Shoes to Stop Toe Walking – No Surgery, No Casting, and No Leg Braces Needed!

I have helped several children who were walking on their toes find the correct pair of shoes which allowed them to walk heel to toe, and I believe I can help your child too.

I get contacted by parents who are worried since they took their child to the pediatrician about toe walking but they were told that the child will eventually outgrow this condition. I recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their child’s foot condition. Waiting for the condition to resolve on its own will only lead to the condition getting worse or your child developing foot and leg pain.

Don’t let your doctor tell you that the only approach to correct your child’s toe walking is surgery or to put casts on both of your child’s feet. Sometimes doctors recommend casts for as long as 8 weeks. Casting, surgery, and leg braces should only be used as a last resort, and I suggest to always start with the least invasive approach first.

It’s important to note that pediatricians are not foot experts and sometimes they might not be aware that some conditions can be treated and prevented by wearing the correct type of shoes.

It is true that some children do simply outgrow this condition, but why take the chance and hope for the condition to resolve on its own? Trust me that most parents wished they have acted sooner when it comes to preventing toe walking.

When Should Parents Worry About Toe Walking? 

If your child is still toe-walking after age 2 then it becomes a problem because your child’s calf muscles might begin to shorten, reducing the ankle movement. This may cause long term damage to the foot and ankle due to the abnormal forces acting on them.

It is important that you don’t leave your child’s toe walking condition untreated as it can lead to your child developing stiffness, tightening, and pain in their Achilles tendon.

How Do You Correct Toe Walking? – Try my Effective Approach!

In order to help promote a normal gait I recommend fitting your child in a pair of shoes that are less flexible at the front and the shoes must come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure.

The correct type of shoes will help promote a normal walking gait by preventing your child from getting on the toes too often.

There are other ways to help treat toe walking but they involve surgery, casting, and physical therapy. I suggest that you start by trying a pair of the shoes I recommend and see what a difference they can make.

The shoes I recommend are not orthopedic shoes, they are simply a pair of regular sneakers that provide specific features that help prevent a child from getting on his/her toes.

I know this because I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years. We focus on children with foot and leg problems. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes to stop kids from walking on their toes.

Having worked with children who tend to walk on their toes helped me realized one thing. Sometimes toe walking is related to a sensory issue. Let me elaborate.

Is Toe Walking a Sign of Sensory Issue?

I have noticed how a lot of children like to walk on their toes because of the sensation that they get when they do it. Some children really enjoy the pressure on their toes and so they walk on their toes to meet that sensory need.

There are certain shoes that will discourage children from toe walking by making that sensation uncomfortable rather than something they enjoy.

Other children may not like the feeling of different surfaces on their bare feet, which cause them to rise up on their toes to avoid having the full surface of their feet contracting floor.

Shoes for Toe Walking -The Proper Shoe can Make a World of Difference!

There is only a small selection of shoes that can help children with toe walking, but the good news is that I will help you find them.

These are the 3 features that your kids’ shoes must provide in order to help prevent your child from walking on his/her toes:

✅ Avoid shoes that are too flexible: Shoes that provide too much flexibility make it easy for your child to get on his/her toes. Make sure that the shoes your child wears are flexible but not too flexible. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but no further. Take a look at the image below for clarification:

✅ Look for shoes that provide a substantial outsole instead of a softer and flexible one. Take a look at the image below for clarification:

✅ Look for shoes that come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. Shoelaces provide children with more stability and are more effective in case you need to fit an orthotic inside of the shoes.

Be Aware of Shoes that Are Too Large – Here’s Why!

Shoes that are too large make it easy for children to get on their toes. It’s important that you provide your child with the correct amount of growing room, but too much growing room makes it easier for children to toe walk.

If you are going to order your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s foot size. I created another article that helps parents figure out their children’s exact foot size. Go to the link below:

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

Without further due let’s take a look at the best shoes to stop toe walking.

Best Shoes to Stop Toe Walking ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The shoes below can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide feet (XW). Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

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In order to allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these shoes a half a size larger than the size their children’s feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.7 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes. Please don’t attempt to leave too much growing room in your kids’ shoes as this will actually make it easier for them to go on their toes.

How effective these shoes are going to be in preventing your child from walking on his/her toes depends on each child’s individual foot anatomy, as what works for one child might not work for another.

If you want me to provide your child with a foot evaluation please reach out to me to the following email address: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com and answer the questions below:

• Does your child toe walk more when wearing shoes or when walking barefoot?
• Do you notice more or less toe walking when your child walks on different surfaces such as the beach, grass, hard wood floor, or carpet?

If after trying the shoes I recommend for 1 month your child continues to walk on his/her toes, then I recommend fitting an orthotic inside of the shoes.

Keep in mind that most children who walk on their toes end up wearing an orthotic inside of the shoes, as certain orthotics are extremely effective in preventing children from walking on their toes.

Can Orthotics Help Prevent Kids from Toe Walking?

Rigid orthotics are the most effective ones as they limit the flexibility in the shoe. I have found one specific orthotic that has proven to be extremely effective for children who toe walk, and many families have reported back after trying these orthotics that they make a tremendous difference.

The orthotic I recommend won’t work in any type of shoes. The shoes need to be supportive, provide a firm heel counter, and come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, such as the shoes I recommended above.

When fitted in the correct pair of shoes, the orthotic is going to create discomfort every time your child tries to get on his/her toes and help your child walk heel toe toe.

Below you can find the most effective orthotic for toe walking children. You don’t have to remove the original insoles of the shoes when placing this orthotic inside the shoes.

Orthotics for Toe Walking

I have provided you with 2 most effective approaches that will help prevent your child from toe walking. The earlier that you start treating this condition, the better!

I understand that making a call as a parent about your child isn’t black or white or easy for that matter. It can be difficult to make decisions on your own or go with your gut when you have a pediatrician telling you that your chid’s foot condition will resolve on its own.

I forgot to mention that physical therapy is another effective approach that can be used to train and motivate families to perform daily stretching of the calf muscle.