The Best Shoes for Kids with Hypermobility – Extra Arch and Ankle Support!
Has your child been diagnosed with hypermobility (HJS) and requires supportive shoes? Are you unsure about which kids’ shoes provide better support than others? This condition is also referred to as “loose joints” and can cause foot, leg, and lower back pain as well as discomfort after exercising or having an active day. The best shoes for kids with hypermobility must provide targeted ankle and heel support.
Is Your Child Complaining About Foot or Leg Pain?
The feet are the most significantly affected area for hypermobile children, due to their complex mixture of bones and soft tissues. This condition only becomes a problem when it’s symptomatic. 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.
My Experience Fitting Hypermobile Children in Supportive Shoes
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, and I know for a fact that the correct type of shoes are not only going to help improve your child’s posture and stability, but will also help decrease your child’s fatigue. If you’re pressed for time here is a list of the best shoes for hypermobility.
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 overuse muscle groups are further overused, 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?
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.
The 3 most effective ways to help treat your child’s hypermobility are:
1️⃣ Exercises
2️⃣ Supportive Shoes
3️⃣ Orthotics
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 in the correct position.
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.
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: 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 Hypermobility
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility. These shoes are capable of fitting children with different foot shapes.
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon
- Available for 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half 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.
How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online? – 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.
If you don’t have a specialized children’s 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.
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.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Suggestion
Without a doubt, children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will help you find a different pair of shoes for your child.
Families Testimonials – Get Inspired!
Can Your Child Benefit from Wearing an Orthotic?
Some children in addition to wearing supportive shoes require orthotics to help improve their foot posture, walking gait, and stability. However, I usually recommend trying a pair of supportive shoes first before investing in a pair of orthotics.
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.
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.
Our daughter is 20 months old and has quite a lot of over-pronation, with her feet rolling inwards. She likes to sit in a W-position and I’ve read on your site how that is a possible indication of weak muscle tone etc. I’ve seen her hold her feet at night, complaining, but since she can’t speak much yet, I’m assuming it hurts a little.
We’re based in Cape Town, South Africa – hopefully we can find some of the shoes you’ve mentioned here too.
My question is, have you seen children grow out of the over-pronation so that they are comfortable to walk barefoot normally after consistently wearing the right shoes that offer support, or will she forever have this problem? My hope is that because she is still young thee muscles will develop correctly if we take action now…?
Hope to hear from you soon – and thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hello Ayleen,
Children can develop arches until they reach the age of five, so it’s normal for them to undergo a lot of changes between the first and fifth year. The correct types of shoes might not fix your daughter’s foot problem. For example, if your child is flat footed, the shoes won’t mold your child an arch. However, the correct types of shoes can help improve her foot posture, walking gait, stability, and allow her child to perform her daily activities without pain.
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?
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
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?