The Best Shoes for Kids with Duck Feet – Let’s Improve your Child’s Walking Gait and Posture!

Have you noticed your child walking with his/her feet turned outwards? This condition is referred to as out-toeing and it’s also commonly known as duck-footed. Out-toeing is believed to be hereditary, but for certain children, this condition develops from the compensation of an injury, lack of muscle strength, or poor posture. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes for kids with duck feet that I have fitted before at the shoe store where I work for.

What Is Duck Feet or Out-Toeing?

Having out-toeing simply means that your child walks with his/her feet turned out, causing the arch to collapse slightly. The further the feet turn out; the flatter your child’s feet become. The arch of the foot is designed to provide us with shock absorption when we are walking, running, and jumping.

Whenever children are walking, running, jumping, or engaging in high-impact activities, the arches of their feet try to minimize the impact that their feet and legs take when they come in contact with the ground. The issue with having out-toeing is that it flattens the feet, and this imposes an enormous amount of extra stress on the feet and legs and also affects your child’s posture.

I have noticed how most medical professionals advise parents to not be alarmed or stress out too much over this condition. However, even if your child is not complaining about foot or leg pain, I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating and preventing their children’s foot conditions.

I get contacted by families from all over the world who are told by their pediatricians that their child will eventually outgrow the condition, but these families are still concerned since their child’s walking gait is clearly abnormal.

It can be hard for parents to watch their children struggle with their walking gait, but if you take the necessary steps you will be able to correct your child’s out-toeing and improve your child’s overall posture.

Be Proactive and Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach”

When children experience out-toeing, they put a lot of additional stress on their feet and legs, and if you leave this condition untreated your child might develop future problems that range from knee and back pain, to ankle injuries and plantar fasciitis.

Walking with the feet turned outwards can lead to short and long-term problems that involve:

• An unbalanced gait.
• Reduced athletic ability.
• Foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, and flat feet.
• General foot and leg pain.

The most effective and less invasive way that I have found to treat and prevent out-toeing is by wearing the correct pair of shoes, and depending on the degree of your child’s out-toeing, orthotics as well. I always recommend starting by trying a pair of supportive shoes, and if the condition doesn’t improve, then the next step is to try a pair of orthotics.

Treating Your Child’s Out-Toeing – What a Difference the Shoes Make!

Let me show you what a tremendous difference the correct pair of shoes can make in treating and preventing your child’s out-toeing condition. Let’s first take a look at a picture of a barefoot child that is experiencing out-toeing.

Do you notice how the child’s feet are turning outwards? Sometimes I like to provide parents with the analogy that having out-toeing or duck feet is the same as having a car with a flat tire. When you have a flat tire it affects the rest of your car, you may feel uneven and more bumps in the road. Your kids’ feet are like the tires on your car. When the feet are out of alignment, it will affect all the joints above them, including the knees, hips, and lower back.

Now let’s take a look at another picture of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how the child’s feet look a lot straighter? The shoes are straightening the child’s feet and prevent them from turning outwards.

In this particular case, the child just needed to wear a pair of supportive shoes. However, there will be certain cases where the correct pair of shoes won’t be enough in treating and preventing this condition. In those cases, you might have to provide your child with a pair of orthotics as well.

Out-toeing is not as common as in-toeing, but I have seen and helped several children with out-toeing walk and run straighter.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Kids with Duck Feet?

I have noticed how the most effective shoes that help treat this condition provide a lot of support in the outsole and the heel counter as well.

There are certain shoes that I have found to be the most effective ones when it comes to treating this condition. The shoes I recommend provide a substantial and supportive outsole that helps prevent your child’s feet from rolling outwards. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:

That shoes that I recommend also provide a firm heel counter, which is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support:

Now that you know what features your kids’ shoes must provide, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with duck feet.

I have tested different shoes for children with out-toeing, and there is one particular style made by New Balance that I have found to be the most effective one in treating this condition. 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. 

The Best Shoes for Kids with Duck Feet

Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with duck feet that can fit children with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.

• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in laces and velcro

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in laces and velcro

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Stride Rite shoe style Elliot is available for toddlers

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Stride Rite shoe style Emilia is available for toddlers

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers

• Double velcro straps

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Water-friendly

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers

• Available in velcro and laces

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids

• Available in velcro and laces

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Genuine leather and breathable mesh

• Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization 

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Genuine leather and breathable mesh

• Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization 

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers

• Velcro closure

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Timberland shoe style Bootie fits toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle

• Water-friendly

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Princessa fits toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe

• Rigid heel counter

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is available for little and big kids

• Velcro closure

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is available for little and big kids

• Velcro closure

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Synthetic and mesh upper

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Velcro closure

• ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance

• Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Velcro closure

• ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance

• Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

• The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is available for little and big kids

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 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

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• The Memo shoe style Polo is available for little and big kids

• Triple velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an orthopedic shoe

• Thermoplastic rigid heel counter

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Chicago is available for little and big kids

• Triple velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an orthopedic shoe

• Thermoplastic rigid heel counter

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Coco is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Adidas shoe style Own the Game 2.0 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Adidas shoe style Cross Em Up Select is available for little kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Non-marking outsole

• Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Shadow 6000 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 327 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

These shoes work for children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet. If your child happens to have narrow feet please contact me directly and I will send you specific shoe recommendations: [email protected] 

Do you know your child’s exact foot size? To figure out your child’s correct shoe size, you will need to know your child’s exact foot size.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

I always recommend parents take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. If you are unsure whether you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area, take a look at a resource I created that describes the best kids’ shoe stores by state.

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then take a look at another article that will help you identify how to figure out your child’s foot size from home.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about your child’s feet or walking gait. If you are in doubt about whether your child might have out-toeing or not, feel free to send me pictures/videos of your child’s feet and I will be able to evaluate your child’s feet:

[email protected]