The Best Kids’ Shoes for Heel Pain – Shoes That Will Help Treat and Prevent Heel Pain!

April 3, 2023 Heel Pain Juan Valenzuela 2 - Comments

If your child has been complaining about heel pain you should be proactive, as heel pain can lead to difficulty in walking which might require complicated therapy. Certain supportive children’s shoes can help significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s heel pain. The best kids’ shoes for heel pain provide firm heel counters and targeted cushion and support right below the heels. I am going to show you a list of these shoes shortly.

Is Heel Pain Common in Children?

Heel pain is common in children because their heel bone is not fully developed until they reach age 14 or older, until then, the bone is forming at the growth plate, which is a weak area located at the back of the heel. When children place too much stress on the growth plate, then they start experiencing heel pain.

Certain children’s shoes provide firm heel counters and help treat and prevent your child’s heel pain. If you are not sure where the heel counter of the shoe is located, please take a look at the image below for clarification. That part of your kids’ shoes should always feel firm and sturdy.

If your child is already wearing a pair of supportive shoes and the heel pain persists, then your child might need extra support inside the shoes. In this case, I recommend fitting a pair of heel cups inside the shoes, since they are extremely effective in reducing or fully eliminating heel pain.

Why is Your Child Experiencing Heel Pain? – The 5 Most Common Reasons

1️⃣ Sever’s Disease: This is the most common cause of heel pain in children. This condition is an inflammation in the growth plate due to the repetitive stress that children place on their heels. Sever’s disease usually happens to children who are extremely active or obese.

2️⃣ Plantar Fasciitis: This is an overuse injury that involves irritation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of connective tissue that runs along the arch from the heel to the front of the foot.

3️⃣ Wearing shoes that don’t fit or that don’t provide enough support.

4️⃣ Sports activity that puts extra pressure on the feet.

5️⃣ Fractures: Children who engage in high-impact sports may also be at risk of a heel or foot fracture.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Preventing Heel Pain?

1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This is the back part of the shoe that provides heel support. The heel counter must always be firm, since the firmer it is, the better support it provides. Take a look at the images below to visualize the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter versus a shoe with a soft heel counter. When I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the right it feels firm and it doesn’t bend. However, when I press on the heel counter for the shoe on the left it easily bends, meaning that it doesn’t provide good heel support.

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

2️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps minimize the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take every time they come in contact with the ground.

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet

3️⃣ Extra Cushion and Padding Below the Heels: This feature helps minimize the impact that your kids’ heels take when they come in contact with the ground.

New Balance kids shoe with extra cushion and support right below the heels vs a shoe with no heel support.

The shoes also provide additional features such as breathability and removable insoles in case you need to fit an orthotic or a heel cup inside the shoes for added support. 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.

Best Kids’ Shoes for Heel Pain – Extra Cushion and Padding

These shoes can fit children with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet, so please choose the shoe width accordingly. 

Little Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 3)

  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Durance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
  • Non-marking outsole
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Durable leather/suede mesh upper
  • Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Padded tongue and collar
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style GT-1000 by Asics on Zappos
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
  • Firm heel counter
  • Supportive outsole
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
  • Removable insoles
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and padded heel increases comfort
  • Firm heel counter
  • Supportive heel for active kids
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Leather/mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
  • Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size

Big Kid Shoe Sizes (3.5 to 7)

  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Hoops Mid 3.0 by Adidas on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 71XNajS97wL._AC_UX535_.jpg
  • Order the shoe style Gel-Cumulus 25 by Asics on Zappos
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 71XNajS97wL._AC_UX535_.jpg
  • Order the shoe style GT-1000 12 by Asics on Zappos
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Dynasoft 520 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Lightweight mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe size Dynasoft 520 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Lightweight mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 1080 v13 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Durable leather upper
  • Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Padded tongue and collar
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size

By the way, you should know that it doesn’t matter how many features a particular shoe provides, if the shoes are not fitted properly which involves getting the correct shoe length and the correct shoe width, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer. What’s even worse you will end up creating all sorts of foot issues for your child’s feet.

Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size?

I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that resource you will find out whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also be able to determine whether your child has a high instep or not.

Get in Touch for a Personalized Shoe Recommendation

Without a doubt, children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

If after trying these shoes for two months the heel pain persists, then I recommend that you try a pair of heel cups inside the shoes. There is a specific heel cup that offers superior shock absorption, protects the heel, and prevents foot fatigue. This is one of the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cups available today.

This heel cup helps reduce heel pain by acting as shock absorbers for your children’s feet. I have fitted this heel cup in several different children’s shoes before, and in most cases, the pain disappeared or was significantly reduced.

Best Heel Cups for Kids with Heel Pain – Extra Support

  • Ideal to treat and prevent general heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s disease, excessive pronation, Achilles tendonitis
  • Innovative multi-cell, multi-layer waffle pattern design, helps to absorb impact pressure (shock) and return impact energy back to the feet
  • The extra cushion this heel cup includes reduces and prevents sore heels and shin splints
  • Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6. Best for children under 80 lbs.
  • Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above. Weight up to 175 lbs.
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This heel cup is really easy to fit inside the shoes, and all of the shoes I recommended above provide extra depth, meaning that the heel cup will fit deeply inside your kids’ shoes and it won’t raise your kids’ feet up, giving them the impression that the feet are coming out of the shoes.

Additional Resources for Children with Heel Pain

I created other resources over the years that address seasonal footwear such as sandals and sports shoes such as soccer cleats for children with heel pain.

Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well for your child’s heel pain? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.