How to Order the Correct Shoe Size for Your Child’s SMOs – Follow These 4 Simple Steps

July 14, 2025 SMOs Juan Valenzuela 2 - Comments

Does your child need to wear Supra-Malleolar Orthosis (SMOs) and are you having a hard time finding shoes to accommodate their SMOs? Are you frustrated about buying shoes in multiple sizes and having to return them all? Before diving into the steps, let’s briefly understand what SMOs are. Supra-Malleolar Orthotics are designed to stabilize the ankle and foot, providing support for children who have conditions like flat feet, pronation, or low muscle tone. The orthotic wraps around the ankle, offering more control than standard orthotics.

Unlike AFOs, SMOs for children don’t extend much higher than the ankle, and when worn with shoes, they are less visible. In addition, most SMOs don’t have a footplate that extends over the toes.
Some SMOs are designed with a footplate that extends over the toes, providing extra support and stability.

The type of brace your child needs depends on the severity of their foot or leg condition. Even the best SMOs or AFOs won’t be effective if paired with the wrong shoes, as a poor fit can cancel out their benefits.

How to Order the Correct Shoe Size for Your Child’s SMOs

I have created a free online resource to help parents figure out exactly what shoe size they need to order for their child’s SMOs.

Step One: Measure your child’s SMO footplate (if it extends over your child’s toes).

Only follow this step if your child’s SMOs have a footplate extending over the toes. For these types of braces, measure from the back of the heel cup to the tip of the longest part at the front. Take note of the measurement—or feel free to email me a photo of it—to ensure we get the perfect shoe fit without any confusion.

Step Two: Measure your child’s foot length to determine what shoe size to order.

Measure both feet to the tip of the longest toe while your child is standing, as on weight-bearing the foot becomes longer. This helps avoid buying shoes that are unnecessarily large for SMOs. Record the longest measurement in inches or centimeters, or email me a photo to ensure accuracy. You can follow the instructions in this video for better visualizations purposes.

Step Three: Take photos to retrieve your child’s exact foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide).

To help determine your child’s exact foot shape, simply snap two photos of their feet like the examples below. For a more accurate assessment, you can record a video of your child’s feet as shown here: Sample Video

Step Four: Share this information via e-mail.

As a last step, email me your child’s feet and SMO measurements so I can tell you exactly what shoe size you should order for your child. Once I receive your child’s measurements I will respond within 24 hours.

Thereafter, with accurate measurements of your child’s shoes and SMOs, you’ll have a reliable reference point for shopping online. That being said, sometimes even when you know the exact shoe size you need to order, you might have to end up ordering more than one shoe, as there is a lot of trial and error when fitting shoes for orthotics and generally shoes fit differently.

Is this Service Free of Cost?

Absolutely—this service is completely free. I’m deeply passionate about fitting children’s shoes because the right footwear can truly be life-changing. Children’s feet are always growing and developing, and the choices we make during these years can impact their overall health and movement as they get older.

It’s important to remember that just because a shoe fits over the SMO doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your child’s feet. Wearing shoes that are too large can compromise stability and increase the risk of falls. Since one of the main goals of an SMO is to improve stability, putting your child in oversized shoes can defeat the purpose of wearing the brace in the first place.

Additional Resources for Children Who Wear SMOs

Finding the right shoes for children with SMOs can be challenging, but there are additional resources available to help.

If you’d like more guidance on finding the right shoes for a child who wears SMOs, check out the articles below. Keep in mind that the most important footwear for children in SMOs is their everyday sneakers, as these provide the best support and comfort for daily wear. For warmer days or different occasions, I’ve also included a resource on the best sandals for kids who wear SMOs.

If you wish to support the work of Fitting Children’s Shoes, you can Donate Here. Your support helps the community as we strive to assist families around the world to find the correct shoes for their children, regardless of their foot shape or condition.