How to Tie Shoes for Kids Who Wear AFOs – Follow These 3 Simple Steps

June 23, 2025 Shoe Lacing Techniques Juan Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Does your child wear AFOs due to a foot or leg condition? The way you tie their shoes can make a big difference in how well the braces function. Even if you’ve found shoes that work with AFOs, you might notice extra space around the heels—this can impact support and stability. A co-worker with over 20 years of experience in children’s shoe fitting taught me the most effective shoe-tying method for AFOs. I’ll walk you through three easy steps to ensure your child’s shoes fit securely and comfortably over their braces.

Get Extra Support and Stability with the Right Lacing Technique

Properly lacing your child’s shoes can make all the difference—helping the feet stay secure, maximizing the AFO’s support, and preventing unwanted movement inside the shoes. The technique I recommend gently pulls your child’s feet toward the back of the shoe, ensuring a snug, stable fit.

How to Tie Shoes for Kids Who Wear AFOs

Begin by leaving the two top eyelets unlaced.
Go through the top eyelet first.
Go through the eyelets that you left open.

You’ll probably need to replace the original shoelaces, as they’re often too short once AFOs are fitted inside the shoes. Longer laces are essential to comfortably secure the shoes over the braces and ensure a snug, supportive fit—especially when orthotics are involved.

Getting the Correct Shoelaces for Your Child’s Shoes

Choosing the right type of shoelaces is just as important as the tying technique itself. Durable and reliable laces, such as the Greatlaces ProAthletic™ Oval-Bubbles, are designed to withstand the rigors of daily use. These laces are particularly suitable for children who wear AFOs, as they offer excellent grip and do not easily come undone.

Pink oval laces for kids.
Navy blue oval laces for kids.
  • Order these shoelaces made by GREATLACES on Amazon
  • The packing contains two pairs of laces
  • Order the correct lace length by counting how many eyelets (shoe holes) your child’s shoes have
  • Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links

How to Get the Correct Shoelace Length

I typically replace the original laces with longer ones—usually 45 or 54 inches. To find the right length, start by counting how many eyelets (shoe holes) your child’s shoes have. Then, choose laces based on that number—but since your child is wearing AFOs, it’s best to size up for extra length to ensure a secure and comfortable fit over the braces.

For example, if your child’s shoes have 5 eyelets, go with 40″ laces instead of 36″. For 6 eyelets, choose 45″ instead of 40″. The extra length helps ensure a secure fit over the AFOs—simple adjustment, big difference!

Bonus Resource: Best Sneakers for Kids Who Wear AFOs

Finding the right sneakers can make a world of difference for children who wear AFOs. There are only a few supportive shoes that are compatible with AFOs and if you don’t choose the correct type of shoe you will decrease the efficiency of the AFOs. The shoes are the ones that connect the AFO to the ground and if the shoe doesn’t offer the correct type of structure and support, the AFOs will not benefit your child as they are intended.