Has your child been complaining about ankle and heel pain? Has your pediatrician or physical therapist diagnosed your child with Plantar Fasciitis? Maybe your medical professional recommended that your child wears a pair of New Balance shoes to help prevent heel pain, but didn’t specify which models to get. I am going to show you a list of the best New Balance shoes for plantar fasciitis based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children who have foot issues, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the shoes for kids with Plantar Fasciitis.
If your children have been complaining about heel pain, they are likely experiencing a condition called Plantar Fasciitis or Sever’s disease.
Plantar Fasciitis is a medical condition that is caused by the inflammation of the connective tissue of the foot known as the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia runs through the arch of the foot, connecting the heel and the toes. When it becomes inflamed, your children start experiencing pain in their heels or their arches. This pain is usually worst in the morning, but it tends to persist throughout the day and may also arise when they are playing sports since they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level.
You might be wondering, what are the best kids’ shoes to help treat and prevent Plantar Fasciitis? I have found certain New Balance shoes that provide targeted heel support which helps reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
New Balance is my go-to shoe brand when it comes to treating children with foot issues.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Plantar Fasciitis?
The shoes I recommend provide 3 key features that make them the most effective for treating and preventing Plantar Fasciitis:
1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature is going to help reduce or fully eliminate the heel pain that your child is experiencing. The heel counter of your kids’ shoes must always feel firm. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a soft heel counter (Nike) and a shoe with a firm heel counter (New Balance).
2️⃣ Targeted Heel Support: The other key feature that the shoes I recommend provide is targeted support right below your child’s heels. Let me help you visualize this:
3️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: The shoes I recommended also provide a substantial outsole, which helps minimize the impact that the child’s heels take when they come in contact with the ground:
At the shoe store that I work for, we help hundreds of children with foot issues each week.
The Importance of Fitting Your Child in the Correct Pair of Shoes
I have noticed throughout the years how most kids’ foot pain is directly associated with the shoes that they wear and how they fit. Parents tend to worry a lot when they hear that their children are experiencing foot pain, but the good news is that something so simple as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can significantly reduce or fully eliminate the pain.
The best way to treat and cure Plantar Fasciitis is by wearing the correct type of footwear. Some shoe companies make footwear that helps treat and prevent this condition and one of the most popular ones is New Balance. Wearing the proper shoes can make a world of difference when it comes to healing your kids’ Plantar Fasciitis.
Wearing non-supportive footwear or going barefoot is not advisable for kids who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis as it will cause them to put more strain and cause more inflammation of the plantar fascia.
Before I show you a selection of the best New Balance shoes for Plantar Fasciitis, let’s make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size. You won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if you don’t know what your child’s foot size is to begin with.
If possible, get your kid’s feet fitted by a person knowledgeable in specific foot conditions. Make sure they size their feet correctly, given that shoes that are too short or too long will squeeze their feet or allow for the foot to move too much inside the shoe and will further irritate the plantar fascia.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I always recommend parents take their kids to their local children’s shoe store where a shoe fitter can properly measure their feet and find shoes that fit. The issue is that most local children’s shoe stores have been closing down, and we are left with big retailers such as Nordstrom’s or Payless, which have staff that is not properly trained on how to properly fit shoes.
If you usually get your kids’ shoes online, take a look at a different article that I wrote where I explain exactly how to figure out your child’s exact foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
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.
Children with Plantar fasciitis feel a stabbing pain in their feet, and you must find a solution to help them reduce or fully eliminate the pain.
Let’s keep in mind that the condition may merely be the result of wearing shoes that don’t offer enough support for your kids’ feet. Any pediatrician, physical therapist, or shoe fitter will tell you that choosing the right type of shoes is critical if your child suffers from Plantar Fasciitis, or any other type of foot pain.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best New Balance shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best New Balance Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The shoes below can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Suede/mesh upper
- Lightweight and flexible
- e absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Suede/mesh upper
- EVA-cushioned midsole
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Suede and mesh uppers
- Padded tongue and collar offer a snug, comfy fit
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Dual-layered EVA midsole for cushioning
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Suede/mesh upper
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
What Shoe Size Should You Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, 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.
The shoes I recommend all come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. Sneakers that come with shoelaces always provide better support and more stability than shoes that come with velcro closure.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
The right type of shoes will keep your kid’s feet healthy and will enable them to participate in sports without having any foot or leg pain. They will maintain the natural posture of the legs and protect and prevent the foot from many injuries.
If you try a pair of the shoes I recommend and after 5 months of wearing the shoes the pain persists, then your child might need a pair of heel cups or orthotics to be fitted inside the shoes. However, it all starts with wearing the correct type of shoes. A pair of good, supportive shoes will cushion and protect your kids’ heels, allowing your child to walk and run straighter, and reduce or fully eliminate the pain that your child was experiencing.
I always recommend parents try a pair of heel cups first before trying an orthotic. Heel cups are extremely efficient in reducing or eliminating heel pain, and they are the most cost-effective alternative to orthotics.
Heel Cups for Kids with Plantar Fasciitis – Let’s Find Extra Support!
The heel cup I recommend offers superior shock absorption, protects the heel, and prevents foot fatigue. In addition to being one of the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cups available today, it offers relief from Sever’s Disease while protecting the heel from high impact.
Tuli’s Heel Cups are the #1 Podiatrist recommended heel cups in the world. Below you can find the best heel cups for kids that will help treat and prevent your child’s heel pain.
- 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
This heel cup acts as a shock absorber for your children’s feet. I have fitted this heel cup in several different children’s shoes, and in most cases, the pain was significantly reduced or eliminated.
Choosing the Correct Heel Cup Size for Your Child – Get it Right!
Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6.
Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns about your kids’ feet or legs. Just remember that it all starts by providing your child with the correct type of shoes in the correct shoe size. Never underestimate the importance of well-fitted shoes, they will end up saving you a lot of time and money in the future.
Additional Resources for Children with Heel Pain
If you need a pair of summer or sport shoes for your child that is experiencing heel pain, you can refer to the articles below:
Best Sandals for Heel Pain – Let’s Treat Your Child’s Heel Pain During the Summer!
Soccer Shoes for Kids with Heel Pain – Supportive Shoes with Heel Cups to Stop Your Kids’ Heel Pain!
Have you found a particular shoe style that has reduced or fully eliminated your kids’ ankle pain? Did you have to use an orthotic as well? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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I have a question. My son was fitted for shoes and insoles. His left foot is a whole size bigger. He is a 4.5 on the left foot and 3.5 on the right. What shoe size do I buy? The assistant said go up to a 5. But now its a size and a half larger for the right foot
Hi Nicole,
I hope you and your son are well. I recommend that you provide your son with a shoe size 4.5. You are going to have to compromise on the amount of growing room, because if you go a whole size and a half longer you will end up compromising your son’s stability.
The key is to find a shoe with extra depth. What shoe style is your son wearing?