Do you have a child that has been diagnosed with hypermobility? Is your child experiencing muscle and joint pain that significantly intensifies at night? I have put together a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility that will help support your child’s feet and improve balance.
Most medical professionals are hesitant to diagnose a child with hypermobility unless the child starts complaining about joint pain or fatigue. Taking early action is crucial to help treat this condition because something so simple such as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can make a world of difference.
If you have a child with hypermobility you will have limited options on the type of shoes your child can wear, since the shoes must provide extra arch and ankle support. There are only certain shoes that help treat hypermobility, but the good news is that I will help you find them.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now. This experience has afforded me many insights into children’s shoes and the way they fit. Our store specializes in fitting shoes for children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
From my experience fitting thousands of kids, I have become familiar with the best shoe brands for children with hypermobility and the best styles among those brands.
Should Children with Hypermobility Walk Barefoot?
I want to clarify that walking barefoot is not recommended for children with hypermobility. Children who have this condition have a harder time balancing, and when they go barefoot their over-used muscle groups are further over-used, which often leads to foot, leg, and back pain.
Hypermobile children should not be told to take their shoes off at their daycare or school, since their physical capabilities will be impaired. Would you ask a child who wears glasses to take them off while performing a physical task?
Once hypermobile children are fitted in the correct pair of shoes, their balance and posture usually improve considerably.
Do More Expensive Shoes Automatically Translate Into Better Shoes for Your Child?
I want to point out that higher-priced shoes don’t automatically translate into better shoes for your child. You might buy an expensive shoe assuming that it will be more effective in improving your child’s posture or walking gait, while in reality, it might make the condition worse.
On the other hand, you can pay a small amount for a shoe and it might actually enhance your child’s walking gait. This is where I came into play since I know which shoes have proven to be the most effective ones in treating children with hypermobility.
The cost and the brand of the shoes are not relevant factors. Within brands, you will find shoe styles that vary considerably in characteristics. Even among the same shoe brands, certain styles provide better support than others.
Effective Ways to Help Treat Your Child’s Hypermobility
To treat your child’s hypermobility, you will need to help your child maintain good posture. This can be accomplished through exercises, but the correct type of shoes and orthotics are the most effective ways to improve your child’s overall posture. Providing your child with supportive shoes is an absolute must.
Kids are considered hypermobile if their joints move beyond the normal range of motion. The other two terms to refer to hypermobility are “loose-jointed” or “double-jointed”. It’s estimated that 10-15% of children have it. To help treat hypermobility you will need to improve your child’s muscle tone and muscle strength.
The 3 most effective ways to help treat your child’s hypermobility are:
1️⃣ Exercises
2️⃣ Supportive Shoes
3️⃣ Orthotics
Children with hypermobility are more prone to experiencing foot and leg pain, as well as developing poor posture habits.
Certain shoes provide targeted support in the arch and ankle, which helps strengthen and straighten your kids’ feet and legs.
What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!
Hypermobile children are likely to have impaired joint position sense, weak and rolled ankles, as well as flat feet. Take a look at the image below, does it look familiar? Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and the ankles are rolling inwards?
Before Image
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how the child’s feet are not collapsing anymore? The substantial outsole of the shoes and the firm heel counter are aligning the child’s feet. These are the type of shoes I will recommend shortly.
After Image
What Makes the Shoes that I Recommend Effective for Treating Hypermobility?
Your children’s shoes must provide the correct amount of support and they must also fit properly. These are the 3 key features that the shoes I recommend provide that make them the most effective ones for treating hypermobility and preventing foot and leg pain:
1️⃣ Ankle/Heel Support: Shoes that provide targeted ankle support help prevent your child’s ankles from rolling inwards/outwards. In addition, shoes that provide good ankle support help minimize the impact that your kids’ ankles take when they come in contact with the ground. This helps significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s ankle pain.
2️⃣ Arch Support: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet from collapsing, improving your child’s overall posture by helping your child walk and run straighter.
3️⃣ Lightweight/Flexible: While we want the shoes to be supportive, we also need them to be lightweight and flexible at the same time. This will prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.
Now that you know what features the shoes I recommend provide you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility.
Keep in mind that I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to be able to tell how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide and how they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Hypermobility
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility. These shoes are capable of fitting children with narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide feet.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 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
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- 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
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Constructed with a breathable textile lining and an OrthoLite® comfort foam insoles provide moisture transport, antimicrobial function, and long-term cushioning
- Water-friendly
- Double hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- 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
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth and width for orthotics
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a 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
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- 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
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Durable leather upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 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
- 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 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 cushioned midsoles
- 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 cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium 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
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- No-sew tip for durability where kids need it most
- 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
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Please note that children with hypermobile joints don’t need as much growing room. If you leave too much growing room in your kids’ shoes, your child won’t get the full support that the shoes have to offer and you will also be compromising your child’s stability.
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should 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 foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
Please limit the wear of other types of unsupportive footwear such as boots or sandals. If you are looking for a pair of sandals for your child with hypermobility, there are certain styles that provide better support and stability than others. Go to the link below:
Sandals for Hypermobility – Extra Arch and Heel Support!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child with hypermobility. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
For your child to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer, you need to make sure that you provide your child with the correct shoe size.
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!
I always recommend parents take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. The issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents are confused about where to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes. Start by taking a look at a resource I created where I describe the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go gor Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a shoe store in your area, please proceed to take a look at an article I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s 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 length 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.
Families Testimonials – Get Inspired!
Can Your Child Benefit from Wearing an Orthotic?
If you believe that your child can also benefit from wearing an orthotic, I suggest that you take a look at the article below:
Best Orthotics for Hypermobility – Improve Your Child’s Stability and Reduce Fatigue and Pain!
Common Signs That Your Child Might Be Dealing with Hypermobility
Let’s take a look at the most common symptoms of children with hypermobility:
- Your child complains about stiffness in the joints and muscles.
- Your child complains about his feet or legs feeling tired.
- Your child has visible signs of poor balance and coordination.
- Your child is reluctant to participate in sports.
Have you tried any of the shoes that I recommend? Is there any other shoe style that has been effective in treating your child’s hypermobility? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
My daughter likely has EDS Hypermobility. Her ankles roll inwards and she has knocked knees. She just started kindergarten and is required to wear Mary Janes, Oxford, or T-Strap shoes with her uniform. Please help if you have any recommendations.
Hello Amanda,
There is a particular Mary Jane that comes with a substantial sole and it’s deep enough to fit an orthotic in case you have to. Please find below my recommendation:
Supportive Mary Jane
Are your daughter’s feet narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide? Is your daughter currently wearing an orthotic?
Hi my son has recently been diagnosed with hyper mobility and needs to start wearing orthotics abit more everyday. What would the best shoes be for him to wear? Any help would be grateful.
Hello Symone,
It’s hard for me to recommend shoes for your son without knowing your son’s exact foot shape —narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep. If you are unsure of your son’s foot shape please follow the instructions on this article:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Hi,
My daughter has hyper mobile feet that are narrow. She wears orthodonics and was fitted for a pair of Asics for the extra support. We need to find a wellington boots for her for outside and I was wondering if you have any recommendations. She is wearing a UK13
Hello Elizabeth,
Are you located in the United States or the United Kingdom?