. Thankfully, there are a couple of key fit checks that you can do to be sure that your toddler’s shoes are just right for their feet.
Toes – When I was little, my mom always squeezed the top of my shoes when we were buying a new pair, and I had no idea why. Now that I’m grown, I completely understand! There is no quicker way to determine if there is enough wiggle room for your toddler’s piggy toes than to give them a quick squeeze.
You want to make sure that their toes are a half an inch or a quarter of an inch away from the front of the shoes, to give them lots of room to grow and to make sure their toes aren’t getting pinched.
Tongue – The tongue of a shoe is the part that sits on the top, and helps to hold the shoe on your foot. Be sure to pull it out all the way when you are trying shoes on your kid, as the tongues tend to scrunch down, making for an uncomfortable fit.
If the shoe fits properly, you should be able to get your finger down in between the tongue and your kid’s foot.
Width – Since babies and toddlers are notorious for having loads of chubbiness all over their bodies, it is no surprise that one of the toughest parts of their foot to plan for is the width.
Lots of kids carry an extra thick layer of chub on the sides of their feet, making it appear that they need a bigger shoe than their foot length calls for. That is why you should just go for a wider shoe. Any shoe that comes in a wider format will have a W or EW next to the size number.
Closure Type – There are two basic formats that you can get toddler shoes in when it comes to closure types. You can either choose laces or Velcro.
While it might be tempting to get your little one shoes with laces because they make them look oh so cute and so grown up, you need to be aware of one thing. Toddlers, by their nature, can become fiercely independent creatures, especially when it comes to doing things themselves.
Unfortunately, with laces, it will be beyond your kid’s fine motor ability to tie the laces themselves. So, either you will have to do it 100 times a day, or you will wait for them to try and get it done.
Your other choice is Velcro, which I highly recommend. They will allow your toddler the freedom they desire to put their shoes on and will also stay closed a lot better than laces will. Believe me; this is the way you want to go!
Easy To Get On and Off – Knowing how independent toddlers like to be, it is imperative that you find shoes that not only fit right and have the right closure type (Velcro!), but are also easy for them, and you, to get on and off.
To make sure that the shoes your purchase allow you to get them on and off easily, they should have a nice wide top and a stretchable tongue. If either of these parts is too rigid, it will be much too difficult for you, or your little one, to get them on and off quickly and easily.
Top Five Shoes For Toddlers With Wide Feet
1. Stride Rite Soft Motion Artie Sneaker
The Good: These sneakers are, unsurprisingly, from Stride Rite, and are quite possibly the best shoes for toddlers with wide feet.
Stride Rite was one of the first companies to offer wide soled shoes for children, and they are still one of the best. These shoes are super simple to get on and off of your child. This is thanks to their extra-wide and flexible top and tongue.
The Velcro straps are also really nice. It is a single strap system, which is very simple to operate and tighten. Even if your toddler wants to try them, they will be able to easily open and shut them. These shoes come in lots of different colors and sizes, making it easy to find the ones that are just right for your little one.
The Bad: There isn’t too much that you need to worry about with these shoes. However, the only thing that you might find with Stride Rite shoes is that they are not always true to size.
You might find that, even though your child usually wears a 7, you might need to get a 6 in a Stride Rite. Once, however, you find the size that works for your kid, you will be good to go.
The Long and Short of It: Stride Rite has been making wide child shoes longer than most other companies, and they are high quality. Though they are not completely true to size, they are still a fantastic shoe that just might be the best wide toddler shoes out there today.
2. Saucony Jazz Hook & Loop Sneaker
The Good: Another company that has long been known for wide soled shoes for toddlers is Saucony. This pair of sneakers is no exception. They come in a ton of different colors and are soft and pliable on the outside, and nice and room on the inside.
The best feature for these sneakers has got to be the oversized hook and loop strap, which is great for two reasons. First off, it will allow you to easily slip your little one’s foot in and out of the sneaker since it opens them nice and wide. Secondly, the oversized design is perfect for little hands, making these a great shoe for older children.
The Bad: While the suede exterior is quite nice to look at, it will not hold up over time. This is especially true, unfortunately, for a toddler. Since toddlers are constantly climbing, scraping, falling, and running through all manner of dirt and debris, these shoes are sure to show it.
The Long and Short of It: For those looking for a nice wide and comfortable shoe that their older toddler can probably get on and off themselves with ease, these are a good shoe to check out.
3. New Balance KA680 Infant Running Shoe
The Good: The last of the big three wide shoe producing companies is New Balance. These shoes are great for an older toddler who is ready to run and feature the same designs as you would find in an older child’s shoes. This includes rubber soles with a thicker tread and a more streamlined design.
The hook and loop (Velcro) fastener is also coated in tough rubber, making it chunky and easy for little hands to grab, as well as very durable.
The Bad: As I said, these sneakers have some features that you would find on an older child’s or even an adult’s sneakers. Unfortunately that includes a breathable exterior, which is designed to allow air into the shoe to keep the wearer’s feet cool.
While this is a good idea, it will also allow your little one to get soaking wet socks if they walk through any amount of water, even a dewy lawn.
The Long and Short of It: If you are in the market for a stylized sneaker designed for a fast paced child, then these might be a good choice for you.
4. Saucony Kids' Baby Liteform Sneaker
The Good: This sneaker, which is also from Saucony, is designed in much the same manner as other sneakers on this list. It has a large Velcro strap, which when it detached, leaves a nice wide opening for your little one to get their foot in. This overly large strap also will allow their little hands to open and close the shoe with ease.
The Bad: This sneaker is designed for an older child who is ready to run. Unfortunately, that also means that it is designed to allow air to flow more easily through the sneaker, which could lead to wet feet if your child isn’t careful where they step.
The Long and Short of It: The Liteform sneaker is super easy for little hands to open and close, but will get wet very quickly if they aren’t careful where they step.
5. New Balance Kids' 574v1 Essentials Hook and Loop Sneaker
The Good: If you are in the market for a high-quality wide sneaker that won’t break the bank, then this might be a good option. It comes in several different styles and sizes but is still fairly priced. The Velcro closure is also supersized, making it easy for little hands to operate correctly.
The Bad: The phrase “you get what you pay for” comes to mind when looking at these sneakers. The material that is used for the exterior looks nice. However, it is the type of material that will show a lot of wear and tear, which is a guaranteed thing when it comes to toddlers.
The Long and Short of It: These sneakers are comfy and cheap, but might show wear more easily than some others on the market.
And The Winner Is...
It should not come as a surprise that my pick for the best shoes for toddlers with wide feet are the Stride Rite Soft Motion Artie Sneaker. You just can’t argue with their high-quality design, different style choices, and comfort level.
If you truly want to make sure that your little one is wearing the best shoes for their wide feet, then I highly recommend you give these a try. You won’t regret it!
If the Shoe Fits, Buy It!
Well, there you have it! Now you know everything you need to know to find the perfect pair of shoes for your kid’s wide feet. I hope that you found this article helpful! Thank you so much for reading, and have a great day!
