Does your toddler have flat feet and your medical professional recommends wearing a pair of high top shoes? Are you having a hard time finding a pair of high top shoes that provide good support and can fit your toddler’s foot shape at the same time? There is a small selection of high top shoes for toddlers with flat feet, but the good news is that I will help you find them.
Is It Normal for Toddlers to Have Flat Feet?
It’s normal for children below the age of 4 or 5 to not have the arch fully developed. So, you might be wondering, if it’s normal for toddlers to have flat feet, why is your medical professional recommending high top shoes? The fact is that not all flat feet are the same. There are different degrees of flat feet, and depending on how flat your toddler’s feet are, your medical professional might want to take immediate action.
Children under the age of 5 who have flat feet might not complain about pain, but they have a treatable condition. Children over the age of 6 are not supposed to have flat feet.
Not All Flat Feet Are the Same – Take a Look at the Images Below!
Below you can find two images of two different toddlers that have been diagnosed with flat feet. Pay close attention to the foot posture in both images. Do those images look similar to you? The toddler in the first image seems to have a mild degree of pronation, while the toddler in the second image seems to have a moderate to a strong degree of pronation.
I wanted to show you that example so you can better understand how not all flat feet are the same. The toddler in the first image probably doesn’t need any treatment, but the toddler in the second image can probably benefit from wearing supportive shoes and/or insoles/orthotics.
Can Supportive Shoes Help Toddlers with Flat Feet?
Fitting your toddler in supportive shoes is a conservative way of treating your child’s flat feet.
The correct types of shoes can help improve your toddler’s foot posture and walking gait by preventing your toddler’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards.
Are High Top Shoes Better than Regular Sneakers?
Not necessarily. There are regular sneakers that provide supportive outsoles, firm heel counters, and straight lasts that provide the same levels of support as high top shoes. However, if your medical professional recommends that your toddler wears high top shoes, then I suggest that we follow his/her advice.
What Makes the High Top Shoes I Recommend Ideal for Toddlers with Flat Feet?
The high top shoes that I recommend provide 3 key features that make them ideal for toddlers with flat feet:
1️⃣ Supportive Outsole: The high top shoes that I recommend provide a substantial outsole that helps provide your toddler with a stable base of support to help improve your toddler’s foot posture and walking gait.
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counter: This is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support. The firmer the heel counter is, the better support it provides. This feature is going to help align your toddler’s feet by preventing them from collapsing and turning inwards.
3️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: The high top shoes that I recommend are supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time. Your toddler’s shoes should always bend at the toes but no further. If you can bend your toddler’s shoes as a spiral then it means that they won’t be supportive enough.
4️⃣ Removable Insoles: All of the high top shoes that I recommend come with removable insoles in case your medical professional wants you to fit an orthotic/insole inside the shoes.
Does Your Toddler Have Wide or Extra Wide Feet?
Keep in mind that none of the bells and whistles will matter if the shoe doesn’t fit your toddler’s foot shape correctly. In my experience, most toddlers tend to have wide or extra wide feet.
All of the high top shoes that I recommend below are capable of accommodating different foot shapes such as medium, wide, or extra wide feet. They can also accommodate high insteps. Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best High Top Shoes for Toddlers with Flat Feet
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out whether it can accommodate your toddler’s foot shape, the materials the shoes are made of, and the size you should order to allow for the correct amount of growing room.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable uppers on a flexible outsole that allow for maximum mobility and promote healthy foot development
- Padded tongue and collar add a layer of comfort
- Double velcro straps to provide your child with better control over how tight/loose he wants the boots to feel
- Machine washable
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Integrated heel support structure
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Built-in arch support
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Double velcro straps for better support and stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Round toe box allows for better balance, comfort, and foot health
- Removable insoles
- Breathable, latex-free textile lining keeps the foot cool and comfortable
- Order this boot the same size as your child’s foot size (boot fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Adjustable triple hook-and-loop closure
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Made of natural leather with foam padded upper elements of sensitive areas for better comfort
- Thermoplastic sturdy heel counter is similar to AFO brace for treatment
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
If you choose a high top shoe with laces instead of velcro closure, then I suggest that you make sure that the laces are properly tied at all times to make sure that your toddler gets the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer.
Are You Unsure About Which High Top Shoe You Should Choose?
If you don’t know which high top shoe will work best for your toddler’s feet you can ask your question in the comments section below or contact me via email:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!
Let’s take a look at an image of a flat footed toddler standing barefoot. Do you notice how the toddler’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Before Image
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter?
After Image
Wow! What a difference the correct types of shoes can make!
Let’s see what other families who already have tried some of the shoes I recommend have to say.
Families Testimonials – Get Inspired!
It’s important to note that what might work really well for some children might not work as well for others. It all depends on the degree of the child’s foot condition.
You should also ask your medical professional to recommend stretching exercises, as exercises to stretch the Achilles tendon may help some toddlers with flat feet.
How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online
For your toddler to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer, you must order the shoes in the correct size. Shoes that are too short or too long can compromise your toddler’s stability and create foot issues.
I suggest that you visit your local children’s shoe store to retrieve your toddler’s exact foot length and shape. If you don’t have a shoe store close by and you are unsure of your toddler’s foot shape (medium, wide, or extra wide) and foot length, I created a resource that will help you determine this in 2 simple steps:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
I always recommend parents be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Leaving your children’s foot conditions untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse and harder to manage.
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