Are you looking for affordable and comfortable sandals to aid your child’s heel pain? Finding the right pair of sandals or water shoes that adequately fit your child’s feet can be challenging, especially when trying to accommodate your child’s heel pain.
In this article, I aim to provide a substantial list of the best sandals/water shoes for children with heel pain or plantar fasciitis. Keep in mind that what works for one child may not work for another, and your child may need to try out multiple sandals and sandal brands before finding the one that works best for them.
My Experience Fitting Childrenʼs Shoes
I have been working at a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years, where we focus on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes, foot conditions, and leg conditions. As a shoe fitter, I handle approximately 100 shoe fittings/try-ons per week. Through my experience, I have become familiar with the best sandals for children with plantar fasciitis or general heel pain.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia). Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain.
While there are multiple potential causes of plantar fasciitis, increased levels of activity or the structure of your child’s foot (having a high arch or flat feet) are key contributors to developing this condition.
Furthermore, your child’s shoes may be affecting or even worsening their heel pain. Ill-fitting shoes, shoes that lack arch support, or shoes that have become worn out are all factors that put your child’s plantar fascia at risk of inflammation.
Read on to view my compiled list of the best sandals/water shoes to best support and comfort your child’s heel pain and prevent plantar fasciitis from developing.
What Makes the Sandals I Recommend Effective for Plantar Fasciitis?
1️⃣ Supportive Footbed: The sandals I recommend provide a footbed with an internal support mechanism (the shoeʼs sole) that is engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot. This feature will help stabilize your child’s heel without adding unwanted pressure. For example, the sandal on the right has a much more supportive outsole than the sandal on the left:
2️⃣ Targeted Heel Support: The sandals that I recommend provide extra padding and support right below the heels. This feature will help cushion your child’s heels and provide a greater protective barrier from the floor to your child’s heels:
3️⃣ Protective and Supportive Heel Counters: The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support. Although water shoes and sandals, in general, do not have nearly as firm heel counters as sneakers and everyday shoes, I have found sandals that all have some type of protective and stable heel backing. Keep in mind that waterproof sandals will typically have less firm heel counters than land sandals. Below is an example of water shoes that do have protective heel counters:
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best sandals for kids with plantar fasciitis. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Sandals for Kids with Plantar Fasciitis
Take a look at the description below each sandal to check if it can accommodate your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide). You will also find out what shoe size you should order to provide your child with the correct amount of growing room.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and support
- This is an orthopedic sandal
- Genuine leather lining
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an orthopedic sandal
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and support
- Genuine leather lining
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
- Rubber outsole for great traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Two adjustable velcro straps
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
- Rubber outsole for great traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather insole with arch support
- Two points of adjustability
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather insole with arch support
- Two points of adjustability
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- 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
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Ability to adjust the Hook and Loop strap length to the different feet width
- This is an orthopedic sandal
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Ability to adjust the Hook and Loop strap length to the different feet width
- This is an orthopedic sandal
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- 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
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- 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
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Important Tip: Make sure that your child pulls the velcro straps of the sandals comfortably tight, as the tighter they are, the more support and stability your child will get from the sandals.
Are You Unsure of What Sandal Size to Order?
Itʼs important to get the right sandal size for your child in order to get the full benefits that these shoes have to offer. Sandals that are too big allow for too much foot movement inside the shoes, making your child’s feet and heels less supported. On the other hand, sandals that are too small may cramp your child’s feet and heels and lead to further pain.
Your child may be a different size in sandals than they are in everyday sneakers given some of the different functions these shoes have. This is especially true for water shoes/sandals, which are often more form-fitting than everyday sneakers.
If you are unsure of your child’s foot length and shape or what sandal/water shoe size they would be, I recommend that you take a look at another resource I have created:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In two simple steps, I will be able to determine what sandal size your child should wear, just be sure to mention you are specifically looking for this type of shoe!
Donʼt hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or are having trouble finding a pair of sandals to best accommodate your child’s plantar fasciitis/heel pain: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
What are the Best Everyday Sneakers for Kids with Plantar Fasciitis?
I created a different resource that describes the best everyday sneakers for children with plantar fasciitis. Go to the link below:
Have you found a specific sandal style or brand that has worked well in helping your child’s heel pain? Let us know in the comments below so other families can benefit from your experiences 🙂
0
Leave a Reply