Kids Foot Pain in the Side of the Foot – Let’s Start by Checking Your Kids’ Shoes!

Do you have a child complaining about foot pain in the side of the foot? Did you know that most children’s foot pain is directly associated with the shoes that they wear and how they fit? Most children experience foot pain in the side of the foot from wearing shoes that are not supportive enough. The most effective way to treat and prevent your child’s foot pain is through wearing the correct type of shoes, and in some cases orthotics as well.

Is Your Child Complaining of Foot Pain?

I have noticed that most children won’t speak up when they are experiencing foot or leg discomfort, and when they do, it’s because the pain has significantly intensified.

When children start experiencing foot or leg pain, the first step is to check the shoes that they are wearing. Shoes play a key role in keeping your children’s feet healthy, and if they are not fitted properly or provide the correct amount of support, they can be a contributing cause of your child’s foot pain.

A child with heel pain.

For example, when children put repeated pressure on a particular area of their feet, that area and nerve can become irritated, causing an enormous amount of pain. Providing your child with shoes that provide good support minimizes the impact that your kids’ feet take every time that they come in contact with the ground.

I have noticed that most of the time a child complains about foot pain in the side of the foot, the pain is related to either the shoes being too narrow or not supportive enough.

How to Treat Foot Pain – Follow These 3 Easy Steps 

Follow these 3 easy steps to minimize or fully eliminate the pain that your child is experiencing in the side of the foot:

1️⃣ Make sure that your child is wearing the correct shoe size. I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

2️⃣ Make sure that the shoes that your child is wearing provide the correct amount of support. Several children experience foot pain in the side of the foot from being flat-footed and need extra support from their shoes.

The shoes that you provide for your child must come with a substantial outsole – with good arch support, and a firm heel counter – with good ankle support. Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides a substantial outsole and one that provides an unsupportive one:

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet

The heel counter is the part of the shoes that provides ankle support, and the firmer it is the better. A lot of parents don’t know where the heel counter of the shoe is located, so below you can find a picture for clarification purposes:

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

3️⃣ Make sure that your child is tying the shoes properly or pulling the velcro straps tightly. If the shoes are too loose your child won’t get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer.

Kids with Foot Pain – How it Affects Their Everyday Activities?

Did you know that foot pain in children can directly affect their daily activities and the simple things that they enjoy doing? 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 children’s foot conditions untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse.

I always start by checking those children’s shoes and sometimes the pain was simply due to the child wearing shoes that were either not the correct size or were not providing the correct amount of support. So please remember to always start by checking your kids’ shoes.

Now that you know the most common reasons why your child might be experiencing foot pain in the side of the foot, let’s take a look at the best kids’ shoes that come with a substantial outsole and provide good arch and ankle support. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

The Best Shoes for Kids’ Foot Pain in the Side of the Foot 

All of these shoe styles are also durable, meaning that it’s highly likely that your kids will outgrow their shoes before they wear them down. Since most children tend to outgrow their shoes anywhere between 3 to 5 months –depending on their age – they should always outgrow their shoes before they are ready to be replaced.

Are you dealing with foot pain in the side of the foot? There is a different website that describes the best shoes for women who have pain in the side of the foot.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style for your child. It doesn’t matter how narrow or wide your kids’ feet are, there is always at least one particular shoe style out there that will fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly, and I will help you find them. My email address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com