New Balance Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet – Find Out Which are the Most Supportive Styles!

March 21, 2022 Flat Feet Juan Valenzuela 6 - Comments

Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with flat feet and you are unsure about which specific New Balance shoe you should buy for your child? Children who have flat feet can strongly benefit from wearing shoes that provide good support and structure, and among the New Balance shoe line, certain styles are a lot more supportive than others. The most supportive New Balance shoes for kids with flat feet provide a stable and cushioned base of support, firm heel counters, and straight lasts.

How Do I Know Which New Balance Shoes Are Better for Kids with Flat Feet?

The shoe store where I work helps children with flat feet (and other foot conditions) find the correct pair of shoes for their feet. I work closely with many physical and occupational therapists who want their patients to be fitted for supportive shoes, and depending on the degree of their flat feet, orthotics as well.

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Are New Balance Shoes More Supportive than Other Shoe Brands?

There are specific shoe styles among New Balance that work really well for children with flat feet. New Balance is definitely one of my go-to shoe brands for children with flat feet because of how supportive their shoes are and also because they can accommodate different foot shapes (medium, wide, extra wide).

Most medical professionals prefer New Balance shoes over other shoe brands for children with flat feet because the shoes provide 3 key features that makes them ideal for flat feet:

1️⃣ Straight Lasts: This feature helps improve your child’s foot posture by preventing the forefoot from pushing out. You need to stay away from shoes that have an excessively curved last as they lack heel stability. Most Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour shoes come with a curved or semi-curved last.

Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. Do you notice how the shoe on the right (New Balance) has a straight last compared to the Under Armour shoe on the left?

children's-shoes-with-straight-lasts

2️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: Shoes with supportive outsoles help improve foot posture and realign your kids’ feet by preventing them from collapsing. Let me show you the difference in support between one of the New Balance shoes that I recommend and a different style.

Do you notice how the New Balance shoe on the right has a more supportive outsole compared to the Saucony shoe on the left?

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet

3️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: When a child has flat feet you don’t only support the arch. You mechanically control the parts of the foot that cause the foot to be flat, including the heel bone. The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support. Always make sure that the heel counter of your kids’ shoes feels firm and sturdy.

Do you notice how the New Balance shoe on the right has a firmer heel counter compared to the Nike shoe on the left?

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

Before and After Images of Children with Flat Feet

Let’s take a look at an image of a child with flat feet standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

Before Image

girl-with-flat-feet

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of the New Balance shoes that I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter?

After Image

supportive-shoes-for-girls-with-flat-feet

Wow! What a difference the correct pair of shoes can make!

Let’s take a look at another example of a child with flat feet standing barefoot and then wearing a pair of the New Balances shoes that I recommend. The image below shows a child with flat feet standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards? The overpronation on the right foot is more pronounced than on the left one.

Before Image

child-with-flat-feet-and-a-strong-degree-of-pronation

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter?

After Image

child-with-flat-feet-wearing-supportive-shoes

Pretty amazing, right? The right foot looks a lot straighter. Something so simple such as providing your flat footed child with the correct pair of shoes can make a world of a difference!

Can Supportive Shoes Make My Child’s Feet Weaker?

This is a question that I get asked by many parents, and the answer is no. I like to make the analogy that supportive shoes are like glasses for your child’s feet. When you have bad eyes you wear glasses, does it cure your eyes? No, but it makes you see better and you can function normally. Supportive shoes are like glasses for your child’s feet.

The Importance of Providing Your Child with the Correct Shoe Size

It’s important to note that your child won’t get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer if the shoes are not fitted correctly. If the shoes are not the correct size, your child won’t get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer. If you don’t have a good fitting children’s shoe store in your area I suggest that you use a virtual shoe fitting service I created that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best New Balance shoes for kids with flat feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best New Balance Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet to Improve Posture, Balance, and Prevent Pain

The New Balance shoes that I recommend below are available in different widths and several color options, so if your child likes a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.

  • 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
  • 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
  • Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
  • Extra Deep
  • 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 Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
  • Extra Deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • 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
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • 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
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or 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 DynaSoft v5 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium or 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
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Velcro closure
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
  • TPU heel clip for stability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • 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 527 by New Balance on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
  • Suede/mesh upper 
  • Fits orthotics
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
  • Leather and suede upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • Fits orthotics
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • 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

If you want to access a broader selection of shoes for children with flat feet I suggest that you look at a different resource I created where I provide a list of supportive shoes for kids with flat feet.

Make Sure that Your Kids’ Shoes Are Properly Tied At All Times!

Shoes with shoelaces provide better support and stability compared to shoes with velcro closure. However, if the shoes are not properly tied, your child won’t get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer.

Are Any Other New Balance Shoes that Work Well for Children with Flat Feet?

The shoes that I recommended above are the most supportive ones made by New Balance. There are plenty of children’s shoes made by New Balance but the ones I recommended are the most supportive ones.

Should I Provide My Child with a Pair of Orthotics as Well?

This depends on the degree of your child’s flat feet and whether your child is experiencing any foot or leg pain. I usually suggest trying a pair of supportive shoes first and monitoring whether the child’s foot posture and walking gait improve.

Some families decide that they want to try orthotics right away, which is fine as long as they make sure that they are fitted correctly inside the shoes.

How About Sandals and Boots for Children with Flat Feet?

I created different resources that describe the best sandals and boots for children with flat feet.

If you are looking for a specific shoe to accommodate your child’s flat feet you can leave me a comment in the section below or send me an email:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Help me make this resource even better by adding your favorite shoes for children with flat feet.