Kids’ Shoes for Cavus Foot – Extra Depth and a Firm Heel Counter!
Have you noticed that your child has excessively high arches? Children who have high arches are more prone to developing foot pain (especially around the heels), as well as other foot deformities such as bunions. Supportive shoes can help prevent your child’s foot pain by preventing your child from putting extra pressure on the outer part of the feet. To correct your child’s posture and prevent pain, I suggest trying supportive shoes and orthotics before trying a more invasive approach such as surgery.
What Are the Complications of Having High Arches?
Due to the high arch, most of the child’s weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot. This usually leads to excessive inward ankle rolling due to instability in the muscles of the lower leg. The issue with having high arches is that it throws the body out of alignment, and it also leads to uneven weight-bearing. This is what often leads to foot, leg, and lower back pain in the future.
What Causes Children to Have High Arches?
Most parents ask me why their children developed a cavus foot. In certain cases, it can be an inherited structural abnormality. However, this condition can also be caused by a neurologic disorder or other medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Charcot-Marie Tooth disease, spina bifida, polio, muscular dystrophy, or stroke.
The Challenges of Finding Shoes for Children with High Arches
Most families contact me to explain how challenging it is to find shoes for children with high arches. The main issue is that in addition to finding a supportive shoe, we need to find a shoe that can accommodate the shape of your child’s high arches. It’s important for your child to wear the correct type of shoes to prevent ankle sprains and stress fractures. However, finding shoes for a child with a high arch is not easy, as the shoes need to provide a stable base of support, firm heel counters, and straight lasts.
I have experienced firsthand the positive impact that supportive shoes can have in treating foot and leg pain, as well as helping a child walk and run straighter.
What a Difference the Correct Types of Shoes Can Make!
The correct pair of shoes will help align your child’s feet, preventing them from collapsing, which will allow your child to walk and run straighter. Don’t take my word for it, let me prove it to you. Let’s take a look at a picture of a child with a high arch and heels that turn inwards:
Now let’s take a look at a picture of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how straighter the feet are? The shoes are preventing the feet from collapsing and turning inwards.
I am going to provide you with a selection of the deepest and most supportive kids’ shoes, but first, let me show you how you can figure out if your child has cavus foot or not.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Cavus Foot?
1️⃣ Extra Depth: We already went over this feature and it basically consists of trying shoes that provide extra depth to allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of their feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Certain shoes are deeper than others:
2️⃣ Ankle Support: Children with cavus foot usually experience rolled ankles. It’s important to keep this area of your child’s feet properly supported and protected. Let’s take a look at the image below for clarification purposes. Do you notice how the heel counter of the shoe on the right is much firmer compared to the shoe on the left?
3️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: Your kids’ shoes must be supportive, but lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but not any further. Let’s take a look at the image below for clarification purposes:
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Start by taking a look at a resource that I created that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state. If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area, then take a look at an article that I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s exact foot 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.
The Best Kids’ Shoes for Cavus Foot – Supportive and Deep
These shoes can fit children with medium (M), wide (W) or extra wide feet (XW). Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Would You Rather Receive Specific Shoe Recommendations?
I understand that it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect pair of shoes for your child and without a doubt, children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Unsure If Your Child High Arches?
You will notice how the arch of your child’s feet is visibly high, like the one shown in the images below:
Some of the symptoms that you will notice are:
- Calluses on your child’s feet.
- Hammertoes.
- Frequent ankle sprains.
- Pain on your child’s feet when standing or walking.
Have you found a particular shoe that has worked well in accommodating your child’s high arches? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
