Mary Jane Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet – Supportive Outsoles with Firm Heel Counters
Do you have a child with flat feet who has been asking you for a pair of Mary Jane shoes? Most Mary Jane shoes don’t provide any support whatsoever, but I found a couple of styles that provide a stable base of support with firm heel counters to help support your child’s flat feet. With that said, children should wear their sneakers as their primary piece of footwear, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t wear casual shoes such as a Mary Jane for a couple of hours each day.
Can Shoes Help Treat Your Child’s Flat Feet?
Supportive shoes can help prevent foot and leg pain and improve your child’s walking gait and overall posture. So, to answer the question, should can definitely help treat flat feet.
My Practical Knowledge: Can Children with Flat Feet Wear Mary Jane Shoes?
While they can be worn, Mary Jane shoes shouldn’t be their primary piece of footwear. Children with flat feet should wear supportive sneakers for most of the day, but they can still wear casual shoes as long as you limit the amount of time that they wear them (a maximum of 4 hours a day).
What Makes the Mary Jane Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Kids with Flat Feet?
1️⃣ Supportive Outsole: The Mary Jane shoes that I recommend provide a supportive outsole that is going to help straighten your children’s feet by preventing them from collapsing and turning inwards. Take a look at the image below, do you notice how the Mary Jane shoe on the right has a more substantial outsole compared to the Mary Jane shoe on the left? I will provide you with a link to that specific Mary Jane shoe shortly.
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: The Mary Jane shoes that I recommend provide targeted support right below the heels. They also come with a firm heel counter which is going to help prevent your children’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards. Take a look at the image below, do you notice how the Mary Jane on the right has more padding and support right below the heels? I will also provide you with a link to that shoe.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture Supportive Mary Jane Shoes?
My go-to shoe brands that manufacture supportive Mary Jane shoes for kids are:
- Memo
- Dr. Martens
- Pediped
The Importance of Providing Your Child with the Correct Shoe Size
It’s a complete waste of time and money to buy shoes for your child that are the wrong size, as they won’t properly support your child’s feet and might end up creating foot issues such as blisters, corn, or ingrown toenails. I recommend taking your child to be properly fitted for shoes at your local shoe store, that way she can have her feet properly measured and the shoes properly fitted. By shopping at your local shoe store you will be supporting local businesses!
No Local Shoe Store? – Find Out How to Retrieve Your Child’s Shoe Size Online
I created a free virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.
Let’s now take a look at the list I have put together that describes the best Mary Jane shoes for kids with flat feet. 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.
Best Mary Jane Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet for Foot Support
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out what foot shapes that shoe can accommodate and what features the shoe provides. Many of the shoes featured below come in several color options, so if your girl likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style by Jabasic on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather made
- Firm heel counter and stable base of support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style by Akk on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather made
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style by Academie Gear on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather lined
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style by Dr. Martens on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Padded footbed
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Designed with a sole cemented outsole with a air-cushioned rubber outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style Cinderella by Memo on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rigid heel counter
- Recommended by physical therapists for correction of pronation, flat foot, tip toe walking, club foot
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style Princessa by Memo on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Rigid heel counter
- Recommended by physical therapists for correction of pronation, flat foot, tip toe walking, club foot
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style Maccy by Dr. Martens on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Padded footbed
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Designed with a sole cemented outsole with a air-cushioned rubber outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this Mary Jane shoe style Ainsley by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Padded footbed
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Upper, lining, and insole made of leather material
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Are Any Other Supportive Mary Jane Shoes Available?
The Mary Jane shoes that I recommend above are the most supportive ones that I have fitted before. That being said, send me an email if you need the Mary Jane shoes to be made of a specific color or material and I will try my best to help you find them.
Should You Provide Your Child with a Pair of Orthotics?
If you feel like your child might benefit from wearing an orthotic, you can definitely fit one inside of the Mary Jane shoes that I recommended. All of the Mary Jane shoes that I recommended provide extra depth, which helps allow extra space to fit an orthotic. However, whether the orthotics will fit inside the Mary Jane shoes I recommended directly depends on how much space the orthotics will take.
If you are unsure about what orthotic will work best for your child’s flat feet I suggest that you refer to the article on orthotic inserts for kids.
What Socks Should Children Wear with Mary Jane Shoes?
Most parents are confused as to what socks children should wear with their Mary Jane shoes. This is a personal preference, as the socks can be any length as long as they cover the back of your child’s ankles. It’s important that the socks cover at least your kids’ ankle area to prevent the formation of blisters.
What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids with Flat Feet?
Lastly, there is an article on everyday sneakers in case you are looking for these for your kid who has flat feet.
Help me make this resource even better by adding your Mary Jane shoe recommendations as well!
