Are you looking for a pair of comfortable and supportive shoes for your child with special needs? Finding the right pair of shoes for your child can be challenging, especially if they have a specific disability that may make it harder for them to express how their shoes feel.
In this article, I aim to provide a substantial list of the best everyday shoes for children with special needs. Remember to be patient with your child while you search for the best shoes for them. The shoes that work for one child may not work for another and your child may need to try out a couple of different shoe brands and styles before finding the one that works best for them. The most important thing is that you find the best kind of shoe for your child, and if they seem upset or uncomfortable with their current shoes, there is likely a reason.
My Experience Fitting Childrenʼs Shoes
I have been working at a specialized children’s shoe store for over a decade, 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 shoes for children with special needs.
I have also become accustomed to some of the most common foot-related problems and conditions that children with special needs can have.
Common Foot Problems of Children with Special Needs
🔴 Flat Feet: Flat feet is a condition where a person’s feet have little to no arch. Although flat feet is a fairly common condition for all kids (as their arches are still developing), children with cerebral palsy, down syndrome, or other disorders are more likely to have flat feet.
🔴 Hypermobility: Hypermobility is a genetic condition that causes people to have extreme flexibility and pain. Children with joint hypermobility have loose or weaker ligaments that lead to their immense flexibility and discomfort.
🔴 Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity refers to having extreme sensitivity to the stimulation of any of the five senses. Children with hypersensitivity to touch and movement may find some shoes uncomfortable even if they are fitted and sized properly.
🔴 Hypotonia: Hypotonia refers to decreased muscle tone. Children with low muscle tone may struggle with their mobility and posture, so having them wear well-fitting and comfortable shoes is crucial.
Furthermore, children with special needs are more likely to have wide or extra wide feet or wear foot braces like AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) or SMOs (supra-malleolar orthotics).
All of these specific foot cases/conditions can make it especially difficult for families to find well-fitting and comfortable shoes for their children with special needs. However, there is a pair of shoes out there for every child and foot shape, and I will do my best to help each child find theirs.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Children with Special Needs?
✅ Supportive Footbed: The shoes 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 feet without adding unwanted pressure. Having an impact and pressure-reducing footbed like this is especially important for children with special needs who wear orthotics. For example, the shoe on the right has a much more supportive outsole than the shoe on the left:
✅ Extra Depth: Having deep shoes is very important as it ensures that your child’s feet fit comfortably inside of them. It also ensures that your child’s feet will not be rubbing against the top of the shoe, which can often cause discomfort.
✅ Rounder Toe-Box: Similar to the extra depth feature, rounder toe-boxes are very important because they ensure maximum comfort for your child’s feet. Rounder toe-boxes prevent your child’s toes from overlapping or rubbing against the sides of the shoes. In addition, the feature provides more room for your child’s toes to move and breathe.
✅ Firm Heel Counters: The heel counter is the back part of the shoe and provides ankle and heel support. The firmer a shoeʼs heel counter is, the more protection and comfort to the heel it provides. This feature is extremely important if your child wears orthotics as it will help to keep them in place and work properly.
Below you can find a list of the best shoes for children with special needs. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Remember that children with special needs are more prone to having wide or extra wide feet. You will notice that all of the shoes that I recommend are available in wide (W) and extra wide widths (X-Wide).
The Best Shoes for Children with Special Needs
Take a look at the information below each shoe to determine:
- The foot shape the shoe can accommodate (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide)
- The type of closure the shoe offers (velcro or laces)
- The best size to order allowing for growing room
- Other important information such as material
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- 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 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
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Adjustable extra-long straps
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Breathable mesh
- Order this shoe a half size larger than the end of the AFO footplate
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- 100% Suede
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (fits long)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- EVA-cushioned midsole
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- 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)
- Leather and mesh upper
- Alternative closure for easy on and off adjustability
- Lightweight EVA midsole for cushioning
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits wide and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Leather/mesh upper
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Leather/mesh upper
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Leather/mesh upper
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and heel increases comfort
- Firm heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot fresh foam
- Firm heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- Suede/mesh upper
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 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
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 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
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 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
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 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
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 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
Are You Unsure of What Shoe Size to Order?
Itʼs important to get the right shoe size for your child in order to get the full benefits that these shoes have to offer. Shoes 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, shoes that are too small may cramp your child’s feet and heels and cause pain.
If you are unsure of your child’s foot length and shape, I recommend taking a look at another resource I have created. In just two simple steps, I will be able to determine what shoe size your child should wear:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
If your child wears orthotics you might need to order your child’s shoes in a slightly larger size than their current shoe size. Just let me know this when sending me your child’s foot measurements, and I’ll be sure to assist you.
Should You Provide Your Child with a Pair of Shoes with Laces or Velcro Closure?
I understand that it might be challenging to provide a child with special needs with a pair of shoes with laces. The reason why I provided you with both laces and velcro options is that shoes with laces provide better support and stability compared to shoes with velcro closure. So, if your child has a foot or leg condition and needs extra support and stability from the shoes, you might want to consider buying shoes with laces.
Some parents don’t understand the importance and the positive impact that shoes can have on their children’s lives. Please remember this: “Any structure built on a weak foundation will collapse”. Our feet are the foundation for our entire body, and we must take good care of them!
Donʼt hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or are having trouble finding the best pair of shoes for your child:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a specific shoe style or brand that has worked well in helping your child with special needs? Let us know in the comments below so other families can benefit from your experiences 🙂
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