How to choose shoes for a wide-footed toddler?
March 29, 2021 2:50 PM Subscribe
I have a giant toddler with huge wide feet. What shoes will fit?
He's 3, and very tall, heavy, and solidly built (looks like a small 5 year old!)
When he stands on a tape measure, his foot is 16cm long and 7cm at the widest point. According to the StrideRite website, these measurements put him into a size 10.5 toddler shoe for length- but a size 12 kids shoe for width!
He's also a bit pigeon-toed and slightly clumsy, so I want his toes to be able to spread for better balance and agility. I notice that he falls more often when wearing shoes compared to when he's bare-foot. I think it's because his shoes tend to be a bit too long, making him trip over the tips... while also compressing his toes from the sides which makes his feet less flexible and affects his balance.
Brand recommendations and tips gratefully accepted!
Thanks!
He's 3, and very tall, heavy, and solidly built (looks like a small 5 year old!)
When he stands on a tape measure, his foot is 16cm long and 7cm at the widest point. According to the StrideRite website, these measurements put him into a size 10.5 toddler shoe for length- but a size 12 kids shoe for width!
He's also a bit pigeon-toed and slightly clumsy, so I want his toes to be able to spread for better balance and agility. I notice that he falls more often when wearing shoes compared to when he's bare-foot. I think it's because his shoes tend to be a bit too long, making him trip over the tips... while also compressing his toes from the sides which makes his feet less flexible and affects his balance.
Brand recommendations and tips gratefully accepted!
Thanks!
My toddler with similarly wide feet pretty much only wears New Balance sneakers that come in XW widths. (I'm sorry I don't know about shipping to Canada.)
posted by purpleclover at 2:58 PM on March 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by purpleclover at 2:58 PM on March 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
I don't know about kids' shoes, but Keens are extra wide- especially in the toe box- for adults, and they make nice sturdy shoes for kids, too.
posted by charmedimsure at 3:22 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by charmedimsure at 3:22 PM on March 29, 2021
I haven't shod babyfeet yet, but attipas is one brand I'm researching. Big toe box, flexible sole.
A quick google shows they are in Canada too.
posted by freethefeet at 3:34 PM on March 29, 2021
A quick google shows they are in Canada too.
posted by freethefeet at 3:34 PM on March 29, 2021
Check out Soft Star Shoes, they have wide widths and custom sizes. They are all about healthy feet and minimalist (non-constricting) shoes. They ship worldwide.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 3:35 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 3:35 PM on March 29, 2021
We too have a toddler with very wide feet (XW in the Stride Rite sizes). He's now wearing Tsukihoshi shoes and they have worked really well! I'll also add that if you're comfortable (and if these stores are open in Canada), it may be worth taking him in to a children's shoe store to see what they recommend - we have been very COVID-cautious but finally did this after ordering 7 different pairs of shoes online and failing to find ones that actually fit, and they were a huge help.
posted by Synesthesia at 3:40 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by Synesthesia at 3:40 PM on March 29, 2021
Tsukihoshi is pricy but they’ve been best for our big for her age toddler.
posted by brilliantine at 4:40 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by brilliantine at 4:40 PM on March 29, 2021
You might want to look up “barefoot shoes” for kids. There’s a site called anyasreviews that includes reviews for kids’ shoes. Many barefoot shoe companies will include the shoe width and length measurements, or they will happily provide them if asked.
posted by umwhat at 5:19 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by umwhat at 5:19 PM on March 29, 2021
My son was the same size as yours, I’m not sure he had particularly wide feet, but they were big on top so often Velcro hardly closed etc. but geox worked for us- not every shoe worked but many did.
posted by pairofshades at 10:12 PM on March 29, 2021
posted by pairofshades at 10:12 PM on March 29, 2021
FWIW, Zappos has some Tsukihoshi's, no idea if they are discounted or not.
posted by kschang at 12:19 AM on March 30, 2021
posted by kschang at 12:19 AM on March 30, 2021
Seconding bare foot shoes and the phrase "wide toe box". They'll have the benefit of helping strengthen your kid's feet. Here's a list of barefoot brands, though it's a couple years old.
Vivobarefoot and Mukishoes both make shoes for kids and both have shipped to me in Canada. Muki will incur customs charges; Vivo will not. Plae specializes in kid's shoes but, at least last I checked, does not ship here, which is mind-bogglingly stupid, imo. (Note that I have no idea if kid's shoes are too big for a toddler. I don't even know what a toddler is.)
posted by dobbs at 6:40 AM on March 30, 2021
Vivobarefoot and Mukishoes both make shoes for kids and both have shipped to me in Canada. Muki will incur customs charges; Vivo will not. Plae specializes in kid's shoes but, at least last I checked, does not ship here, which is mind-bogglingly stupid, imo. (Note that I have no idea if kid's shoes are too big for a toddler. I don't even know what a toddler is.)
posted by dobbs at 6:40 AM on March 30, 2021
Oh, and I should add that most companies make shoes wider for males than females. You have a male so that's not a problem for you but for others who may be reading these answers who are buying for a girl, I would suggest ordering shoes made for males in the proper length (as opposed to size).
For instance, I wear a 41 in Vivos -- both the male and female versions fit the length of my foot, but the women's shoe is noticeably narrower.
What I do is measure the length of my foot by tracing it on a piece of paper and measuring the outline with a ruler. I then look at the sizing chart on the seller's website, find the proper length (usually in CM) and go with that size, regardless of whether it's a 41 or not. This has made me buy 40s, 43s, etc, that fit, because they're the proper length regardless of the manufacturer's sizing method. If you do this with a child's foot, you'll get a length but if you're wanting wide shoes, perhaps buy the male version of that length instead, especially if not buying a barefoot shoe.
posted by dobbs at 6:48 AM on March 30, 2021
For instance, I wear a 41 in Vivos -- both the male and female versions fit the length of my foot, but the women's shoe is noticeably narrower.
What I do is measure the length of my foot by tracing it on a piece of paper and measuring the outline with a ruler. I then look at the sizing chart on the seller's website, find the proper length (usually in CM) and go with that size, regardless of whether it's a 41 or not. This has made me buy 40s, 43s, etc, that fit, because they're the proper length regardless of the manufacturer's sizing method. If you do this with a child's foot, you'll get a length but if you're wanting wide shoes, perhaps buy the male version of that length instead, especially if not buying a barefoot shoe.
posted by dobbs at 6:48 AM on March 30, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:54 PM on March 29, 2021