Best Sandals for Kids with Low Muscle Tone – Substantial Outsoles with Targeted Arch and Heel Support

Have you been looking for a pair of summer shoes for your child with low muscle tone (hypotonia)? Does your child wear supportive sneakers and orthotics and you are unsure about what to do when the summer season arrives? At the shoe store that I work for, I help several children with low muscle tone find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and based on my many years of shoe fitting experience I have put together a list of the best sandals for kids with low muscle tone.

Supportive Sandals Can Help Improve Posture and Stability

I always like to make the analogy that if you want to build a strong house, you need a strong foundation. Supporting your children’s feet is essential for their legs and body to function properly.

Before we move forward, I want to clarify a common misconception about low muscle tone. Several parents associate low muscle tone with children being weak. This is far from the truth, low muscle tone is a stability problem, not a strength problem. Your child can be incredibly strong and still have low muscle tone.

The issue that most children with low muscle tone face is the lack of arch development and therefore a lack of stability. I have helped several children with low muscle tone and loose ligaments in their feet find the correct pair of shoes to improve their foot posture and stability.

Do ChIldren with Low Muscle Tone Have Flat Feet?

I did notice throughout the years how many children with low muscle tone have flat feet, and children with flat feet have poor balance and coordination.

Most parents don’t know if their children have low muscle tone, lack an arch, or have loose ligaments, so I suggest that you take your child to your medical professional for an evaluation. That being said, some parents take their children to their medical professionals and are told to be patient and wait as the condition might resolve on its own. However, you should be careful about waiting for your child’s foot condition to magically disappear, as waiting for the condition to resolve on its own may only lead to your child’s condition getting worse.

Please trust your parental intuition if you notice something off about your child’s feet and/or walking gait. You know when there is something wrong with your child, you are living with the child, not your doctor.

Some common signs of children with low muscle tone are:

• Poor posture.
• Increased flexibility in their joints.
• Get tired easily because of the extra effort they have to put in to activate their muscles or maintain their posture.
• Experience delays in reaching gross motor milestones, such as rolling, sitting, crawling or walking.

Why Shoes Play a Key Role for Children with Low Muscle Tone?

The correct type of shoes can ensure less fatigue for your child and fewer complaints of discomfort. The key is to find shoes that provide a stable base of support but that are lightweight and flexible at the same time.

What Are Good Sandals for Children with Low Muscle Tone?

Sandals that provide substantial outsoles with arch support are essential for children with low muscle tone and/or loose ligaments. This external support is critical to ensure a strong and stable base for your child.

You need to stay away from Crocs, or flip flops as they don’t provide adequate support for your children’s feet. Yes, I know they are comfortable, practical, and children love to wear them, but they don’t offer any support whatsoever!

Key Features of Supportive Sandals for Kids with Low Muscle Tone

➡️ Reason #1: Substantial Outsoles

The sandals I recommend provide substantial outsoles with an anatomical arch support that helps provide a stable base for your child’s feet.

Let me help you visualize the difference between most children’s sandals and one of the specific sandals that I recommend. Do you notice how the sandal on the right has a much thicker and more supportive outsole compared to the sandal on the left? This is exactly the type of sandal that is ideal for children with low muscle tone!

➡️ Reason #2: Targeted Heel and Ankle Support

The sandals I recommend provide extra padding and support around the heel area, which helps cushion the child’s heels and prevent heel pain. Do you notice how the sandal on the right provides better heel support compared to the sandal on the left?

➡️ Reason #3: Lightweight and Flexible

While the sandals provide excellent support and stability features, they are lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.

The sandals I recommend below provide these three important features and they also come with a velcro strap and a toggle closure to hold your child’s feet in place and provide better support and stability. 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 Sandals for Kids with Low Muscle Tone to Improve Posture

These sandals will help realign your child’s feet and provide a more stable base of support so your child can balance better.

Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)

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• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)

• This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support

• Machine washable

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

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• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)

• This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support

• Machine washable

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

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• Order the sandal style Pedro by Memo on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

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

• This is an orthopedic sandal

• Genuine leather lining

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

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• Order the sandal style Betti by Memo on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

• This is an orthopedic sandal

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

• Genuine leather lining

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

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• Order the sandal style Psyclone by Teva on Zappos

• Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet

• Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports

• Rubber outsole for great traction

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

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• Order the shoe style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos

• Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet

• Two adjustable velcro straps

• Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports

• Rubber outsole for great traction

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

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• Order the sandal style by Apakowa on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

• Leather insole with arch support

• Two points of adjustability

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

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• Order the sandal style by Apakowa on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

• Leather insole with arch support

• Two points of adjustability

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

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• Order the sandal style by Lucky Brand on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)

• Supportive footbed

• Adjustable buckles at the front and velcro strap at the back for easy on and off

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

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• Order the sandal style by Geox on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort

• Rigid at the toe box

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

Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)

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• Order the sandal style Agnes by Memo on Amazon

• Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications

• Ability to adjust the Hook and Loop strap length to the different feet width

• This is an orthopedic sandal

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

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• Order the sandal style Michael by Memo on Amazon

• Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications

• Ability to adjust the Hook and Loop strap length to the different feet width

• This is an orthopedic sandal

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

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• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support

• Machine washable

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

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• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort

• Machine washable

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

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• Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want

• Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort 

• Rigid at the toe box

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

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• Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want

• Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort 

• Rigid at the toe box

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

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• Order the sandal style Rio by Birkenstock on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot

• Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting

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

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• Order the sandal style Milano by Birkenstock on Zappos

• Fits medium and wide feet

• Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot

• Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting

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

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• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

• EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort

• Machine washable

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

---

• Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon

• Fits medium and wide feet

• This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support

• Machine washable

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

How low muscle tone impacts children differs from child to child, so how effective these sandals will be for your child depends on whether the level of your child’s low muscle tone is mild, moderate, or severe.

Make sure that you keep your children in good supportive sneakers for most of the day to help their movement and protect their joints from becoming permanently misaligned.

Important: Read This Before Ordering Your Kids’ Sandals Online

For your child to get the full benefits that the sandals have to offer, you must order the sandals in the correct size. I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that resource you will find out whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also be able to determine whether your child has a high instep or not.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having a hard time finding a different pair of shoes for your child with low muscle tone:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

In the meantime, you should read a different article I created where I describe the best everyday sneakers for children with low muscle tone.

Should You Invest in a Pair of Orthopedic Sandals?

You certainly can provide your child with a pair of orthopedic sandals if you believe that your child might benefit from wearing them. Maybe your medical professional recommended a pair of orthopedic sandals and you are willing to try and do everything that’s in your hands to help your child.

Orthopedic sandals can range anywhere from $100 to $150. I usually don’t recommend investing in a pair of orthopedic sandals, not just because children grow in spurts and they will outgrow the sandal rather quickly, but also because sandals (orthopedic or not), should not be worn for longer than 4 to 5 hours a day. Remember that your child should wear his/her everyday sneakers as often as possible.

Sandals for Kids with Low Muscle Tone – Watch Video!

I created a video where we dive deep into the best sandals designed to support and encourage proper walking mechanics for children with low muscle tone. This video will help you visualize what specific features your kids’ sandals should provide to help improve your child’s walking gait, foot posture, and stability.

My Final Thoughts on Children with Low Muscle Tone

Every child’s situation is different. In my experience, most children with low muscle tone benefit from wearing shoes with flexible outsoles that provide a firm heel counter and a substantial outsole at the same time. These are the types of features that we need to look for in your kids’ summer shoes.

Pediatric physical therapy can be very helpful as it will help activate your child’s muscles; they will put them into proper alignment through exercises. Another option is to guide your child’s feet and ankles into proper alignment through the correct type of footwear, and in certain cases (depending on the degree of your child’s low muscle tone), orthotics as well.

“Low Muscle Tone And Your Child – What You Need To Know.” ​Surestep​, 1 Dec. 2016, surestep.net/blog/low-muscle-tone-hypotonia-an-overview-for-parents/.

“Muscle Weakness (Hypotonia): Boston Children’s Hospital.” ​Boston Children’s Hospital,​www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/muscle-weakness-hypotonia.