Did you know that most kids won’t speak up when their feet or legs hurt? Children don’t normally say anything when they are having any sort of foot or leg discomfort, and when they do, it’s because the pain has intensified considerably. The most effective way to significantly reduce or fully eliminate your children’s foot pain is to provide them with shoes that provide good support.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We carry some of the most supportive children’s shoes and orthotics, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others.
The Importance of Being Proactive – Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach”
When parents contact me about their children having foot pain, I always advise them to take action immediately. Taking the “wait and see approach” might only lead to your child’s foot condition getting worse.
Let’s take a look at the following scenarios that will help you realize what is the medical term for that particular foot condition:
- When a child complains of having pain in the bottom of the foot, this is probably due to your child being flat-footed.
- When a child complains of having pain in the top of the foot, this is probably due to your child having a high instep.
- When a child complains of having pain in the side of the feet, this is probably due to repetitive strain on the foot.
- When a child complains of having pain in the back of the foot, this is probably due to your child having ankle pain.
Once you know exactly where your child’s foot pain is coming from, you are ready to take action and start by making sure that your child is wearing a pair of supportive shoes in the correct shoe size.
3 Important Shoe Features
The type of shoe your child should be wearing must have the following features:
1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This part of the shoe cushions and protects your kids’ ankles and provides lateral stability and ankle support.
2️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This is the part of the shoe that helps support and cushion your kids’ feet and minimize the impact that their feet and legs receive every time they become in contact with the ground.
3️⃣ Arch Support: This feature prevents your child’s feet from turning inwards or outwards and allows your child to walk and run straighter.
Did you know that most children’s shoes don’t offer the appropriate amount of arch support? Shoe companies don’t want to invest in that part of the shoe that consumers don’t actually see (insoles of the shoe).
I will provide you with a selection of the best shoes based on your child’s foot condition. The shoes I will provide you with are my to-go shoes for when a child is experiencing foot or leg pain.
Foot Pain Diagnosis Symptoms – Supportive Shoes!
Once you have identified where your child’s foot pain is coming from, then you are ready to choose the right pair of shoes to help treat and prevent the condition from getting worse. Choosing the right shoe for a specific type of foot pain for your child is not easy, which is why I had created different posts that explain the best shoes for each particular foot condition.
➡️ If your child is having pain in the bottom of the foot (arch pain), you can find the best shoes to help treat and prevent the condition in another article I wrote below. These shoes will also significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s foot pain: The Best Shoes with Arch Support
➡️ If your child is having pain in the top of the foot (instep), you can find the best deep shoes that will prevent the top part of your child’s feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes in another article I wrote called: The Best Shoes for High Instep
➡️ If your child is having pain in the back of the foot (ankle), you can find the best shoes that come with a firm heel counter in this article: Best Shoes with Heel Support
Those articles describe the most effective shoes that will help treat and prevent your child’s foot condition.
If you are going to order your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s foot size to begin with.
I always recommend parents take their children to their local fitting children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most fitting stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
I have put together a selection of the best shoes for children who are experiencing foot or leg pain. These are all shoe styles that I have fitted before which have been extremely effective in significantly reducing and in some cases fully eliminating the child’s foot and leg pain.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit.
Below is a selection of shoes that come with a substantial outsole with arch support, a firm heel counter for ankle support, and they are also lightweight, flexible, and durable. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Foot Pain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These shoes can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) feet.
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 foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
Even though children do go through growing pains, I want to clarify that foot pain in children is not common or normal, and you should always take immediate action to prevent the condition from getting worse.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If you provided your children with a pair of supportive shoes and the pain persists, you might have to look into getting them a pair of orthotics inserts. If this is the case with your child please contact me directly and I will be able to recommend a specific orthotic for your child’s feet: fittingchidrensshoes@gmail.com
It’s important to note that nowadays, children don’t seem to stretch as much as they did before and stretching is a great way to help alleviate the foot or leg pain that they might be experiencing.
Is your child experiencing any sort of foot or leg pain? Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well in treating the issue? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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Hello,
Good article on kids foot pain and shoes! Your tips help a great deal to narrow down what the problem might be. I never realized so many kids had feet pain before reading your article, it seems to me the shoe companies need to address kids feet issues more seriously.
How is the best way to choose a good shoe for your child, there are so many shoes to choose from how do you know if you are buying one which is the best fit for your child?
Hello Jeffrey,
That’s an interesting question, how to actually know if you are buying a shoe that fits the shape of your child best. Is always better to take your child to your local kids’ shoe store, where a shoe fitter will make sure your child leaves the store wearing the perfect pair of shoes.
If you don’t have a local kids’ shoe store in your area that you trust, I wrote a post that explains exactly how to make sure your kids’ shoes fit. You can find that post here: How Can I Make Sure My Kids’ Shoes Fit? – Learn The Secret Here!
Wow! There was some really great information here! I have 4 kids and I have never put much more thought into the shoes I buy them than how hard of a hit my bank account might take! I did not know that my kiddos could be suffering from foot pain and not even tell me that. Thank you for sharing the different areas that the foot will hurt depending on the situation the child is dealing with. What are your thoughts on sharing shoes? With 4 kids there have been times when we have done hand-me-down shoes and now after this I am thinking twice about that. Do shoes form specific to the child’s foot? And if so, can they even be reformed to another child’s? Finally, I have always heard this debate discussed, but what is your recommendation for shoes for children who are learning to walk? I have heard that new walkers should learn without shoes because it’s easier. Then I have also heard that they should learn to walk with shoes because if they don’t and then you put shoes on them, they may have to learn to re-walk. What is your take on this based on what you have seen in your profession? Thanks again for some great info! This was a very helpful post!
Tatiana,
Never use hand-me-down shoes, they can create all sort of foot problems to your child! I only recommend unsing hand-me-down shoes such as snow boots or rain boots, but NEVER sneakers!I understand it’s hard to purchase shoes for kids’when they are constantly outgrowing them, specially when you have 4 kids! However, you will end up saving a lot of money in the future by properly taking care of your kids feet!
To answer your first question: Yes, shoes tend to form to the shape of the child’s foot. Once another child wears them they might be too stretched out and non-supportive.
To answer your second question: Let children who are learning how to walk barefoot at home, and when you take them outside to the playground or the mall get them what I call transitions shoes. I describe this into more detail here: First Walking Shoes – Picking The Perfect First Shoes
I never really considered that my child’s leg pain could be prevented by buying a well-selected supportive pair of shoes. I was thinking that perhaps, he’s just moving and running too much. He has been complaining about foot and leg pain for a while now, and I thought it was growing pains, but now I am starting to think is the shoes he is wearing. What he currently has are rubber shoes that are not really meant for very energetic kids like him. Thanks for your recommendations! I’ll be checking these out.
Cassia,
Make sure you provide him with a pair of good, supportive shoes, and also make sure you get him the correct shoe size. Do you have a kids’ shoe store in your area that you trust? Fitting children shoes requires knowledge and experience, but a pair of well-fitted shoes might be all he needs to stop his foot and leg pain.
Here you can find the most supportive shoes for kids’ that are experiencing foot or leg pain:The Best Shoes With Arch Support – Stop Leg And Foot Pain!
Hello Juan!
My child was suffering from foot and leg pain and our physical therapist had no clue what was going on. I ordered a pair of the shoes you recommend here and she stopped complaining about pain! It worked and I am so happy it was something so simple as the pair of shoes! I bookmarked your website. Thanks man!
Hello Christian!
I am glad the pain stopped! Make sure you keep an eye on her feet and replace the shoes as soon as she outgrows them! Keep her in good, supportive shoes, it seems that’s all she needed!
this was one of the most original sites I have ever seen on kids feet! Personally I know how important it is to have the right shoe, being a diabetic, shoe fit is extremely important and it behoves me that so many parents do not realize that. I think your advise to parents on how to determine what is causing there pain and just the fact that kids do not generally complain about pain until it is significant is great information. Giving the details of how to tell where the pain is being actually caused based on where they are having it, is really good information.
I wished I had a children’s shoe store in my area but I don’t and I need to buy my kids’ shoes online. Do you recommend a particular website to get shoes for kids’?
Hello Vicky,
I am glad that you found the website informative. I wrote a post where I describe the best place to get your kids’ shoes online. You can find that post here: Kids Shoes On Amazon-Is Amazon The Best Place To Buy Your Kid’s Shoes?
Amazon offers the best selection and the best prices for kids’ shoes. Don’t hesistate to contact me if you have any specific question!
Very informative post, especially where you go into detail on the different types of foot pain.
I find it disturbing when purchasing expensive walking or running sneakers, the insole is not as supportive as it should be. I always purchase better insoles and replace them. What are your thoughts on this?
How often should we be buying new sneakers if we’ve stopped growing?
Hello Karen,
It actually depends on how active you are and how often you wear your shoes. If you exercise regularly and like to run a lot, you should be replacing your shoes every 2 years, or as soon as they start showing signs of wear and tear.
Did you know that if you wear a women shoe size 81/2 or smaller you can get the kids’ version of the shoes? The shoes will provide the same support and structure, but you will pay half of the price for them! I explain this into more detail here: Women And Kids Shoe Size Conversion Chart – Save Big Buying Kids Shoes!