Are you wondering whether your child has one of their feet flat? This is actually really important for parents to know since when children have only one of their feet flat it can lead to other conditions such as foot imbalances, leg length discrepancy, posture problems, as well as foot and leg pain. This is one of the most common questions parents ask me at the shoe store where I work: Do kids have both of their feet flat or just one?
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have helped hundreds of families figure out whether their children have one or both feet flat. I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years, and I evaluate children’s feet daily. I have helped several children with flat feet and I am confident that I can help your child as well.
Is It Normal for Children to Have Flat Feet?
Flat feet is normal in babies and toddlers, but that doesn’t mean it should be left untreated. If by the time your child turns 4 or 5 the arches have not already developed, you are going to need to take action to prevent your child from developing foot, leg, or lower back pain.
I have spoken with several families who took their children to their pediatricians and were told not to worry about it, as the child will eventually develop an arch. I strongly recommend parents be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions.
The first step is to figure out whether your child has both feet flat or only one. If you are unsure of whether your child has one or both feet flat, I will help you figure this out.
Let me show you the difference between a child who has a flat foot compared to one that doesn’t.
Notice how in the left image the foot is completely flat while in the right image you can notice the arch below the foot.
Do You Suspect that Your Child Has Only One Foot that is Flat?
For me to figure out whether your child has flat feet or not I will need to see two pictures of your child’s feet that should look like the one below. I will need one picture of your child’s right foot and another picture of your child’s left foot:
Where Should You Send the Images?
Once you have the pictures you can email them to me and I will get back to you as soon as I am done reviewing them:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
After we figure out whether your child has one or both feet flat, we need to figure out whether your child might need a pair of supportive shoes, orthotics, or both.
Is it Bad to Have Flat Feet? – Don’t Leave Flat Feet Untreated!
Keep in mind that there is a ton of information on flat feet and how it should be treated. I want you to know that I am not a doctor, and my recommendation is based on years of watching what works and what doesn’t by testing hundreds of different shoes and orthotics on children’s feet.
The main issue with having flat feet is that it can lead to overpronation. Once the feet are flat, the knees and hips also become misaligned. This means the muscles that move those joints no longer work efficiently, and it will take more energy for your child to do the same work as other children who don’t have this condition.
Flat feet can also impact your child’s overall posture so it’s important that you don’t leave this condition untreated.
What to Do if Your Child Has Only One Foot Flat?
It took me a while until I figured out that children might have only one of their feet flat. Usually, both feet are affected, but it’s possible for children to have a fallen arch on only one foot.
The main issue with having only one foot that is flat is that it might lead to a leg length discrepancy and posture problems, which might lead to knee, hip, and lower back pain in the future.
If your child happens to have only one foot that is flat, the approach is actually the same as if the child had both feet flat.
I always tell parents to be careful in adjusting just one side, because you don’t want to make your child’s leg functionally longer by adding arch support to that side only.
How to Help a Child Who Has Only One Foot that is Flat?
The most effective way to adjust the foot that is flat is by providing your child with supportive shoes that provide a substantial outsole and a firm heel counter. If the child is experiencing foot and leg pain, then I recommend fitting an orthotic inside the shoes for extra support. Make sure that the orthotic is fitted inside both shoes, not just the flat one.
There are certain everyday sneakers that provide targeted support right below the arch, which is going to help prevent your child from overpronating by improving your child’s walking gait and overall posture. For example, let me show you the difference in support between one of the shoes I recommend and a different style:
Do you notice how the shoe on the right has a more substantial outsole? This is exactly the type of shoes I recommend. The shoes I recommend also provide straight lasts to help improve foot posture and walking gait:
The idea is to start by trying a pair of supportive shoes and monitor whether after wearing the shoes for 2 months the child’s walking gait improves or not. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to try a pair of orthotics.
I will start by showing you a selection of the best shoes for children who have one or both feet flat. These shoes have proven to be the most effective ones in improving a child’s walking gait and overall posture.
Best Shoes for Kids with One or Both Feet Flat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The shoes below can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Constructed with a breathable textile lining and an OrthoLite® comfort foam insoles provide moisture transport, antimicrobial function, and long-term cushioning
- Water-friendly
- Double hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth and width for orthotics
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- 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 current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- 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 current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Durable leather upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- No-sew tip for durability where kids need it most
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
If your child happens to have narrow feet leave me a message in the comment section below and I will get back to you with specific shoe recommendations.
All of the shoes I recommend come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces provide better support and stability compared to velcro closure.
Providing your child with the correct pair of shoes will help prevent your child from developing foot and posture issues, as well as foot injuries.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Not Sure What Shoe Size to Order? – Get it Right!
You must provide your child with the correct shoe size if you want your child to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer. Shoes that are too short can make your child’s toes overlap or rub against one another. On the other hand, shoes that are too long can compromise your child’s stability.
If you need assistance figuring out your child’s foot size go to the link below:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Is There a Way to Fix Flat Feet? – Let’s Straighten Up Some Rumors!
There is no way to fix flat feet. This is a hereditary condition and there are no exercises or orthotics that can mold your child an arch. Certain orthotics are extremely effective in reducing or fully eliminating foot and leg pain, and also improving a child’s walking gait. I just want to be clear that there is no way to fix flat feet.
If you believe your child can benefit from wearing an orthotic you should take a look at a different article I wrote where I describe the best orthotics for kids with flat feet:
Orthotic Inserts for Kids with Flat Feet – Align Your Kids’ Feet and Improve Their Posture!
If you have a child that has only one flat foot please let us know in the comment section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
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