Orthopedic Sandals for Kids – The Best Supportive Summer Sandals
Finding supportive sandals for your child can be surprisingly difficult. While most children’s sandals are lightweight and breathable, many lack the support needed for growing feet—especially if your child has flat feet, overpronation, weak ankles, low muscle tone, high arches, or another foot or gait condition.
As a certified children’s shoe fitter with over 10 years of experience, I’ve helped hundreds of families find supportive sandals that improve comfort, stability, and overall foot posture during the summer months. In this guide, I’ll explain what makes a sandal supportive, which children benefit most from orthopedic sandals, and share the sandals I recommend most often based on the children’s feet I’ve fitted over the years.
What Are Orthopedic Sandals?
Orthopedic sandals are sandals designed with supportive features that help improve foot alignment, stability, and overall comfort. Unlike traditional sandals, orthopedic sandals are built to better support growing feet and are particularly beneficial for children with certain foot or gait conditions.
Most supportive sandals include:
- Supportive footbeds
- Firm heel counters or deep heel cups
- Stable outsoles
- Multiple adjustable straps
- Better shock absorption
While orthopedic sandals cannot correct an underlying foot condition, they can improve your child’s comfort and stability throughout the summer.
Does Your Child Need Orthopedic Sandals?
Not every child needs orthopedic sandals. However, supportive sandals can be especially beneficial for children with:
- Flat feet
- Overpronation
- Weak ankles
- Low muscle tone
- Hypermobility
- High arches
- Heel pain (Sever’s disease)
- Mild balance or coordination issues
- Foot fatigue after prolonged walking
- Children who wear orthotics during the school year
If your child has no pain or gait concerns, a flexible yet supportive sandal is usually sufficient.
Can Orthopedic Sandals Improve Foot Posture and Balance?
One of the most common questions parents ask me is whether supportive sandals actually make a difference.
The answer is yes—but only if your child truly needs the additional support.
The right sandals can help:
- Improve stability while walking and running
- Reduce excessive foot collapse
- Improve balance
- Reduce foot and leg fatigue
- Improve overall comfort
- Support healthier walking mechanics
It’s important to understand that supportive sandals don’t “fix” flat feet or other foot conditions. Instead, they provide additional stability that allows children to walk and play more comfortably.
Key Features Every Supportive Sandal Should Have
Over the past decade, I’ve evaluated thousands of children’s shoes and sandals. Regardless of the brand, the most supportive sandals consistently share the following characteristics.
1. Supportive Footbed. A contoured footbed helps distribute pressure more evenly across the foot while providing gentle arch support.
2. Firm Heel Counter or Deep Heel Cup. A stable heel keeps the foot properly aligned and reduces excessive inward rolling.
3. Multiple Adjustable Straps. Look for sandals with two or three adjustable straps to accommodate different foot shapes, high insteps, and orthotics when needed.
4. Lightweight Construction. Children should never feel like they’re wearing heavy orthopedic shoes during the summer. Lightweight materials improve comfort without sacrificing support.
Can You Fit Orthotics Inside Orthopedic Sandals?
Yes, as the orthopedic sandals that I recommend have an enclosed heel counter which will allow you to fit an orthotic inside the sandals. However, many find that the built-in support of orthopedic sandals is sufficient without additional orthotics.
My Top Orthopedic Sandal Recommendations
The sandals below are the ones I recommend most frequently because they’ve consistently provided excellent results for the children I’ve worked with.
For each sandal, I explain who it’s best for, why I recommend it, and the features that make it supportive. This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase.
1. Betti and Pedro by Memo
Over the years, the Betti and Pedro orthopedic sandals by Memo have become two of my favorite recommendations for children who need maximum support during the summer. Unlike most children’s sandals, these styles provide the structure of an orthopedic shoe while keeping little feet cool and comfortable.
I frequently recommend these sandals for children with flat feet, overpronation, weak ankles, low muscle tone, and mild balance issues. Their firm heel counter, supportive footbed, and orthopedic construction help improve stability and encourage a healthier walking pattern.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Orthopedic sandal
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper foot protection and support
- Genuine leather lining
- Fitting tip: size a full size up from your child’s current foot length
2. Orthopedic Sandals by Princepard
If you’re looking for a supportive orthopedic sandal at a more affordable price, the Princepard sandals are worth considering. I’ve recommended these sandals to many families whose children need additional stability but don’t necessarily need a premium orthopedic sandal.
The combination of three adjustable straps, a supportive footbed, and a long, firm heel counter makes this sandal an excellent choice for children with flat feet, overpronation, and mild gait concerns.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 adjustable Velcro straps for easy on and off
- Long, firm heel counter helps improve stability and maintain correct foot posture
- Fitting tip: size a full size up from your child’s current foot length
3. Agnes and Michael by Memo
The Agnes and Michael orthopedic sandals by Memo are another excellent option for children who need extra support without sacrificing comfort. I especially like recommending these sandals for children with high insteps because the adjustable straps make it much easier to achieve a secure, comfortable fit.
Their anatomically shaped footbed, orthopedic construction, and firm heel counter help improve stability while maintaining proper foot alignment throughout the day.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 100% leather made
- Ability to adjust the Hook and Loop strap length to the different foot width
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
Every child’s feet are unique, and choosing the right sandals depends on factors such as foot shape, arch type, and the presence of any foot or gait conditions. If you’re unsure which sandals are best for your child, feel free to contact me. Based on the measurements you provide and your child’s specific needs, I’ll recommend the most supportive options to help keep your child comfortable and active throughout the summer.
Virtual Shoe Fitting
Even the most supportive sandal won’t perform as intended if it doesn’t fit correctly. That’s why I created my virtual shoe fitting service. Using your child’s measurements, I’ll help you determine the correct size, foot width, and growing room so you can confidently order sandals online.
Bonus Resource: Orthopedic Sneakers for Kids
During the school year or for sports and playground activities, many children benefit from wearing supportive sneakers instead of sandals. If you’re looking for year-round support, be sure to check out my guide to the best orthopedic sneakers for kids.
Watch: How to Choose Supportive Sandals for Kids
Before choosing a pair of sandals, I recommend watching the short video below. I explain the features I look for when fitting children with foot and gait conditions and demonstrate why some sandals provide significantly more support than others.
I know choosing the right sandals can feel overwhelming, especially if your child has a foot or gait condition. The good news is that with the right combination of support, fit, and adjustability, your child can stay active and comfortable all summer long. If you have any questions about your child’s foot shape or need help selecting the right sandals, leave a comment below. I personally read and respond to every comment and am always happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. High-quality orthopedic sandals are designed for everyday wear during warm weather. They provide excellent support for walking, playing, vacations, and other summer activities while keeping children’s feet cool and comfortable. I do suggest switching to a pair of supportive sneakers during the day.
Supportive sandals can improve comfort and stability for children with flexible flat feet, especially those experiencing pain or fatigue.
For children who need additional support, orthopedic sandals are often worth the investment. Their supportive design can improve comfort, reduce fatigue, and help children remain active throughout the summer. If your child has healthy feet and no gait concerns, a regular supportive sandal may be a more cost-effective option.
I am ISO of new summer sandal for my child who has flat feet and falls often, he also plays soccer. In the past he has worn Merrell sandals but do you have any recommendations for a good supportive sandal, with closed toes? I had also wondered about boots for the colder season. He currently wears a little kid 13. Thanks!
Hello Jess,
Has your child tried Keen sandals before? They are some of the most supportive and durable kids summer sandals. They are my to-go sandals for children with flat feet and stability issues. I believe you mention in another comment that your child has narrow feet, am I correct?
If your child has narrow feet, this is the Keen sandal style that fits the narrowest:
Keen Sandal for Boy with Narrow Feet
If I am mistaken and your boy doesn’t have narrow feet, here is another style that you can try:
Supportive Sandal for Flat Feet
Is it going to get colder soon where you live? When the winter season comes I will be able to recommend good supportive boots for his feet.
Hello! Do the shoes recommend work with an SMO brace? My daughter has the Sure Step SMO braces and I can’t find sandals to fit her. Thanks!
Hello Natalie,
I have never had a child wear orthotics with sandals. When children have a foot condition then I recommend that during the summer they wear a good supportive sandal and then switch back to his or her sneakers with orthotics. If you want to fit your daughter’s SMO braces in a pair of sandals these are the only sandals that will be able to accommodate them. These are the most supportive sandals for children with foot issues.
If you decide to try a pair of sandals without the SMO braces you should try Keen sandals. Here is a link to that article:
Sandals for Kids with Flat Feet – Supportive, Lightweight, Flexible, and Durable!
If you decide to try them, please let me know how they work out.
thanks
Thank you! What are your thoughts on Natives Jefferson?
Hello Ruth,
They are great as a casual summer shoes but I wouldn’t wear it more than 5 hours a day since they don’t offer a lot of support. You can learn more about Natives shoe styles in this article I wrote:
Native Shoes – The Must Have Shoe For The Summer
I hope this helps!
Hi Juan Pablo,
Thank you for writing this helpful article! I am only able to see 4 sandals, all of them are Keen ones. I can’t see the “second row” that you refer to.
Thank you,
Ruth
Ruth,
I checked and it’s working fine for me. Please try refreshing your page.