Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on February 2022 and reflects up-to-date information on how to figure out if your child has flat feet.
Children with flat feet that overpronate tend to experience foot, leg, hip, and lower back pain. I get contacted by parents from all over the world asking me if I can help them determine if their children are flat-footed or not.
Keep in mind that it’s normal for most babies to be flat-footed. As your baby starts growing up, you will notice how the arch starts to develop under the foot. Children can develop an arch until the age of 5, and this is because the feet go through an ossification process where the feet develop arch support and bone tissues for proper development of the feet. In some cases, the feet remain flat.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now. This experience has afforded me many insights into children’s shoes and the way they fit. Our store specializes in shoes for children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
Most parents of flat-footed children are referred to the store by their physical/occupational therapists, to have their children fitted for supportive shoes and in certain cases orthotics as well, depending on their degree of pronation. We also see hundreds of families who come to the store and have no clue that their children are flat-footed.
From my experience fitting thousands of kids, I have become familiar with the best shoe brands for children with flat feet and the best styles among those brands.
Did you know that the way that your child’s feet strike the ground has a significant effect on their body? When children are flat-footed, they don’t have an arch below their feet to minimize the impact that their feet take when every time they touch the ground. This means that your children’s feet are not able to absorb the force of their bodies. The muscles and joints in their feet need to work harder to try to correct that imbalance. This often leads to issues in other parts of their body such as the knees, hip, and lower back.
The Complications of Having Flat Feet
The biggest problem with being flat-footed is how the feet collapse and roll inwards when standing. This throws the body out of proper alignment, leading to poor posture habits. Flat feet might also lead to foot and leg pain.
For example, let’s take a look at how the foot of a flat-footed child with overpronation strike the ground. Do you notice how the left foot is rolling inwards as it strikes the ground?
I want to help you identify whether your child is flat-footed or not, since this is one of the most common reasons why children experience foot and leg pain.
How to Figure Out if Your Child Has Flat Feet
The pictures below will help me determine whether your child has flat feet or not, and additional information such as whether your child has rolled ankles. Below you can find examples of how the pictures should look like:
This image helps determine whether your child is flat footed and whether your child has a high instep or not.
This image helps determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
This image helps determine whether your child has rolled ankles or not.
Where Should You Send the Images?
Once you have the images ready you need to email them at:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
If you are already sure that your child has flat feet and needs a pair of supportive shoes then take a look at the selection below.
The shoes below will help your child maintain a corrected foot position, distribute pressure evenly and provide support to the bottom of the feet and ankles. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These shoes can fit children with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 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 feet
- 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, or extra wide feet
- 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
- Available in medium and wide feet
- 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 boot half a size larger than your child’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 child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Adjustable double hook and loop closure
- Built-in multi-dimensional orthotic support
- Order this shoe half a 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 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
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 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
- 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
- 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 and 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
- Fits medium, and wide feet
- 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
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
- 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
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium feet
- 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
In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
You will notice how all of the shoes that I recommend come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces provide better support and stability. If your child must wear a pair of shoes with velcro closure, please contact me directly with your child’s shoe size (length and width), and I will send you specific velcro shoe recommendations:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Flat Feet?
There are 4 main reasons why the shoes I recommend are so effective in helping treat flat-footed children:
✅ Substantial Outsole: This feature prevents your child’s feet from collapsing and keeps your kids’ feet straight. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial sole versus a shoe with a sole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
✅ Straight Lasts: This feature helps prevent the forefoot from pushing out:
✅ Firm Heel Counter: This feature provides ankle support to your child and supports your child’s heels in case your child is dealing with heel eversion or inversion. Certain shoes provide firmer heel counters, while some others come with soft and flimsy ones. Let me show you the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter vs a shoe with a softer one:
✅ Lightweight and Flexible: While we want the shoes to be supportive, we want them to be lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your child’s shoes should be able to bend at the ball of the foot but no further. If you can flex your kids’ shoes like a spiral, then it means that the shoes are too flexible and won’t provide good support to your child’s feet.
Kids with Flat Feet – What a Difference a Shoe Makes!
Let’s take a look at the image below of a flat footed child without wearing shoes:
I asked the mother if she could send me another image of the same child wearing her current shoes to check whether the shoes were supporting the child’s feet properly. Below is the image of the child wearing her sneakers. Do you notice how the shoes are trying to prevent the child’s feet from rolling inwards but the feet are still collapsing and turning inwards?
I advised the mother of the child to provide her with one of the shoes that I recommend. Below is an image of the same child wearing her new pair of shoes. Do you notice how straighter the child’s feet look? The shoes are preventing the child’s feet from collapsing, which is improving the child’s overall posture.
As you can see, the type of shoes that you provide for your child plays a key role in keeping your child’s feet healthy. Something so simple such as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can help treat and prevent most foot problems.
The correct type of shoes will allow your children to perform their everyday activities without pain. However, for your child to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer, you are going to have to provide your child with the correct shoe size.
Make sure that your children tie their shoes properly since if the shoelaces are not properly tied, your child won’t get as much support and stability from the shoes.
I hope this post is useful for you, feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.
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