THE BAREFOOT SHOE WITH A WIDE TOE BOX

If you have ever tried to find shoes for a toddler with wide feet, you probably already know the struggle.

We are constantly told that children should have shoes that allow their feet to develop naturally. A wide toe box gives little toes room to spread instead of squeezing them together, and flexible shoes allow growing feet to move more naturally.

Sounds simple, right?

Until your child actually has really wide feet.

Then suddenly finding a pair of shoes that checks all the boxes becomes surprisingly difficult.

There is a big difference between a shoe that has a slightly roomy toe box and a shoe that actually works for a child with wide feet.

For many children, especially toddlers, traditional shoes can feel narrow through the toes. The shoe may technically be the correct length, but the sides are too snug or the toes are pushed together.

That is one reason barefoot style shoes have become so popular.

Barefoot shoes generally focus on features such as a wider, foot shaped toe box, a flexible sole and a relatively flat design. The idea is to give the foot more room to move rather than forcing it into the shape of a traditional shoe.

But there is a catch.

The minute you start searching for barefoot shoes for toddlers, you can end up down a very confusing rabbit hole.

Try searching for toddler barefoot shoes and you will quickly discover something I found particularly frustrating.

A huge number of the results look like water shoes.

Those stretchy, sock like shoes can be fantastic for the beach, pool or other water activities, but that isn't necessarily what you are looking for when you need an everyday sneaker.

I wanted something that could actually function as a regular shoe.

Something a child could wear to school, the playground, running errands or just playing outside.

Not something that looked like it belonged in a swimming pool.

And when you narrow your search to actual everyday shoes with a wide toe box, the choices seem to shrink quickly.

Another problem?

Many of the well known barefoot shoe brands are European brands, and they can be expensive.

I completely understand that quality footwear costs money. But toddlers grow incredibly quickly.

It is one thing to spend a significant amount of money on a pair of shoes that a child may wear for years.

It is another thing when you are buying shoes for a toddler who might need a larger size before you even feel like you got your money's worth out of the first pair.

That is why finding a more affordable option can make such a difference.

After sorting through what felt like endless options, I came across WHITIN toddler barefoot shoes.

And these were much closer to what I was actually looking for.

The thing that immediately stood out was the shape.

They have a wide toe box, which gives little toes considerably more room than many traditional toddler sneakers.

They also have a flexible, flat style sole, which is one of the characteristics people look for in a barefoot style shoe.

But what I really liked was that they actually look like a regular sneaker.

No water shoe appearance.

No sock shoe appearance.

Just a simple everyday shoe that happens to be designed with a more foot friendly shape.

There are several features that make these stand out for me.

This is the big one.

If you have a child with genuinely wide feet, having room across the front of the shoe can make a huge difference.

And lets face it, even if your toddler doesn't have wide feet, they SHOULD be wearing shoes with a wide toe box.

The toe box is designed to give the toes room rather than tapering sharply toward the front.

The upper uses a breathable mesh material, which is especially nice for toddlers who seem to have perpetually warm and sweaty feet.

It is lightweight and doesn't feel like a heavy, stiff sneaker.

The hook and loop closure is another huge plus for toddlers.

It makes getting shoes on and off much easier, and it also makes it easier to adjust the fit.

If you have ever chased a toddler around while trying to put on shoes, you know that anything that makes the process faster is a win.

These don't have that heavy, bulky feeling that some children's sneakers have.

They are lightweight and flexible, which is exactly what I want in an everyday toddler shoe.

My favorite part: The mesh on this sneaker moves around the foot without squeezing it. Other shoes I tried, became so loose they actually would fall off the foot as my child was running. Whitin's shoes however remain loose enough not to squeeze the foot and secure enough not to fly off. 

This may sound like a strange thing to put on a shoe checklist, but if you have been searching for barefoot shoes, you know exactly what I mean.

I wanted a shoe that provided the room and flexibility I was looking for without looking like a water shoe.

These actually look like everyday sneakers.

As with anything involving children's footwear, there isn't one shoe that is perfect for every child.

Every child's feet are different, and a shoe that works beautifully for one child may not work for another.

The important thing is to pay attention to how the shoe actually fits.

ALL young children benefit from a shoe with a wide toe box. You want enough room across the front for the toes, it should round out so as not to squeeze the toes together.

And if your child has specific foot, walking or orthopedic concerns, it is always worth talking with your child's pediatrician or a qualified pediatric foot specialist about what type of footwear is appropriate.