Kids’ Shoes Certified by the American Podiatric Medical Association
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.
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 helps determine a chid’s exact foot length and shape from home.
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.
Boys
- Shoe style SRT SM Artie by Stride Rite
- 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 a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style 2510 Racer by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your baby’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style Wes by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SM Adamby Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Foam padding placed around the ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Martin by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Oversized opening and pull tab on the back offer easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kennedy by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SM Zip Runner by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite
- 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
Girls
- Shoe style SM Adalyn by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Zips Runner by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Padded tongue and collar
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Susie Mary Jane by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Black patent leather upper with full leather lining and insole
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Soft Motion Baby by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style Thompson by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite
- 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
- Shoe style Soft Motion Baby by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Shoe style StevieII by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rubber outsole is flexible yet durable and provides the needed traction for first steps
- Padded heel and tongue keeps the baby’s feet comfortable
- Wide openings make on and off quick and easy
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
If your child is already walking then I suggest that you take a look at this list of shoes for toddlers who are already walking confidently.
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:
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.
