Dressy Kids’ Sandals with Arch Support – Stylish, Comfortable, and Supportive!

Have you been looking for a pair of dress sandals that your child can wear during the summer? Does your child have a foot condition such as flat feet that requires him/her to wear supportive footwear at all times? Whether your child has an existing foot condition such as flat feet, or you simply want to protect your child from developing foot problems later in life, wearing the correct pair of dressy kids’ sandals with arch support will help prevent foot pain and keep your child’s feet healthy.

Finding a pair of dress sandals that provide good support can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience for most parents, but the good news is that I will help you find them. In addition to providing good support, the sandals must fit the shape of your child’s unique foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide).

If your child has a foot condition and experiences foot and leg pain I suggest keeping your child in a pair of supportive shoes at all times. It does get a little more challenging when the summertime arrives and children want to wear stylish sandals.

If you’re pressed for time, you can jump directly to the list of dressy sandals with arch support.

What Makes the Sandals I Recommend Effective for Kids with Foot Pain?

The dressier sandals I recommend provide 2 key features that are going to support your kids’ feet:

1️⃣ Arch Support: The sandals come with a substantial outsole that provides good arch support and will help reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take when they come in contact with the ground. This feature is also going to help improve your child’s walking gait by preventing the feet from turning inwards or outwards.

2️⃣ Heel Support: The sandals come with extra targeted support right below the child’s heels.

What Dress Sandals Are Good for Flat Feet? – Hint: Birkenstock!

Let me show you the difference in heel support between one of the dress sandals I recommend and a different style. Do you notice how the sandal on the left has a thicker and more supportive outsole compared to the sandal on the right?

Now let’s take a look at the difference in heel support by looking at the back side of the sandals. Do you notice how the dress sandal on the left has a much thicker outsole right below the heel compared to the sandal on the right?

The most supportive children’s dress sandals that I have fitted before are made by a company called Birkenstock.

Are Birkenstocks Good for Kids with Flat Feet?

You probably know Birkenstock sandals for their excellent arch support. Birkenstock sandals are known due to their contoured footbeds which provide great arch and ankle support and they help keep the foot and leg correctly aligned.

The Birkenstock sandals I recommend provide solid support and help correct the foot positioning. The footbed features proper arch support, a deep heel cup, and adequate room in the toe area – all to help distribute weight evenly for the entire foot. These sandals will help improve your child’s posture and balance.

The superb arch support and deep heel cup make Birkenstock kids’ sandals podiatrist approved. The cork is not only comfortable, but it also becomes like a custom made footbed over time.

Can Your Child  Wear Arch Supports with Sandals? – Let’s Find Out!

Orthotics don’t work in sandals. If your child wears orthotics inside his/her sneakers then I strongly suggest that you provide your child with a pair of supportive sandals during the summer. Your child is used to receiving good support from the sneakers and if you switch your child to a pair of unsupportive sandals your child might start experiencing foot pain again.

Certain children refuse to wear sandals because their feet hurt while wearing them. The sandals I recommend provide excellent support and will give parents the peace of mind that their children are wearing supportive sandals.

What Are the Best Sandals with Arch Support? 

There is only a very small selection of kids’ stylish sandals that provide good support. Most sandals —and summer shoes in general— are not known for providing good support.

Companies like Birkenstock have been around for a long time and manufacture good sandals with supportive footbeds at a reasonable price. Below I have put together a selection of the most supportive kids’ dress sandals made by Birkenstock. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Dressy Kids’ Sandals with Arch Support

The footbed of the sandals below is made of cork and natural latex and is molded to the shape of a healthy foot. These sandals can fit children with medium or wide feet.

Some parents get confused when they notice that the sandals are only available in narrow sizes (N). This doesn’t mean that the sandals fit narrowly. The styles I recommend above can fit children with medium or wide feet.

Even though these dress sandals provide excellent support I suggest that you limit the wear to no more than 4 hours a day.

All of these sandals come with adjustable straps  — lined with very soft materials — at the front and back to make sure they “hug” your kids’ feet properly and prevent the feet from moving too much inside the sandals. Since the sandals come with double adjustable straps you won’t have to worry about your child’s sandals slipping with each step, causing blisters and instability instead of security and support.

Are Any Other Sandal 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:

[email protected]

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

To buy the correct shoe size online you are going to need to know your child’s exact foot size. If you are unsure of your child’s foot size please refer to this free resource I created.

Keep in mind that these sandals might feel stiff at the beginning due to the excellent support that they provide. The longer that your child wears these sandals, the more comfortable they become. I always explain to parents that any shoe that attempts to support the foot arch can take a while to feel comfortable.

Do You Need a Pair of Water Play Sandals with Arch Support?

Here is a different resource that describes the best water play sandals with arch support.

Is there a particular shoe brand or specific dress sandal style that has worked well for your children’s feet? You can share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.