Toddler Shoes with Arch Support – The Best Shoes to Keep Your Kids’ Feet Healthy!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on February 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of toddler shoes with arch support.

Have you been looking for a pair of shoes with arch support for your toddler? Do you feel like there are no shoes in your toddler’s size that provide good arch support?

If your toddler has been experiencing foot and leg pain and has been diagnosed with flat feet by your pediatrician or physical therapist, providing them with a shoe that comes with a built-in arch support will significantly help reduce or fully eliminate the pain that your toddler is experiencing.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years, working for a specialized children’s shoe store that specializes in children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I got familiar with the best shoe brands for children, and the best styles among those brands.

Several families seem to have one question in common: Which are the best toddler’s shoes with arch support?

If you feel the inside of most toddlers’ shoes you will notice how none of them come with a built-in-arch. However, there is a particular style that will help prevent your toddler’s feet from collapsing and allow your toddler to walk and run straighter, as it comes with a substantial outsole.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Toddlers Who Need Extra Arch Support?

The greatest benefit is that the shoes come with a supportive outsole and a firm heel counter that will support your toddler’s ankles and help strengthen and straighten them. The shoes I recommend also help toddlers balance and keeps them from falling when walking on uneven surfaces outside, while ensuring proper foot placement and leg alignment. 

Let me show you the difference between the shoe that I recommend versus most toddler’s shoes. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has a substantial outsole compared to the shoe on the left? This is what makes the shoe I recommend so effective for toddlers who need extra support from their shoes.

✅ Substantial Outsole: The shoe provides a substantial outsole that is going to provide arch support to your toddler’s feet. This outsole will also help cushion your toddler’s feet and minimize the impact that the feet receive every time they come in contact with the ground. This feature will prevent your toddler’s feet from collapsing and allow your toddler to walk and run straighter.

✅ Firmer Heel Counter: This feature protects your toddler’s ankles and provides lateral stability and ankle support. If you are not sure what the heel counter of the shoe is, please take a look at the picture below for clarification:

What a Difference These Shoes Can Make!

I have seen the positive impact that the shoes I recommend provide by actually trying them on toddlers and watching them walk. You will be able to tell the difference right away!

For example, are your toddler’s feet collapsing and turning inwards? When the feet and legs are not well aligned the body tries to correct this by putting pressure in areas where it’s not supposed to, which often leads to foot and leg pain. Let’s take a look at a picture of a flat-footed toddler standing barefoot. Do you notice how the feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

Before Image

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same toddler wearing a pair of the shoes that I recommend. Do you notice how straighter the feet are?

After Image

If you provide your toddler with flat feet with a pair of shoes with a substantial outsole, the shoes will help prevent the feet from collapsing and this will improve your toddler’s overall posture.

If you have a toddler that has been experiencing foot or leg pain and needs a good substantial shoe that provides arch support, I will show you which are the best toddler shoes with arch support.

Before I show you a selection of the best toddler’s shoes with arch support I want you to answer this question: Are you 100% sure of your toddler’s foot size?

It doesn’t matter how many features a particular shoe provides, if it’s not fitted properly  —the correct shoe length and the correct shoe width— your toddler won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.

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

I always recommend parents to take their toddlers to their local children’s shoe store, where a shoe fitter can properly measure their feet and find shoes that fit. The issue is that several parents don’t have a local children’s shoe store that they trust and they must purchase their kids’ shoes online. If you are one of these parents start by reading an article I wrote called:

How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

In that article I help parents determine their toddler’s exact foot size and whether the toddler has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your toddler has a high instep or not.

Now that you know what features the shoes I recommend provide and how to make sure that you provide your toddler with the correct shoe size, below you can find a selection of the best toddler shoes with arch support.

I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes 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 Toddler Shoes with Arch Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

These shoes can fit the shape of toddlers with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet, so please choose the shoe width accordingly. 

Toddler Shoes with Arch Support with Shoelaces

What Shoe Size Should You Order?

In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

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. My e-mail address is:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you tried this shoe style before? Is there a particular shoe style that you would recommend? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.