Adaptable Shoes for Kids Who Wear Orthotics – Extra Deep and Wider Openings

Have you been looking for a pair of adaptable shoes to accommodate your child’s orthotics or foot condition? Do you feel like you try several different shoe brands and shoe styles but none of them are capable of accommodating your child’s orthotics? I have put together a list of the best adaptable shoes for kids who wear orthotics based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.

Good shoes are crucial to mobility. Families need to understand how they can provide their children with the most supportive orthotic, but if the orthotic is not fitted correctly inside the correct pair of shoes, the child won’t get any of the benefits that the orthotics have to offer.

Many families have reached out to me asking what are the best shoes for children who wear orthotics. It’s important to understand that not all orthotics are the same, as some of them take a lot more space than others. For example, a 3/4 length orthotic is going to be a lot easier to fit compared to a pair of AFO braces.

At the shoe store that I work for, I have fitted hundreds of different shoe styles and shoe brands. I am also familiar with most orthotics such as 3/4 length, full length, SMOs, and AFOs. I fitted a lot of Cascade products, such as the PattiBob, Chipmunk, Cricket, and their carbon fiber footplates.

Kindly note that if you are in a rush you can go directly to the selection of adaptable shoes for children who wear orthotics.

What Makes the Adaptable Shoes I Recommend Ideal for Kids Who Wear Orthotics?

1️⃣ Extra Deep: The adaptable shoes that I recommend provide extra depth, which is an awesome feature for children who wear orthotics. The deeper the shoes are, the deeper the orthotic will fit inside of the shoes. This will increase your child’s comfort and prevent foot issues.

For example, let’s take a look at the image below to better visualize the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth and one that doesn’t. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left?

2️⃣ Wider Openings: The adaptable shoes that I recommend open nice and wide, which is an awesome feature for parents who struggle to get their children’s shoes on and off. This feature will allow you to easily slide the orthotics and your child’s feet inside the shoes.

What Shoe Brands Manufacture Adaptable Shoes for Children?

➡️ See Kai Run

A lot of parents choose See Kai Run shoes as they are very easy to get on and off. They prefer this shoe brand over Billy shoes as their children don’t have to zip the shoes. See Kai Run shoes can accommodate any type of orthotic from 3/4 length to AFOs.

➡️ Billy Footwear

One of the features parents love the most about Billy shoes is how they come with a zipper that goes along the outside and around the toe, allowing the shoe to open up widely. Most families love how the shoes are unbelievably easy to get on over braces. These shoes open completely allowing for unobstructed entry and visual sizing confirmation. They also like how the shoe is available in many different patterns.

Billy shoes work really well for children who wear orthotics, but among this shoe brand, certain styles work better than others. Certain Billy shoes are deeper, wider, and more resilient. There is actually one Billy shoe style that is available in wide widths (W), which makes it ideal for children who need extra space inside the shoes.

➡️ Stride Rite Adaptable Line

Serie Rite Adaptable line offers shoes with shoelaces or velcro closure. The Stride Rite Journey provides extra depth and is available in extra-wide widths to make sure every child can find their perfect fit.

Do You Know Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape?

Before I show you a list of the best adaptable shoes for kids who wear orthotics, I want to make sure that you know what shoe size you need to order online. Shoes that are too short or too long can create foot issues for your child. To prevent your child from developing blisters, calluses, or ingrown toenails, you must make sure that the shoes are the correct size.

The Issues of Fitting Your Kids’ Shoes Too Short

Shoes that are too short might cramp your kids’ toes inside the shoes, create discomfort and foot issues such as blisters and ingrown toenails.

The Issues of Fitting Your Kids’ Shoes Too Long

Shoes that are too long might allow your child’s orthotics and feet to move too much inside the shoes, and this constant friction and rubbing might also create foot issues. Shoes that are too long can also compromise your child’s stability and defeat one of the main purposes of wearing orthotics: improve your child’s stability.

Before you order your kids’ shoes online, I suggest that you take a look at a resource I created where I describe the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state.

If after looking at that resource you don’t find a shoe store in your area, then let me show you how to figure out your child’s exact foot length and shape so you can order the correct shoe size online.

Find Out How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online

If you need to retrieve your child’s exact foot length and shape to order the correct shoe size online follow these instructions.

Now that you know what features the adaptable shoes that I recommend provide and how to retrieve your child’s exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look at the best adaptable shoes for kids who wear orthotics.

The adaptable shoes that I recommend are supportive, functional and inclusive. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

Adaptable Shoes for Kids Who Wear Orthotics

Some of the shoes below might be available in wide (W) or extra wide (XW) widths. However, if the shoes don’t come labeled as wide or extra wide that means the shoes fit wide to begin with.

What Feature Parents Love the Most About These Shoes?

Most families love how nice and wide the shoes open up and the extra long straps that can be cut for a secure and custom fit with orthotics.

Are Any Other Adaptable Shoe Choices Available?

The three shoes I reviewed are the most effective ones when it comes to accommodating any type of orthotic. With that said, if you are looking for a different pair of adaptable shoes for your child don’t hesitate to contact me at: [email protected]

Let me know in the comment section below if other adaptable shoes worked well for your child. Please share them with me so other families can benefit from your experiences!