Best Shoe Brands for Toddlers with Foot Problems – My Top 4 Choices!

Has your toddler developed unusual walking patterns or have you noticed that your toddler’s feet turn inwards or outwards? Has your friend or medical professional recommended supportive shoes but you are not sure which specific styles to get? I am going to show you a list of the top 4 best shoe brands for toddlers with foot problems. The shoe brands that I recommend have specific shoes that can help treat flat feet, in-toeing, out-toeing, low muscle tone, and toe walking.

What Are the Most Common Foot Problems in Toddlers?

I have noticed that flat feet and in-toeing are the most common ones. Flat feet refer to a lack of arch in the foot, which can be normal in toddlers but concerning if persistent. In-toeing, often known as “pigeon-toed”, describes a condition where the feet turn inward when walking. I also have seen many toddlers who walk on their toes, but again, this can be part of exploring movement and balance. However, you must watch closely how this behavior progresses over time.

My Experience Fitting Shoes for Toddlers with Foot Problems

I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over a decade, and that’s where I became familiar with the best shoes for toddlers with foot problems. I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.

The shoes you choose today can impact your toddler’s foot health tomorrow. Pediatricians and podiatrists -whom I work closely with- emphasize the importance of not dismissing foot issues as mere “phases.” They advocate for early detection and the use of supportive footwear to prevent any long-term complications that could arise from neglecting these concerns.

The Importance of Taking Early Action – It Can Make All the Difference!

Sometimes families take their toddlers to their medical professional and they are told to hold off as the child will likely outgrow the condition. So, here comes the fine line on whether you should wait and monitor if the condition goes away on its own or take some sort of action. Let me tell you why proactive choices in your toddler’s footwear are not just beneficial but critical.

The correct types of shoes can provide the correct structural design to help realign your toddler’s gait and mitigate potential problems brought on by these issues. For example, let’s take a look at a toddler with flat feet and low muscle tone standing barefoot and then wearing a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend.

Before Image

After Image

Pretty amazing, right? That specific shoe in the image above is made by New Balance. Proactive choices such as choosing the correct types of shoes can lead to improved posture, better balance, and ensure that developmental milestones are met without unnecessary hindrance.

Top 4 Shoe Brands for Toddlers with Foot Problems

1️⃣ Memo Shoes

This shoe brand stands out for manufacturing orthopedic shoes. They’re designed for corrective support, which is ideal for toddlers dealing with foot problems. These shoes often include features like straight lasts, stiff heel counters for proper foot protection and stabilization, and a Thomas heel for helping treat flat feet.

2️⃣ New Balance

Certain New Balance shoes provide extra cushioning and support, making them ideal for toddlers with foot problems.

3️⃣ Stride Rite

Stride Rite has one specific model which is a high ankle bootie that provides excellent structure and support, which can help improve your toddler’s foot posture, walking gait, and stability.

4️⃣ Saucony

Saucony shoes are supportive, lightweight, and affordable. There are only two or three models made by Saucony that work well for toddlers with foot problems.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend From These Shoe Brands Ideal for Toddlers with Foot Problems?

✅ Firm heel counters (back part of the shoe) can help stabilize a child’s foot, providing them with the necessary support to develop a proper walking pattern. This feature is ideal for toddlers with flat feet, in-toeing, and toe walking.

❌ Stay away from shoes that have soft heel counters. If you press on the back part of the shoe and it flexes then it means that the shoe doesn’t provide a firm heel counter.

✅ Supportive outsoles and a stable base of support can help improve your toddler’s foot posture and walking.

❌ Stay away from shoes that you can bend as a spiral as they won’t provide the correct amount of structure or support.

Which Shoe Brand Will Work Best for Your Toddler’s Foot Condition?

This depends on the degree of your toddler’s foot condition and the type of foot problem your toddler has. For example, for toddlers with toe walking, I usually go with Memo or New Balance. However, there are only a few shoe styles among these two shoe brands that are effective in helping treat and prevent toe walking.

For that reason, I have created several resources throughout the years with specific shoe recommendations for toddlers with flat feet, in-toeing, low muscle tone, and toe walking.

The Importance of Wearing the Correct Shoe Size

I understand that finding exactly what shoe size your toddler should wear can be complex, especially if your child has special foot needs. That’s where the expertise of a professional shoe fitter makes a world of difference. We don’t just measure your toddler’s feet; we consider width (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), arch type, and the specific foot problems that need to be accounted for. I created a resource that has a list of specialized children’s shoe stores in the United States.

If you can’t find a shoe store in your area, I created a different resource that can help you, which is a free virtual fitting consultation to ensure you order the correct shoe size for your toddler.

Would You Rather Receive Specific Shoe Recommendations for Your Toddler?

You can either contact me via email or through the comments section below. Please tell me what foot condition your toddler is dealing with and the country that you are contacting me from to check what specific shoes you might be able to order.

Families Testimonials

Connecting with other parents can be immensely rewarding. Whether through online forums or social media groups dedicated to childhood foot care, you can gather invaluable insights. These communities often feature discussions on shoe brand recommendations, fitting anecdotes, and the latest on footwear technology that could benefit your child.

Just be careful about relying too much on what other families recommend, as it’s unclear whether they might know their toddler’s foot length and shape to begin with. Some families believe they found the perfect pair for their toddler’s feet but that might not be the case.

I have helped hundreds of families of toddlers with foot problems over the years and this is what some of those families had to say:

Top 4 Shoe Brands for Toddlers with Foot Problems – Watch Video!

I created a video to help you visualize what features your toddler’s shoes should provide to help treat and prevent foot conditions.

Feel free to leave me a comment in the section below if you have any questions. You can also share your favorite shoe brand for toddlers with foot problems.