Do you have a child that is 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.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We carry some of the most supportive children’s shoes and orthotics, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others.
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.
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. The good news is that I will show you a selection of the best shoes to treat and prevent your kids’ foot pain in the side of the foot.
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 always recommend parents take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at the local shoe store that they trust, where a shoe fitter can properly measure their feet and find shoes that fit. The issue is that not all parents know whether they have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in their area, so I created a resource that describes the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where to Go for Proper Fittings!
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a kids’ shoe store in your area, then proceed to read an article I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
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:
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:
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.
I created a couple of scenarios that will help you identify where your child’s foot pain is coming from and why the pain is happening:
- Pain in the bottom of the foot: your child might be flat-footed and the shoes might not be supportive enough.
- Pain in the top of the foot: this is probably due to your child having a high instep and the shoes being too shallow.
- Pain in the side of the foot: this is probably due to repetitive strain on the foot and the shoes being too narrow or not supportive.
- Pain in the back of the foot: this is probably due to your child having ankle pain and the shoes not providing a firm heel counter.
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?
Our feet are one of the hardest working parts of our bodies, and we must take proper care of them. I want to clarify something to parents: Never ignore your child’s foot or leg pain foot, it’s not normal, and no, it might not just be “growing pains”.
The reason why I mention this is that sometimes when parents take their children to their physical or occupational therapist, their response is to not worry about it since it’s likely just growing pains and the child will outgrow the pain soon.
At the children’s shoe store that I work for, several physical and occupational therapists refer families to the store to have their children fitted for shoes and orthotics. However, sometimes parents come to the store explaining that they were told that their children’s foot and leg pain was due to “growing pains”, and that they shouldn’t worry about it.
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.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with foot pain in the side of the foot who are experiencing pain in the side of the foot.
The Best Shoes for Kids’ Foot Pain in the Side of the Foot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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
These shoes all come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure as shoelaces provide better support to the feet.
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
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 current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
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.
Even if your children are extremely active, they shouldn’t be destroying their shoes before they are ready to outgrow them, so maybe what your child simply needs is just a pair of more durable shoes.
Are you dealing with foot pain in the side of the foot? I actually wrote an article where I describe the best shoes for women who have pain in the side of the foot. Go to the link below:
Foot Pain in the Side of the Foot – The Best Women’s Shoes to Reduce or Eliminate the Pain!
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 e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
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Thanks for sharing information through this blog. For the child’s purchasing the shoes from specialized children’s shoe store. Not wearing supportive shoes are biggest cause of children foot pain. And very clearly explain in your blog everything significant information in blog how can you save your children from foot pain.
Thank you!