Sandals for Kids with Curly Toes – Round Toe-Boxes with Extra Depth

July 13, 2025 Curly Toes Juan Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Have you noticed your child’s toes curling under, or has a doctor diagnosed them with curly toes? While this condition often improves naturally as kids grow, it’s important to keep an eye on it, since early intervention can prevent future problems. Curly toes happen when tight tendons cause one or more toes—usually the third, fourth, or fifth—to tuck under the foot. The right footwear, especially well-designed sandals, can help ease discomfort, promote proper alignment, and keep your child’s feet healthy and happy during their crucial growth years.

What Role Do Shoes Play in Helping Kids with Curly Toes?

Providing children with the wrong shoe style or shoe size can exacerbate the problem even more as they might crowd your child’s toes, causing the tendons of the toes to contract and tighten. Extended time in this position might cause a shift in the shape of your child’s foot, curling your child’s toes.

How Do Curly Toes Look Like?

Curly toes are contractures in the toes where the toe is pulling back and hammering into the ground or folding up underneath another toe. It can happen in all of the toes or one or two isolated toes.

Curly toes are easy to spot. Typically, one or more toes will appear bent at the joint, curving inward or under the foot.
Close-up photo showing a child’s foot, where the third toe noticeably curls under the others—a classic sign of curly toes.

Are Curly Toes a Problem?

Curly toes are quite common and are usually present at birth, and are also referred to as overlapping and underlapping toes. This condition tends to affect the third, fourth, and fifth toes. Curly toes become a problem when you start noticing any of the following conditions:

  • Flattening or thickening of your child’s toenails
  • Pain or discomfort when performing daily activities
  • Sores, corns, or blisters from pressure

When it comes to treating curly toes, I don’t recommend any type of intervention, but I do strongly recommend making sure that your child is wearing the correct pair of shoes in the correct size.

What Makes These Sandals Perfect for Kids with Curly Toes?

When selecting sandals for kids with curly toes, two primary features are crucial: round toe-boxes and extra depth.

Round toe-boxes provide ample space for the toes to spread out naturally. This design is particularly beneficial for children with curly toes, as it reduces the pressure on the toes and minimizes friction against the shoe. By allowing the toes to move freely, round toe-boxes encourage natural toe alignment and reduce discomfort.
Extra depth in sandals is essential for accommodating any additional space needed due to the curled positioning of the toes. This feature ensures that the foot sits comfortably without being cramped, providing a more relaxed fit.

Are Open Toed Sandals Better than Closed Toed Sandals?

The advantage of providing your child with a pair of open toed sandals is that you will be able to adjust how much pressure you put on your child’s toes. Open toed sandals come with an adjustable strap at the front for easy adjustability.

Finding the right sandals for your child can be a game-changer. Here are my top recommendations for 2025, focusing on extra depth and round toe-boxes for children with curly toes. Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links, earning us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Best Sandals for Kids with Curly Toes – Deep and Round

These are the roomiest sandals I’ve ever fitted, featuring extra depth and wonderfully rounded toe-boxes. Many styles even come in multiple widths, like medium (M) and wide (W), to ensure the perfect fit for growing feet.

1. Psyclone by Teva. These open-toe sandals for kids with curly toes are equipped with adjustable straps to help prevent putting any pressure on your child’s toes.

Open toe Teva sandal for toddler boys with wide feet.
Open toe Teva sandal for toddler girls with wide feet.

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Psyclone XLT1 by Teva on Zappos or Amazon
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports the foot
  • Rubber outsole for great traction
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

2. Cyrus IV by See Kai Run. These See Kai Run wide toe-box sandals are ideal for kids with curly toes as they are flexible, breathable, and provide ample room for the toes.

Navy blue See Kai Run sandal for kids with wide feet.
Wide-See-Kai-Run-sandals-for-girls

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Cyrus IV by See Kai Run on Amazon or Zappos
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Water-friendly and machine washable
  • Generous toe box and EVA molded footbed promotes healthy foot development
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

3. Seaturtle by Kamik. These open-toe sandals for kids with toes that curl under combine style with functionality. They offer great traction and are designed to withstand various terrains, making them ideal for both urban and rural settings.

Pink sandal with three adjustable straps for kids who wear AFOs or SMOs.
Sandal with three adjustable straps for kids who wear AFOs or SMOs.

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Wander by Kamik on Amazon or Zappos
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
  • Quick drying moisture wicking lining
  • Vegan-friendly
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

4. Adventurous Light-Weight by Dream Pairs. These Dream Pairs sandals for curly toes are lightweight and focus on comfort and durability, ensuring your child’s feet are well-supported during outdoor adventures.

Red sandals with triple Velcro straps for boys who wear AFOs or SMOs.
Sandals with triple Velcro straps for girls who wear AFOs or SMOs.

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Adventurous Light-Weight by Dream Pairs on Amazon
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet
  • Triple hook-and-loop closure system for easy on and off
  • Excellent grip
  • Lightweight MD footbed is cushioned for all-day comfort
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate

5. Hurricane by Teva. These open-toe sandals offer round toe-boxes and are ideal for kids with curly toes. The adjustable straps ensure a snug fit, accommodating your child’s toes comfortably.

Supportive red Teva sandal for kids with wide feet.
Supportive purple Teva sandal for girls with wide feet.

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Hurricane by Teva on Zappos or Amazon
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet
  • This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
  • Machine washable
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

6. Lucky Brand. These sandals have a Velcro strap on the back that allows the sandals to open up widely for easy on and off.

Sandal-for-toddlers-with-wide-feet

Key Features

  • Order the sandal Lucky Brand on Amazon
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Supportive footbed
  • Adjustable buckles at the front and velcro strap at the back for easy on and off
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

7. Archie by Stride Rite. These extra wide width sandals by Stride Rite provide round toe-boxes and extra depth to help your child’s toes spread comfortably.

Brown dress sandal for boys with wide feet.
Stride Rite white dress sandal for girls with wide feet.
  • Order the sandal Archie by Stride Rite on Amazon or Zappos
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Fisherman sandals with hook and loop closure
  • Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
  • Slip-resistant traction with sensory pod technology to help feel the ground underneath
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

When putting your child’s sandals on, I suggest that you gently press your child’s toes flat to the sole and then keep applying gentle pressure while sliding your child’s feet towards the front of the sandals.

Are These Sandals Easy to Get On and Off?

These sandals are designed to open up nice and wide, making it much easier for parents to slide them on and off their child’s feet. This feature is especially helpful for kids who tend to curl their toes, saving parents from the daily struggle of getting shoes on without a fuss.

What Shoe Size Should You Order? – Virtual Fitting Guide

Keep in mind that most sandals are not available in half sizes, they are available in whole sizes only. I suggest always rounding up so your child can wear the sandals for the whole summer season.

I’ve created a virtual guide to help parents order the correct size sandals. It includes visual instructions that are easy to follow, making the process less stressful. You will be able to retrieve your 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.

Reach Out for Specific Shoe Recommendations

Feel free to reach out with any questions and personalized recommendations tailored to your child’s foot shape.

See Kai Run breathable sneakers for kids.
A pair of everyday sneakers crafted with roomy round toe-boxes, generous depth, and flexible materials for all-day comfort and healthy foot movement.

What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids with Curly Toes?

While sandals are great for warm weather, sneakers are essential for everyday wear. I’ve put together a bonus resource featuring sneakers designed for children with curly toes. These options include sneakers with wide toe-boxes, extra depth, and flexible materials to accommodate unique foot shapes.

Why Does Your Child Have Curly Toes?

The most common causes of curly toes are:

  • Hereditary predisposition: If one or both parents have curly toes, their children are more likely to have them as well.
  • Abnormally tight flexor tendons pull the toes down and in towards the big toe.
  • Wearing shoes that are too short or too narrow.

Final Remarks

If your child complains about pain in the toes, it is important to have your child examined by a foot specialist to see what type of treatment might work best. Usually, the toes will get stiffer with time, which may require a more extensive surgical procedure if not corrected early.

The earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. When children are young, the deformity is flexible, and the older they get, the more rigid the deformity becomes, making the correction less successful. Simple non-surgical measures such as shoes with extra space across the toes may be helpful.