Sandals for Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone – Supportive, Lightweight, and Flexible!

Have you noticed that your toddler has increased flexibility, poor posture, and gets tired easily? Has your toddler been diagnosed with low muscle tone (hypotonia) and your medical professional recommended a pair of shoes to help improve your toddler’s walking gait, overall posture, and stability? I already created several resources that describe the best sneakers for toddlers with low muscle tone, but in this article, I will show you the best sandals for toddlers with low muscle tone.

Toddlers with low muscle tone might have to put in more effort to get their muscles moving properly when they are doing an activity, and this might make your toddler more prone to sit rather than play.

How Can I Improve My Toddler’s Low Muscle Tone?

Your medical professional might have suggestions on what steps to take to help improve your toddler’s low muscle tone. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you cannot change your child’s muscle tone.

There are steps that you can take to improve your toddler’s foot posture, walking gait, and overall posture. More importantly, there are steps that you can take to improve your toddler’s stability.

I have noticed throughout the years that several physical/occupational therapists recommend fitting toddlers with low muscle tone in shoes with a stable base of support and firm heel counters. The shoes need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time.

My Experience Helping Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone

I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years. We work closely with pediatricians, physical, and occupational therapists who refer families to our shoe store to be fitted for supportive shoes and orthotics.

We specialize in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the best sandals for toddlers with low muscle tone.

Can Shoes Help Improve Your Toddler Low Muscle Tone?

No, shoes will not help improve your toddler’s muscle tone as muscle tone doesn’t really change. However, the correct types of shoes might help improve your toddler’s foot posture, walking gait, and stability.

What a Difference the Correct Types of Sandals Can Make!

It’s amazing the difference that a pair of supportive and well-fitting sandals can make in helping improve a toddler’s walking gait, overall posture, and stability. Let me show you an example of what a difference the correct pair of shoes can make in helping improve your toddler’s foot posture.

BEFORE IMAGE

Let’s start by taking a look at an image of a child with low muscle tone in weight bearing. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

AFTER IMAGE

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of the supportive sandals I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? The substantial outsole and targeted heel support are helping keep the child’s feet in the correct place.

What a difference the correct pair of sandals can make!

What Makes the Sandals I Recommend Effective for Low Muscle Tone?

The sandals I recommend provide 2 key features that make them ideal for toddlers with low muscle tone:

1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps provide a stable base of support for your toddler’s feet, which can help improve your toddler’s foot posture and walking gait.

2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: Your toddler’s sandals should be supportive, but they need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time. Your toddler’s sandals should always bend at the ball of the foot but not any further.

Can Supportive Shoes Make My Toddler’s Feet and Muscles Weaker?

No, children with foot conditions need to wear supportive shoes to improve their child’s walking gait, posture, and stability.

There is a common misconception that supportive shoes can make the child’s feet “lazy” or “weaker”. Supportive shoes simply provide children with structural support that is not going to take away from the musculature. We are not making the muscles weak.

Do You Know Your Toddler’s Exact Foot Length and Shape?

Before I show you a selection of the best sandals for toddlers with low muscle tone I want to make sure that you know your toddler’s exact foot length and shape. For example, do you know whether your toddler’s feet are narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide? Do you know whether your toddler has a high instep or not? These are all factors that determine what types of shoes your toddler can wear.

If you are unsure of your toddler’s exact foot length and shape I suggest that you take a look at a different resource I created:

How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

Now let’s take a look at a selection of the best sandals for toddlers with low muscle tone. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Sandals for Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone

All of the sandals below provide substantial outsoles and are lightweight and flexible at the same time. Take a look at the description below each sandal to check whether that specific style can fit your toddler’s foot shape (medium, wide, extra wide).

Many of the sandals featured above come in several color options, so if you want the sandals to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.

Make sure that you pull the velcro straps and toggle shoelaces comfortably tight, as this helps provide your toddler with better support and stability.

What Sandal Size Should You Order?

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 foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

Are There Any Other Sandal Choices Available?

If none of these sandals are available in your toddler’s shoe size or if you are looking for a different type of sandal to help treat your toddler’s low muscle tone, I suggest that you leave me a comment below or email me at:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

What are the Best Shoes and Orthotics for Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone?

If you are looking for a pair of everyday sneakers and/or orthotics to help treat your toddler’s low muscle tone I suggest that you take a look at the articles below:

Toddler with Low Muscle Tone – The Best Shoe Styles to Improve the Way Your Child Walks

Best Orthotics for Children with Low Muscle Tone – Let’s Stabilize Your Child’s Feet!

Can My Toddler Outgrow Low Muscle Tone?

Toddlers with low muscle tone become adults with low muscle tone. You can help your toddler learn and compensate for their limitations, and wearing the correct types of shoes can make a world of difference in helping improve your toddler’s walking gait and stability.

Don’t wait until your toddler is a certain age to see whether his/her foot conditions improve by themselves, as the longer you wait, the more severe the misalignment might become.

It’s important to remember that there are different levels of muscle tone and each child is impacted differently.