Best Boots to Prevent Toe Walking – Supportive and Rigid at the Front
After writing a resource that describes the best sneakers for children who walk on their toes, several families asked me to write a similar one that describes the best boots to preventing toe walking. Certain boots can be more effective than sneakers when it comes to prevent toe walking as they tend to be stiffer on the front. The key is to find a pair of boots that provide a stable base of support and that are rigid at the front instead of overly flexible. If your child’s toe walking is due to a neuromuscular condition the correct types of shoes (and sometimes orthotics) can make a world of difference.
What Makes the Boots that I Recommend Effective to Prevent Toe Walking?
1️⃣ Rigid instead of overly flexible at the front: Boots that provide too much flexibility at the front make it easy for children to get on their toes. The boots that I recommend are rigid at the front to help discourage toe walking. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. Do you notice how the boot on the left is flexing as a spiral?
2️⃣ Stable base of support: This feature helps improve your child’s balance and coordination. Some children toe walk from being flat footed, so it’s important for the boots to provide a substantial outsole as a stable base of support. Do you notice how the boot on the right has a more substantial and supportive outsole compared to the boot on the left?
3️⃣ Firm heel counters: This feature helps control the alignment of the heel and lower leg. Always press on the back part of your child’s boots and make sure that specific area feels firm. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. The heel counter of the boot on the left feels too soft and flimsy, while the heel counter of the boot on the right feels sturdy and supportive.
☑️ Optional: Boots that come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure provide better support and stability, and they are a lot more effective when it comes to helping prevent toe walking.
The Importance of Providing Your Child with the Correct Shoe Size
Shoes that are too large can make it easy for children to walk on their toes. It’s important that you provide your child with the correct amount of growing room, but too much growing room makes it easier for children to toe walk.
I have spoken with several pediatric physical therapists who are frustrated about children not wearing the correct type of shoes in the correct size. These therapists explain to me how they encounter many children with physical disabilities who wear shoes that don’t fit properly, which makes the condition harder to manage.
One example was toe walking children who were wearing shoes too big for their feet. Shoes that are too big tend to slip off and children will often stay up on their toes as a way to help keep the shoe on their foot. Sometimes providing your child with the correct shoe size might be all that your child needs!
Find Out Your Child’s Exact Foot Size Online
I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.
Let’s now take a look at the best boots to prevent toe walking. 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.
Best Boots to Prevent Toe Walking – Rigid at the Front
Take a look at the description below the image of each boot to check if that specific boot can fit the shape of your child’s feet (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide). You will also find out what shoe size to order to provide your child with the correct amount of growing room.
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Maddsen by Timberland on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded tongue and collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters around the heel and ankle area
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Polo by Memo on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Chicago by Memo on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order this boot style Targhee Flex by Keen on Zappos
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof nubuck leather upper
- Removable insoles
- Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Lace-up closure
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order this boot style Chameleon by Merrell on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- M Select Dry waterproof construction for keeping toes dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order this boot style Maddsen by Timberland on Zappos
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded collar and tongue
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Moab by Merrell on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- M-select dry waterproof construction keeps feet dry
- Traditional lace-up closure
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Order the boot style Converge by Timberland on Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded tongue and collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters around the heel and ankle area
- I suggest that you get this boot a half size larger than your child’s foot size
Did You Choose a Pair of Boots with Laces?
If you ordered a pair of boots with shoelaces I suggest that you apply the following shoe lacing technique. This shoe lacing technique will help secure your child’s feet inside the boots and provide better support and stability.
Looking for Other Recommendations? – Get a Personalized Suggestion
Children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible. I am happy to help you find a different pair of shoes to help prevent toe walking so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Can Orthotics Help Treat Your Child’s Toe Walking?
Certain orthotics can help prevent children from getting on their toes and promote the habit of walking the correct way: heel to toe. I created a different resource that helps parents determine whether their children might benefit from wearing orthotics.
I have noticed how several doctors believe that toe walking is “idiopathic,” which means that the exact cause is not known and the child continues to toe walk because he or she has a preference to do so. I disagree with this statement as I have always found that there is a specific reason why a child continues to toe walk.
Let me know in the comment section below if you have found a specific boot that worked well in helping treat your child’s toe walking.
