Are you looking for a pair of kids’ shoes that are certified by the American Podiatric Medical Association? The APMA Seal of Acceptance and Seal of Approval are only granted to shoes that promote good foot health.
I have been contacted by many families who only want to provide their children with shoes that are APMA certified. I will provide you with a list of kids’ shoes that are APMA approved based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.
Should Your Kids’ Shoes Have the APMA Seal of Approval?
APMA has podiatrists review and evaluate shoes for quality, safety, and overall wearability. Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. If the shoe meets their standards they award the APMA seal, which is granted to products found to promote good foot health.
Not all kids’ shoes are created equal. I have fitted many different shoe brands and styles and not all of them had the APMA seal of approval. With that said, many families prefer to provide their children with shoes that are APMA approved to have the peace of mind that they are doing everything that they can to keep their children’s feet healthy.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I work for a specialized children’s shoe store that focuses on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years, and I handle approximately one hundred shoe fittings/try ons per week.
I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that the correct type of shoes since early years can be life changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture Kids’ Shoes that are APMA Approved?
- See Kai Run
- Stride Rite
- Pediped
- Saucony
- Livie & Luca
- Sperry
- Hush Puppies
- Chaco
Based on my shoe fitting experience and having tested several different shoe styles among each of these shoe brands, I can tell you that not all shoes from these shoe brands provide the same features or fit the same way. Some of them work a lot better than others, and those are the ones I will describe shortly.
The Importance of Providing Your Child with the Correct Shoe Size
One factor that I like to emphasize to parents is that more importantly than buying shoes that are APMA approved is to make sure that you provide your child with the correct shoe size. If you provide your child with the wrong shoe size, it doesn’t matter whether the shoes promote healthy foot development or not.
Toddlers who can’t effectively communicate how poorly their shoes may be fitting are more prone to developing foot issues. Let me ask you this, how confident are you that you know your child’s true shoe size?
Shoes that are fitted too short, too long, too narrow, or too wide might affect your child’s walking gait and overall posture, and it can also lead to your child developing foot issues such as blisters, calluses, corn, or ingrown toenails.
Before you take a look at the list I have put together of kids’ shoes that are APMA approved I suggest that you retrieve your child’s exact foot length and shape. For example, do you know whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet? Or whether your child has a high instep or not?
The best way to make sure that your child’s shoes are the right fit is to have them measured in your local shoe store. Luckily, many shoe stores offer this as a free service.
Do You Have a Good Fitting Children’s Shoe Store in Your Area?
I suggest that you take your child to be properly fitted for shoes at your local specialized shoe store. The issue is that most specialized children’s shoe stores have been closing down (even before the COVID-19 pandemic), and most families don’t know where to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes.
I created a resource that showcases the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where to go for Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you don’t find a good fitting shoe store in your area I suggest that you use a resource I created that helps determine a chid’s exact foot length and shape from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Now that you know your child’s exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look t the best kids’ shoes certified by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Kids’ Shoes Certified by the American Podiatric Medical Association
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out whether that specific style can accommodate your child’s foot shape. Below each shoe image there is also information about how much growing room you should leave to provide your child with the correct amount of growing room.
Please remember that every shoe fits differently. I have fitted all of the shoes that I recommend below so I know how they fit and what features they provide.
Shoes for Children Who Are Learning How to Walk
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap and faux laces allow for a secure fit
- Rubberized toe cap to protect little toes
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- TPR full rubber outsole provides flexibility and traction
- Rubberized toe cap to protect little toes
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Leather outsole
- Breathable
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe based on your baby’s age
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- 100% leather
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe based on your baby’s age
Shoes for Children Who Are Already Walking
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Flexible and lightweight design allows for maximum mobility and promotes healthy foot development
- Roomy toe box allows the child’s feet to develop strength naturally
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Alternative closure with fixed lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Memory foam footbed
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than you child’s current foot size
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you are looking for a different pair of shoes for your child such as sandals, dress shoes, or boots, don’t hesitate to leave me a message in the comments section below or send me an email to:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Feel free to also email me If you’re worried about your child’s feet or you have been noticing any pains or problems.
The shoes that I recommended above are all APMA approved and I recommend them because I have fitted them before and I know how effective they are in accommodating different foot shapes and promoting healthy foot development.
Do You Must Provide Your Child with Shoes that are APMA Approved?
The short answer is no, there are plenty of children’s shoes that don’t have the APMA approval seal and are also an excellent choice in terms of keeping a child’s foot healthy.
Help me make this resource even better by adding your APMA shoe recommendations as well! I am sure that other families will benefit from reading about your experiences.
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