Best Shoes for Kids with Strong Pronation – Improve Foot Posture and Prevent Foot Pain
Has your medical professional diagnosed your child with severe flat feet? Has your child been complaining about foot or leg pain? Children with flat feet or other foot conditions can experience different levels of pronation, and depending on the degree of your child’s pronation, your child might need to wear supportive shoes and/or orthotics. The best shoes for kids with strong pronation provide a stable base of support, firm heel counters, and straight lasts, while being lightweight and flexible at the same time. I will show you a list of these shoes shortly.
Do All Children with Flat Feet Have Strong Pronation?
Not all children with flat feet have strong pronation. Most children have a certain degree of pronation, and you have nothing to worry about unless that pronation becomes excessive. For example, pronation can be categorized into 3 different categories:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Strong
My Experience Fitting Shoes for Children with Strong Pronation
I have seen hundreds of children with flat feet at the specialized children’s shoe store where I work, as we get a lot of families who are referred by their physical/occupational therapist to be fitted for supportive shoes and orthotics.
If your child is under the age of two years old and has flat feet, you have nothing to worry about. It’s common for toddlers to have flat feet and most children don’t develop their arches until they reach the age of five.
How Early Should I Intervene If My Child Has Flat Feet?
This directly depends on the degree of your child’s flat feet and pronation. If your child has mild to moderate pronation and doesn’t complain about foot pain, you don’t have anything to worry about. If your child has strong pronation, the earlier that you intervene, the better. Don’t take the “wait and see approach” as it can only lead to your child’s foot condition getting harder to manage.
How to Figure Out Your Child’s Degree of Pronation – Does Your Child Have Mild, Moderate, or Strong Pronation?
Mild Pronation
Most children I have seen have mild pronation. In this specific case, you might notice your child’s feet collapsing and turning inwards slightly. Your child’s feet might not even be completely flat, your child might just have a low arch. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
Moderate Pronation
Children with moderate pronation usually have their feet completely flat. You will notice the child’s feet collapsing and turning inwards as shown in the image below:
Strong Pronation
Children with strong pronation have their feet completely flat and have visible signs of their feel collapsing inwards. You will notice how the child’s foot posture is turning inwards as shown in the image below:
What To Do When Children Have Strong Pronation?
The goal is to allow your child to be able to perform his/her daily activities without any discomfort or pain. Certain children’s shoes are a lot more supportive than others, and can help improve foot posture and prevent pain.
In most cases, a pair of supportive shoes can significantly improve the child’s foot posture by preventing the feet from collapsing and turning inwards. For example, remember the image that I showed you about the child with strong pronation? Let’s see what happens when we fit that same child in a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend:
Before Image: Standing Barefoot
After Image: Wearing Supportive Shoes
The substantial outsole of the shoe and the firm heel counter are preventing the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards:
Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? Wow! What a difference the correct types of shoes can make! I am going to show you that specific shoe and a list of other styles that will help improve your child’s foot posture and walking gait.
What Are the Best Shoe Brands for Children with Strong Pronation?
My go-to shoe brands for children with strong pronation are:
- New Balance
- Memo (orthopedic shoe brand)
- Asics
- Saucony
- Stride Rite
Keep in mind that not all shoes from those 5 shoe brands are appropriate for children with strong pronation. There are certain styles among each brand that will work a lot better than others.
In addition, the shoes need to be able to fit your child’s individual foot shape, or your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer. For example, Asics manufactures really good and supportive shoes, but they can only fit children with narrow or medium feet. If your child has wide or extra wide feet then you will be better off with New Balance, Saucony, or Stride Rite.
I will show you a list of the best shoes for kids with strong pronation shortly. Keep in mind that the shoes I recommend are not orthopedic, they are regular everyday sneakers that simply provide better support than others.
What Makes the Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Children with Strong Pronation?
The shoes that I recommend provide 3 key features that make them ideal for children with strong pronation:
1️⃣ Straight Lasts: Shoes with straight lasts help improve the child’s foot posture. If your child has strong pronation you need to stay away from shoes that have excessively curved lasts. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
2️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: Shoes with supportive outsoles provide shock absorption which helps attenuate the impact that your child’s feet take when they come in contact with the ground. This feature is ideal if your child is dealing with foot or leg pain. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
3️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: When children have flat feet you don’t only support the arch, you mechanically support all of the pieces that cause the foot to be flat, such as the heels. Make sure that you always press on the heel counter of your kids’ shoes to make sure that it feels firm as shown in the image below:
Where Can You Buy Shoes that Provide These 3 Important Features?
Most families have to shop online as many specialized children’s shoe stores have been closing down. Even before we got hit by COVID-19, most children’s shoe stores were already closing their doors.
Please note that big retailers such as Nordstrom, Footlocker, or Payless don’t have experienced shoe fitters who can evaluate your child’s feet. In addition, most of the shoes that they sell don’t provide the correct levels of support and they are only offered in standard widths (M).
It’s important that you take your child to your local shoe store to be properly fitted for shoes.
Let’s now take a look at the best shoes for kids with strong pronation. 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 Shoes for Kids with Strong Pronation
All of the shoes that I recommend are the styles that I have fitted before, as that is the only way to tell the amount of support that the shoes provide and how they fit. I suggest that you take a look at the description below each image to check if that specific style can fit your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide).
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Make sure that your child’s shoes are properly tied at all times, as that is the only way that your child will get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer.
Read This Before Buying Your Kids’ Shoes Online
If you don’t know your child’s exact foot length and shape you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. The only way that your child will get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer is if the shoes are fitted correctly.
Shoes that are too short can cause foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns, while shoes that are too long allow for too much foot movement inside of the shoes, which can lead to those issues as well. I created a different resource that describes the most effective and accurate way to determine your child’s foot shape and length from home.
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 we will get back to you as soon as possible. I am happy to help you find a different pair of shoes based on your child’s unique foot shape and degree of pronation.
Does My Child Need to Wear Orthotics As Well?
Children with strong pronation might also need to wear orthotics to help improve their foot posture and walking gait. However, I usually suggest that you start by trying a pair of supportive shoes and monitor your child’s progress. If your child is experiencing severe foot or leg pain and you want to try an orthotic right away I suggest that you take a look at the article below.
How Often Should Your Child Wear Shoes?
As often as possible. This doesn’t mean that your child cannot walk around barefoot at home for a couple of hours, but the more that your child wears his/her shoes, the better.
Can Children with Strong Pronation Wear Seasonal Footwear?
Yes, but I suggest that you limit the wear of the sandals or the boots to a maximum of 4 hours a day.
Children with strong pronation can strongly benefit from wearing their athletic shoes for most of the day, as that is the type of footwear that provides the most support.
If you are looking for a pair of summer shoes for your child I suggest staying away from Crocs or flip flops and trying a pair of supportive sandals instead. Keen and Teva make sturdy and supportive sandals. As far as winter shoes are concerned, there are certain boots that provide good support and are lightweight and flexile at the same time.
Don’t “wait and see” whether your child’s pronation gets better with time. In most cases, parents wished they would have acted sooner. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to manage your child’s foot condition. If your medical professional told you to wait, I suggest that you ask for a second opinion.
My daughter has I think a mild pronation. She always get painful legs when she walks long distances. So I bought her a Skechers d’luxe pro walker 2.0 that has a higher heel but actually soft upper heel side. She said that it helped but not as much. She also got her customized orthotics.
I want her to have a more supported pair of shoes because her gait is not great and she falls whenever she runs. Are the shoes above for strong pronation good for mild ones too? Can she still use these shoes even with the customized insoles?
Thank you for your response.
Hello Anne,
1- Do you know if your daughter has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet? Her foot shape determines what specific shoes she might be able to wear.
2- Are the customized orthotics full length or 3/4 length orthotics?
3- What shoe size does she wear?
Feel free to contact me at fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com for specific shoe recommendations.
I have flat feet, but what I’ve noticed is that a lot of black children have a disposition for flat feet.
I’m not sure if this is an ethnic thing or not. I checked on Google and did not see anything about this topic specifically. Flat feet in children are mentioned but not black children.
My son was born with a left foot that turns inwards but he was given climbing exercises to help him develop and grow out of that. I tried the New Balance shoe you recommend here and his gait and posture have improved considerably. Thank you!
Hello Stella,
I am not sure if it’s an ethnic factor as I get contacted by many families daily and I have not seen a trend there. I am glad the New Balance shoes worked well for your son!
Are all of the shoes that you recommend designed to improve foot posture and prevent foot pain? Which specific shoe would you recommend for my son who has extra wide feet? I want a shoe that provides all of those important features that you mention (supportive outsoles, firm heel counters, straight lasts) but that can also fit a very wide foot (extra extra wide). Thank you!!!
Hello Kiersti,
Yes, all of the shoes that I recommend are specifically designed to improve foot posture and significantly reduce, or in some cases, fully eliminate the pain.
If your son has extra wide feet, I strongly suggest that you look into the New Balance models that I recommend and select the extra wide width.
Thank you for this article! My son (age 2.5) has moderate pronation. He won’t tolerate higher top shoes that would make Patti Bob orthotics supportive enough, so we are going to move him to Chipmunk orthotics and keep him in a lower profile shoe. He’s been in Ten Littles, which are too flexible it seems. Do either of the shoes below seem ok? He goes to daycare and needs to be able to get the shoes on and off by himself.
https://amzn.to/3VpRnjO
https://amzn.to/44kpnln
Hello Elle,
Those shoes that you sent me are definitely more supportive than Ten Littles, but I am not 100% sure they will be capable of accommodating the Chipmunks orthotics. If you decide to try any of those models, I suggest that you order the wide widths and remove the original insoles before you place the Chipmunks orthotics.
The options below might work better for your son’s orthotics:
Option 1 Available in wide and extra wide widths
Option 2 Available in extra wide widths
Option 3 Not available in wide or extra wide widths but fits naturally wide
What do you mean when you say order half a size larger than toddlers current size? Don’t we measure the feet and then use the size charts for the manufacturer based on that size or do you recommend we add a half to the measurement we took?
Hello Jasmine,
For example, if your toddler’s foot size measures a size 10, you would order the size 10 1/2 and that will provide your child with the correct amount of growing room. To answer your question you do need to add a half size to the measurement that you take.