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

Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with flat feet and your medical professional recommended a pair of New Balance shoes? Are you 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 brand, certain styles are a lot more supportive than others. I will show you a list of the best New Balance shoes for kids with flat feet based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.

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 have worked 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.

My mission now is to help families from all over the world find the perfect pair of shoes for their children online. If you’re pressed for time you can jump directly to the selection of the best New Balance shoes for children with flat feet.

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?

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?

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 causes 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?

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

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

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

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

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.

Some families still have good fitting local shoe stores, while some others families must buy their children’s shoes online.

If you don’t have a good fitting children’s shoe store in your area I suggest that you use a resource I created where I help parents retrieve their child’s exact foot shape and length.

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

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.

• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide

• Velcro closure

• Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape

• Extra Deep

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size 

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide

• Velcro closure

• Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape

• Extra Deep

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for toddlers

• 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

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for toddlers

• 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

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990v6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for little and big kids

• 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

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for little and big kids

• 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

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

• The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids

• 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids

• 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi is available for toddlers, 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

• AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Fresh Foam midsole cushioning

• TPU heel clip for stability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide

• Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style FuelCell Propel v5 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 527 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability

• Suede/mesh upper 

• Fits orthotics

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 2022 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support

• Leather and suede upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style FuelCell Propel v5 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles

• Fits orthotics

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Lace-up closure

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

Are You Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?

In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.

*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.

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 fitting 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. Go to the links below:

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:

[email protected]

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