Toddler Sandals with Arch Support – Supportive Footbeds, Lightweight and Flexible!

February 3, 2023 Sandals Juan Valenzuela 2 - Comments

Is your toddler dealing with a foot condition and your medical professional advised you to get supportive shoes? Have you already found a pair of supportive sneakers and now you are looking for a pair of sandals that provide good arch support? Most toddler sandals don’t provide arch support, but I have found certain styles that have a stable base of support with extra cushion and padding below the heels.

Is It Normal for Toddlers to Have Flat Feet?

Babies are born with flat feet, and this is healthy and normal! Most toddlers start developing an arch between the ages of two and three. However, I have seen that some children don’t develop their arches until they reach the age of five.

Some parents are confused as to why toddlers need to wear shoes with arch support as it’s completely normal for toddlers to be flat-footed. Not all flat feet are the same and your medical professional might have found something wrong with your toddler’s balance, coordination, posture, or strength.

What Makes the Sandals that I Recommend Effective for Flat Feet?

1️⃣ Supportive Footbed: The sandals that I recommend provide a footbed with an internal support mechanism that is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot. Take a look at the image below to visualize the difference in support between one of the sandals that I recommend and a different style:

2️⃣ Targeted Heel Support: The sandals that I recommend provide extra padding and support right below the heels. When a child has flat feet, you don’t only support the arch, you mechanically support all of the pieces that make the feet flat, such as the heels.

What Are the Benefits of Providing Your Flat-Footed Toddler with Supportive Sandals?

The sandals that I recommend might help improve your toddler’s feet and overall posture by distributing weight and pressure on your toddler’s feet. The supportive outsole of the sandal will also provide a stable base of support that might help improve your toddler’s balance.

Keep in mind that your toddler’s sandals need to be supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time. Toddlers tend to use a lot of energy walking, so it’s really important that the sandals are lightweight and flexible at the same time.

How to Provide Your Toddler with the Correct Shoe Size

You can provide your toddler with the most supportive pair of shoes, but if the shoes are not fitted correctly (proper length and width), your toddler won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.

I suggest that you start by taking a look at a resource I created where I showcase the best children’s shoe stores by state. If you don’t have a store in your area, you should use a virtual shoe fitting service I offer that helps determine their children’s exact foot length and shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep).

Toddler Sandals with Arch Support to Improve Balance and Posture

Take a look at the description below each sandal to check whether that specific style can accommodate your toddler’s foot shape (medium, wide, extra wide). 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.

Boys

  • Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
  • Machine washable
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Apakowa on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Leather insole with arch support
  • Two points of adjustability
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Psyclone by Teva on Zappos
  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
  • Rubber outsole for great traction
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Aldus by Carter on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Double adjustable straps
  • Anatomically shaped footbed
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Miki by Memo on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • This is an orthopedic sandal
  • The stiff heel cup prevents the foot deformities; it is placed vertically to the shoe base, and holds the foot in the appropriate position 
  • High heel design provides better support and helps with lateral movements
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Arizona by Birkenstock on Zappos
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Double adjustable straps
  • EVA outsole
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Pedro by Memo on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and support 
  • This is an orthopedic sandal
  • Genuine leather lining
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

Girls

  • Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Zappos
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
  • Machine washable
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Apakowa on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Leather insole with arch support
  • Two points of adjustability
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Psyclone by Teva on Zappos
  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
  • Rubber outsole for great traction
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Kristina by Memo on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • This is an orthopedic sandal
  • The thermoplastic sturdy heel counter, Thomas heel for flat feet prevention and treatment 
  • 100% genuine breathable leather
  • High heel design provides better support and helps with lateral movements
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Duncan by Carter on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • Double adjustable straps
  • Anatomically shaped footbed
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Doris by Memo on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • This is an orthopedic sandal
  • Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and support 
  • Genuine leather lining
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the sandal style Betti by Memo on Amazon
  • Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
  • This is an orthopedic sandal
  • Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and support 
  • Genuine leather lining
  • I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

Make sure that you pull the velcro straps comfortably tight, that way your toddler can get the full support and stability that the sandals have to offer.

Additional important features of these sandals:

  • Traction: This feature helps minimize the likelihood of your toddler slipping and falling, especially when walking on wet, slippery surfaces.
  • Easy On & Off: The elastic cord lace and adjustable hook and loop strap allow toddlers to put them on and take them off by themselves.
  • Fast Drying: These sandals come with a quick-drying webbing that is perfect when kids are in and out of the water and everywhere else.

Are Any Other Supportive Sandal Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me via email if you are having a hard time finding a different pair of supportive sandals or shoes to help treat your toddler’s flat feet.

What Toddler Sneakers Provide Good Arch Support?

You can find a list of the best everyday sneakers for toddlers with flat feet in a separate article.

Let me know in the comment section below if you have found a specific pair of sandals that worked well for your toddler’s flat feet.