Shoes for babies with "thick" feet?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any recs for shoes for a toddler with thick feet? They aren't wide so much as thick on the top. Like the part of the foot that rubs up against the laces is really tall (chubby). We tried a pair of sandals today, and when I took them off, his feet were all red and marked. As a general matter, it's really hard to get his foot into a shoe and when I fasten the velco, it barely stretches across the top to reach the other side.

[Anonymous]

We use Extra Wide (EW) shoes so that there's as much room as possible for DS' foot to spread out.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, we had to do XW shoes for a long time. It's called a high arch (I have it too). I found the Target version of Robeez fit my DS better.

[Anonymous]

Soft Star shoes. Styles range from moccasin-type to sandal. They can custom fit and conform to the foot.

[Anonymous]

We had the same problem over the weekend at Stride Rite. My son has wide feet as well as a high instep (chubby and fate). Stride Rite sells XW and XXW.
We bought a pair of sandals in XW and I'm thinking about returning them because the straps turn the top of his feet red.
Having to buy XW or XXW really limits options, but Stride Rite has a good selection (especially online).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we had to do XW shoes for a long time. It's called a high arch (I have it too). I found the Target version of Robeez fit my DS better.

PP reminded me it was actually XXW for a long time, which meant Stride Rite was one of our only choices. Even Nordstrom didn't have XXWs!

[Anonymous]

aren't babies cute like that???

[Anonymous]

DD has a very high arch and wide feet. She wears Stride Rite XXW and Tsukhioshi (which run really wide as well). New Balance also run very wide. Note: you can't get wide and XW at Nordstrom they don't sell them. Your best bet is either ordering online or going to Shoe Train for a proper fit. I think also Ramers (although I live in MOCO so I have only been to Shoe Train).

[Anonymous]

See Kai Run -- many of their style are technically doublewides.

[Anonymous]

I have children with extremely wide BOX feet. The only place that I could find shoes for them is
SHOE TRAIN in Cabin John Shopping Mall on Seven Locks and Tuckerman Lane in Potomac. Maryland.
It is worth the drive. They sell EXTRA WIDE shoes because they sell orthopaedic devices that go into shoes
so they have to sell the wider shoes. In turn, there is a wide selection for all ages.

I hope this helps. As a mother of wide feet children-I understand the frustration!

GOOD LUCK!

[Anonymous]

Another Shoe Train fan and we drive from FFX County VA! They've got the best selection of wide shoes. We used to do exclusively New Balance but now my son loves Tsukhioshi.

[Anonymous]

See Kai Run does seem to run wide - they have soft soled shoes (similar to Robeez) and once your son is walking confidently they have shoes with firmer soles (but you still can bend them with one hand, like you should be able to do).

We did Robeez as an infant, then See Kai Run for first "real" shoes. Then Stride Rite.

Unless your baby is cruising or walking around outdoors, etc you can just keep them in socks or barefoot.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for the replies! I didn't know it's actually called high arches -- good info. DS is walking, so we need something a little more substantial than Robeez, but I'd like to have as much flex as possible. Looks like a trip to Shoe Train is on the schedule for this weekend!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if the word is arch, that is for the bottom of the feet. High In-step is for the top of the feet. I have a high instep too. I don't have a high arch, more sort of flat feet.

[Anonymous]

I endorse Stride Rite. If you live in DC, Ramer's carries the wide ones for fat-footed kids like mine, and the experience of shopping there is great. I also visited the Stride Rite outlet in Leesburg in December and picked up a pair of shoes in the next size DD would need (which she's wearing now) as well as some boots I hope will fit next winter. Obviously can't be an everyday trip, but worth an annual visit.