Sandals for Kids with Curly Toes – Round Toe-Boxes with Extra Depth
Have you noticed that your child’s toes curl under? Did your medical professional diagnose your child with curly toes? Even though this condition commonly resolves on its own as the foot grows, it should be monitored closely as early intervention is critical in treating this condition. I already created several resources that describe the best sneakers for children with curly toes, but in this article, I will focus on describing the best sandals for kids with curly toes.
If you’re pressed for time, you can jump directly to the selection of sandals for kids with curly toes.
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.
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
It’s important to keep a close eye on your child’s feet as persistent, problematic toes beyond the age of 5 years may require surgery.
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.
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 Shoes Work Best for Kids with Curly Toes?
Curly toes is one of the more common foot problems in childhood, and providing children with the correct types of shoes is critical to help treat this condition and don’t make it worse.
During the summertime, parents are confused as to what shoes their children should wear. I have put together a list of the best sandals for kids with curly toes, and I will show you this list shortly.
What Makes the Sandals that I Recommend Ideal for Kids with Curly Toes?
The sandals that I recommend provide two key features that make them ideal for kids with curly toes:
1️⃣ Rounded Toe-Boxes: The sandals that I recommend provide rounder toe-boxes to help prevent your child’s toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the sandals. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
2️⃣ Extra Depth: Sandals with extra depth allow your child’s feet to fit deeply inside of the sandals and prevent the top part of the toes from rubbing against the top part of the sandals. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
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.
Making sure that children wear the appropriate footwear can help stabilize and support them as they grow.
The Importance of Wearing Sandals in the Correct Size
Start by taking a look at a resource I created where I showcase the best children’s shoe stores by state.
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then take a look at an article that I created that will help you figure out exactly what shoe size you need to order online. In that article I help parents determine their 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.
Now that you know what features the sandals that I recommend provide and how to figure out your child’s exact foot size from home, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best sandals for kids with curly toes. 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. This allows us to create free content and resources for many families around the world.
Best Sandals for Kids with Curly Toes
These are the deepest sandals with the roundest toe-boxes that I have fitted before, and they are also available in different widths such as medium (M) and wide (W).
Many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if your child likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Cyrus by See Kai Run on Amazon
- Fits medium, 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
- Order the sandal style Pale II by See Kai Run on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 2 points of adjustability
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Aru by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- 100% leather
- Flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Knotch Creek by Keen on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
- Soft fabric lining and anti-odor footbed promotes a healthy foot environment
- M Select GRIP for superior non-marking traction
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Cyrus IV by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits medium, 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
- Order the sandal style Billie by See Kai Run on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- FlexiRun EVA foam outsole is ultra-lightweight and flexible with durable traction pattern for outdoor wear
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Archie by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Fits medium, 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
- Order the sandal style Summer Time by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 100% leather
- Padded heel collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Lucky Brand on Amazon
- Fits medium and 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
- Order the sandal style Eco-Tide by FootMates on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Lightly padded insole
- Waterproof leather and corrosion-resistant buckles make the shoes ideal for use in warm weather conditions
- Hook-and-loop with adjustable buckle closures for a secure fit
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport Adaptive by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Adjustable back strap
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport Adaptive by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Adjustable back strap
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Seaturtle 2 by Kamik on Zappos
- Fits medium and 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 half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Seaturtle 2 by Kamik on Zappos
- Fits medium and 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 half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Elle by Keen on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Rounded toe-boxes and extra deep
- Double adjustable velcro straps
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Arizona by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and 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
- Order the sandal style Rio by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Milano by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Shoe Size Should You Order?
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.
In each of the descriptions of the sandals, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
Are These Sandals Easy to Get On and Off?
These sandals open up widely, which makes it easy for parents to put them on and off. I mention this because a lot of parents struggle to get their child’s shoes on and off when they curl their toes.
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 Any Other Sandal Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style to help treat your child’s curly toes. My email address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids with Curly Toes?
If you are looking for a pair of everyday sneakers to help treat your child’s curly toes I suggest that you take a look at another article.
Final Remarks
If your child complains about pain in the toes, it is important to take your child to be 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 deformity gets rigid, making the correction less successful. Simple non-surgical measures such as shoes with extra space across the toes may be helpful.
