Best Corrective Shoes for Pigeon Toes – These Shoes Can Improve Your Child’s Walking Gait and Posture!

If you notice that your child’s feet point inwards when walking or running then it’s highly likely that your child has a foot condition called pigeon toes or in-toeing. You shouldn’t panic or worry too much about this, as this condition is common in young children. There are a few reasons why pigeon toes might pop up. Sometimes, it’s inherited from parents. Other times, it relates to how the baby was positioned in the womb. By fitting your child in supportive shoes you can help improve your child’s foot posture, walking gait, and stability.

Furthermore, while I am not a doctor, I have been fitting children in supportive shoes and orthotics for over a decade. I am a show fitter who has helped several children with pigeon toes improve their foot posture and stability, and I am confident I will be able to help your child as well.

Can Children Outgrown Pigeon Toes or Can They Be Corrected?

It can be upsetting to see your child develop an abnormal gait and while most children grow out of a pigeon toed stance, some do not. I have seen families ask questions in online forums such as Reddit and Quora, but the truth is that each child’s situation is a little different, and so it’s the type of intervention. While some children might only need to wear supportive shoes, others might require orthotics or more invasive treatments such as surgery.

Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach” and Be Proactive!

My main concern is that most medical professionals recommend simply waiting for the child’s walking gait to improve on its own. Waiting for this condition to magically disappear might only lead to your child’s condition getting worse. There are simple steps that you can take to improve your child’s walking gait, pelvis alignment, and overall posture.

Pigeon Toe Correction Shoes – They Can Improve Foot Posture

Let’s take a look at a child with pigeon toed standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are pointing inwards?

Now let’s take a look at the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? These shoes are not orthopedic, just regular sneakers that simply provide better support than others.

Let me show you another example of a child with pigeon toes. In this case, the child’s knees were almost touching one another when standing barefoot:

Now let me show you how much straighter the child’s feet and knees are after being fitted in one of the shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the feet and knees are a lot straighter? The shoes are preventing the child’s feet from pointing inwards and as a result, the rest of the child’s body is a lot straighter.

A pair of supportive shoes can make a tremendous difference in improving your children’s overall posture and allow them to walk and run straighter. While they might not fully correct the condition, they are one of the most effective ways to treat it.

Corrective Shoes for Pigeon Toes – Firm Support in All the Right Places

1️⃣ Stable Base of Support: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet from pointing inwards by keeping the feet straight:

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: The heel counter is the back part of the shoes and the firmer it is, the better. This feature is also going to help prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and pointing inwards:

3️⃣ Straight Lasts: This feature helps improve your child’s foot posture by preventing the forefoot from pushing in:

Addressing pigeon toes early can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy posture. Combining the right pair of shoes, exercises, and professional guidance creates a solid foundation for your child’s growth and confidence on their feet.

My Top Recommendations for Pigeon Toe Correction Shoes

All of the shoes below are built to offer firm support in all the right places. With solid arch support, a deep heel cup, and an overall structured build, they work to keep the foot in a corrected position, encouraging better alignment over time. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases

• Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in laces and velcro

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in laces and velcro

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite on Amazon or Zappos

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos

• Available for toddlers

• Double velcro straps

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Water-friendly

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website

• Available for toddlers

• Available in velcro and laces

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store

• Available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in velcro and laces

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Genuine leather and breathable mesh

• Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization 

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Genuine leather and breathable mesh

• Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization 

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos

• Available for toddlers

• Velcro closure

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle

• Water-friendly

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe

• Rigid heel counter

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos

• Available for little and big kids

• Velcro closure

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos

• Available for little and big kids

• Velcro closure

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Synthetic and mesh upper

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Velcro closure

• ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance

• Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Velcro closure

• ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance

• Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

• Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website

• Available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Velcro closure

• Synthetic and engineered mesh upper

• Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon

• Available for little and big kids

• Triple velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an orthopedic shoe

• Thermoplastic rigid heel counter

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon

• Available for little and big kids

• Triple velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an orthopedic shoe

• Thermoplastic rigid heel counter

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon

• Available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Cross Em Up Select by Adidas on Zappos or Amazon

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Non-marking outsole

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos

• Available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos

• Available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website

• Available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

How effective these shoes will be in helping correct your child’s pigeon toes directly depends on how severe your child’s foot condition is. Provide your child with supportive shoes and be patient. You should also monitor and check whether the condition is getting better or worse.

Get in Touch for a Personalized Suggestion

Without a doubt, 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 for your child so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

How to Find Out What Shoe Size You Should Order Online

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of providing your child with the correct shoe size. Shoes that are too short or too long can affect your child’s walking gait and prevent your child from getting all of the features that the shoes have to offer. I created a virtual shoe fitting service that helps families from all over the world retrieve their child’s exact shoe size.

Families Testimonials – Get Inspired!

Should Your Child Also Wear a Pair of Orthotics?

While shoes play a crucial role in guiding foot alignment, they’re only part of the solution. If you happen to try any of the shoes that I recommend and your child’s walking gait and posture don’t improve then your toddler might be a candidate for supportive insoles and orthotics.

Some families don’t know what to do during the summer about their child’s pigeon toes and supportive footwear. Should they continue wearing supportive sneakers for most of the day? What should they do when they go to the pool or the beach? There are supportive toddler sandals that work well for toddlers with pigeon toes.

Find Out Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Child’s Pigeon Toes Untreated

There have been several cases of children who continue in-toeing as adults, which is often due to a lack of intervention from an early stage. Please remember that leaving your child’s pigeon toed condition untreated can lead to constant tripping, repetitive ankle sprains, foot deformity, and painful feet as an adult.

If you leave your child’s pigeon toed condition untreated then the treatment in later years will be more invasive:

• Braces for the legs that slowly correct the position of the bones or feet.

• Molds that correct the shape of the foot.

• Surgery to correct the positioning of the bones that cause pigeon toe.

Causes of Pigeon Toes – Is it Hereditary?

The main cause is believed to be genetic (passed from parent to child). Most cases I have seen of pigeon toed originated at the feet, which is sometimes due to weak musculature. The thigh bone being turned in at the hip is also one of the most common causes of pigeon toes in children. Nevertheless, the feet are the foundation of our entire body, so if we start by straightening the feet the rest of the body will follow.

Have you found a specific shoe that has helped improve your child’s pigeon toes? Please let us know in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.