Best Boots to Prevent Toe Walking – Supportive and Rigid at the Front
Has your medical professional told you that your child will eventually outgrow toe walking but your child continues to toe walk? It is true that some children simply outgrow this condition, but waiting for your child’s toe walking to resolve on its own might lead to the condition getting worse. 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 prevent toe walking.
The Importance of Taking Early Action and Being Proactive!
Children who toe walk might experience frequent falls or stumbles with ambulation. If your child is still toe-walking after age 2 then it becomes a problem because your child’s calf muscles might begin to shorten, reducing ankle movement. This may cause long-term damage to the foot and ankle due to the abnormal forces acting on them.
I have spoken with several families who wished they had acted sooner. Did you know that 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? I already created several resources about the best shoes for toe walking children, and there is a specific one that describes the best everyday sneakers which many families have found it helpful.
If you already have a pair of good sneakers to help treat your child’s toe walking condition and now you are looking for a pair of boots, I will show you which ones are more effective than others.
Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes and boots to prevent toe walking. I have helped hundreds of children who were walking on their toes find the correct pair of shoes that allowed them to walk heel to toe, and I believe I can help your child too.
Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time you can jump directly to the selection of the best boots to prevent toe walking.
What Makes the Boots that I Recommend Effective to Prevent Toe Walking?
The boots that I recommend provide 3 key features that make them ideal for children who walk on their toes:
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 get 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
If you are going to order your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s foot size. I created another free resource that helps parents figure out their children’s exact foot size.
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
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.
- Shoe style Elliot by Stride Rite
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Elliot by Stride Rite
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Timberland
- 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
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Polo by Memo
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Chicago by Memo
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Targhee Flex by Keen
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof nubuck leather upper
- Removable insoles
- Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Lace-up closure
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Chameleon by Merrell
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- M Select Dry waterproof construction for keeping toes dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Good traction
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maddsen by Timberland
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded collar and tongue
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab by Merrell
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- M-select dry waterproof construction keeps feet dry
- Traditional lace-up closure
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Timberland
- 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
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Some boots are not available in half sizes, so if the boots are available in whole sizes only I suggest that you round up so your child can wear the boots for the whole winter season.
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.
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 us via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are happy to help you find a different pair of shoes to help prevent your child from walking on his/her toes 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.
The Final Fitting
How effective your kids’ shoes and orthotics might be to help treat and prevent your child’s toe walking depends on your child’s age and your child’s individual foot anatomy. The goal of providing your child with the correct types of shoes is to help prevent him/her from getting on their toes and promote the habit of walking the correct way: heel to toe.
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 shoe that worked well in helping treat your child’s toe walking.
