Broad foot, high instep dd (aged 3) - more choice of footwear?

[handlemecarefully]

Dd has a broad foot ( a 'G' I think) and a high instep. This limits the number of shoes that will fit her. She also can't wear doodles - but I guess that isn't a great loss.

At the weekend we tried to get her some calf length boots (not funky trendy ones - I don't like those on small girls, they were cute little girl ones) and she couldn't get them on. combination of the broad foot and high instep meant she couldn't push her toes fully in.

I'm mildly fed up with the constraints on choice. Any suggestions? - are there some specialist shoe manufacturers ?

(We go to the best shoe shop in town btw)

Sorry i can' t recommend anywhere, but can say it will probably get easier as she grows. I had the same problem with both my DDs. DD1 is now 6, and got her first ever pair of boots this year - she even had a choice, which has never happened before!
Neither of them has ever owned a pair of trainers.

That's interesting Jasnem - there is hope then!

Is it worth consulting someone (foot person poss?) about an insole that might make wearing a larger size fit better?

My dd is 4.5 and has exactly the same problem - high instep and an H fitting. We usually have to go up a size even to get into the H fitting. We've managed to find ordinary shoes in Johnathan James that fit her - Ragdoll brand - but nothing other than a T-bar shoe will go anywhere near her feet.

We sometimes manage to get her into a pair of boys boots from Mothercare, their boy's shoes seem come in a much wider fit than their girl's ones do. Little Miss Pink doesn't usually approve, but it's either that or cold, wet feet all winter.

I suspect there are quite a few children with broad feet - and yet shoe manufacturers fail to take account of this. It's annoying!

we have this problem with dd who normally measures G or H and has a high instep (but tiny feet for some reason!).

We went to the Clarks Outlet store when we were on holiday (near Glastonbury) and spent AGES trying on loads of shoes - they have them all out there so you're not constantly sending someone back to look for the right size. We eventually found some calf length boots that fitted her but we had to go up a size to get her foot to fit in (and there was only one style that fitted her - she could not even get her foot in some of them, even with a size up!).

I had the same problem as a child, and my mother was repeatedly told there was "no demand, madam"!!!!!

my dd has the same problem; Ricosta usually fit her, Geox too. Buying calf-length winter boots was very difficult, she's got some nice furry pink Geox ones now.

No demand - harrumpf! I'm tempted to run an (unscientific) mumsnet poll re how broad are your children's feet - just to see!

hmc i have broad feet and v high instep, STILL can't get boots to fit and i'm 36. no point in trying any which don't have a zip which goes right down to the instep, and forget about pull ons unless fancy going about 3 sizes bigger. might be worth looking at lace-ups? i do hope someone comes along with a wonderful broadfootshop. no demand indeed. hmph.

Yeah - how do they know there is no demand? If they don't supply the product we can't buy (demand) it!!!! Chicken and egg!

There are legions of children just making do (and adults fishie!)

I've found startrite are the best for DD (also the most expensive )... As far as boots go, she needs the next 1/2 size up - were they have the support round her ankles, she can wear them nicely, and they are that bit bigger to fit her foot in.

fishie, the Shoe Taylor shops specialise in wide-fitting shoes for adults - might be worth a try? They're a nationwide chain. I can't find a website for the shops though, just an online shopping one.

My ds also has practically square feet! And a high instep. Very few styles fit his trotters.

that's interesting geekgrrl...I'll have a ganders at their website