It can be upsetting to see your child develop an abnormal gait, but there are steps we can take to help improve your child’s balance, walking gait, and overall posture. I have helped hundreds of children walk and run straighter, and I can help your child too. Let me show you how to improve your child’s walking gait!
When children are growing, the normal development of the pelvis and the spine will suffer if there is a foot imbalance.
Are You Worried About Your Child’s Walking Gait?
➡️ If you have a baby who is learning how to walk and has noticeable gait abnormalities, you have nothing to worry about. When babies are learning how to walk, they have a hard time balancing and they tend to have a wider stance and take short and fast steps so as not to lose their balance.
➡️ If your child reaches 3 years old and you can notice obvious gait abnormalities, I suggest that you take action immediately.
What do I mean by taking action immediately? There are ways to help your child balance and walk and run straighter, and it all starts with wearing the correct type of shoes.
The Importance of Being Proactive – Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach”
It is a fact that many gait disturbances are common and correct themselves on their own. However, I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Leaving your child’s foot condition untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse.
Why would you wait for the condition to resolve on its own when you can considerably improve your child’s walking gait by providing your child with something so simple such as the correct type of shoes? I am not talking about corrective orthopedic shoes, just regular everyday sneakers that provide better support and stability.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been helping children with foot and leg problems for the last 10 years, working for a specialized children’s shoe store. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes for kids with foot and leg problems.
Why Does My Child Have an Abnormal Walking Gait?
In-toeing (feet curve inwards) and out-toeing (feet curve outwards) are the most common gait disturbances that cause parents to seek advice from their child’s doctor.
Do you know what these 2 conditions have in common? They can be corrected by wearing the correct type of shoes. Depending on the degree of your child’s foot condition we might have to fit an orthotic inside of the shoes for extra support, but it all starts with wearing the correct type of shoes.
These are the 4 most common reasons that lead to in-toeing and out-toeing:
- Flat Feet
- Tibial Torsion
- Knock Knees
- Toe-Walking
How Do I Fix My Child’s Walking Gait?
As I mentioned before, the most effective way to improve your child’s walking gait is by wearing the correct type of shoes. Don’t just take my word for it, let me prove it to you!
Let’s take a look at an image of a child with flat feet who has an abnormal walking gait. The first image shows the child standing barefoot. Do you notice how the feet are collapsing and turning inwards? This is shifting the child’s body out of alignment and affects the child’s overall posture.
Once the feet are pronated, 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.
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of unsupportive shoes. Do you notice how the child’s feet are still collapsing and turning inwards?
Let’s see what happens when we fit that same child in a pair of supportive shoes I recommend. The child’s feet look a lot straighter. The shoes are going to allow the child to walk and run straighter, improving the child’s walking gait and overall posture.
What a difference the correct type of shoes can make!
How to Improve Your Child’s Walking Gait! – Watch Video!
Watch how the same young kid with flat feet and low muscle tone benefited from wearing the shoes I recommended.
Other Ways to Help Your Child with Balance Problems
Another common cause of balance problems in children is wearing shoes that are too small or too large. If your child suddenly starts tripping, falling, or having other issues walking or running start by making sure the shoes are the correct size.
If you are unsure whether your child’s shoes are fitting correctly you can refer to the article below:
How Can I Make Sure My Kids’ Shoes Fit? – Learn the Secret Here!
I am going to provide you with a selection of supportive sneakers that have proven to be the most effective ones for children with walking gait problems. However, for these sneakers to benefit your child, you need to make sure that you order them in the correct size.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I developed the most effective way to determine your child’s exact foot size from your home and will personally assist you with a custom fitting tailored to your child’s individual needs. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine their child’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height. If you are unsure of 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
Without further ado, let’s take a look at how to improve your child’s walking gait. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes to Help Improve Your Child’s Walking Gait ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The shoes below are capable of fitting children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide feet (XW).
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
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.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If your child happens to have narrow feet contact me directly and I will send you specific shoe recommendations:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
All of the shoes I recommend come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces provide better support and stability. I understand this can be inconvenient for certain families but you won’t believe what a difference a pair of shoes with shoelaces can make.
Can Orthotics Help Improve My Child’s Walking Gait?
There will be certain cases in which a pair of supportive shoes might not be enough to improve your child’s walking gait. Whether your child might be a candidate for orthotics depends on the degree of your child’s foot condition.
I have found certain orthotics to be extremely efficient when it comes to helping children walk and run straighter. However, there are so many over-the-counter orthotics available that sometimes is hard for parents to choose the most appropriate one for their kids.
There is one specific orthotic that provides excellent arch and heel support, and at the same time is not as invasive as other orthotics. This means that this orthotic allows the child’s foot and leg muscles to develop on their own while supporting them. If you believe your child might be a candidate for orthotics you should refer to the article below:
The Best Orthotics for Pronation – STOP Your Kids’ Foot and Leg Pain!
How Can I Tell if My Child Has Walking and Stability Problems?
- The first step is to observe your child entering a room. Pay close attention to your child’s speed, stride, and balance.
- The second step is to ask your child to walk across the end of the room, turn, and come back.
- The third step is to ask your child to walk heel to toe in a straight line.
- The fourth step is to ask your child to hop in place on each foot.
- The fifth step is to rise from a chair and walk forward across the room, turn, and come back to you.
If your child’s walking gait doesn’t improve after trying one of the shoes I recommend, I suggest that you take your child to the doctor for further evaluation. There could be other underlying conditions not related to your child’s feet or legs, such as ear infections, severe headaches, and certain medications to more serious neurological disorders, head or neck injuries.
I encourage parents to share their experiences in the comment section below about whether their toddlers or older children were able to overcome their walking and balance issues. This way other families who might be going through the same situation can benefit from your experiences.
Leave a Reply