Toddler with Low Muscle Tone – The Best Shoe Styles to Improve the Way Your Child Walks
Has your physical or occupational therapist diagnosed your toddler with low muscle tone and recommended supportive shoes to help improve your child’s posture and stability? I have noticed that many medical professionals recommend fitting children in supportive shoes but don’t make specific shoe recommendations. I am a passionate shoe fitter who has helped several children with low muscle tone improve their foot posture, walking gait, and stability, and hopefully, I will be able to help your child as well.
What Is Low Muscle Tone?
Low muscle tone is used to describe muscles that are floppy. Toddlers with low muscle tone may need to put in more effort to get their muscles moving properly when they are performing a particular activity. Your toddler might have been diagnosed with low muscle tone for any of the following reasons:
- Your toddler muscles might appear to be less firm than usual.
- Your toddler appears to be floppy and to have loose joints.
Do Children with Low Muscle Tone Have Flat Feet?
I have noticed throughout the years how many children with low muscle tone have flat feet, and children with flat feet tend to have poor balance and coordination.
Real-Life Impact: Before and After
For toddlers with low muscle tone, the correct footwear can be a game-changer. Proper shoes can offer the necessary support to assist with balance and coordination, making daily activities more manageable.
Key Features of Supportive Shoes for Toddlers
1. Firm Heel Counters: A firm heel counter provides stability and helps control the foot’s motion. This feature is essential for toddlers who need additional support to maintain balance. The heel counter acts as an anchor, keeping the foot in place and preventing excessive movement that can lead to instability.
2. Stable Base of Support: A stable base of support means that the shoe has a wide, firm foundation. This feature is crucial in providing the balance and stability that toddlers with low muscle tone require. It helps in distributing weight evenly across the foot and minimizes the risk of falls.
3. Flexibility: While a firm heel is necessary, the shoe should also have flexible soles to promote natural foot movement. Flexibility ensures that the shoes work with the child’s foot rather than against it. This allows toddlers to develop the muscles in their feet and legs, supporting natural growth and strengthening.
4. Straight Last: Shoes with straight lasts will help keep your child’s feet in the correct position. This alignment helps prevent overpronation, where the foot rolls inward excessively, which is common in toddlers with low muscle tone.
Another great feature of the shoes that I recommend is that they come in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). This means that the shoes will fit any type of foot shape, no matter how wide they are. 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.
Best Shoes for Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone for Better Posture
The right pair of shoes can be transformative, offering the necessary support that can aid in the development of their child’s foot and overall mobility.
1. Shoe Style 990v6 by New Balance
These are the best shoes for toddlers with low muscle tone. The robust outsole helps distribute weight evenly across the foot and reduces strain on the muscles and joints. The downside that many parents complain about is the high price tag.
Key Features:
- You can order the 990v6 with laces on the New Balance website, Amazon, or Zappos.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- Also available in pink and navy blue.
- There is also a Velcro version of these shoes available in navy blue and pink.
- I suggest getting this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
2. Shoe Style Gabi by Memo (Orthopedic Shoe)
These orthopedic shoes are ideal for a toddler with low muscle tone as they are specifically designed to improve foot posture and comfort. The higher price point is a common complaint parents have but the investment in orthopedic shoes is often justified by their specialized design and effectiveness in addressing flat feet.
Key Features:
- You can order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- Also available in a Mary Jane style.
- I suggest getting this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
3. Shoe Style Elliott by Stride Rite
These high-top booties by Stride Rite offer excellent support and a comfortable fit, making them a top choice for toddlers with low muscle tone. This shoe is affordable and despite the limited color choices, the Elliott shoes are celebrated for their supportive qualities and comfortable fit.
Key Features:
- You can order the shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite on Amazon or Zappos.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- I suggest getting this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
4. Shoe style 574 by New Balance
This New Balance shoe combines style with functionality. It offers solid support and cushioning, making it suitable for toddlers with flat feet and low muscle tone. The shoe is offered at a lower price point.
Key Features:
- Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon or the New Balance website.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- I suggest getting this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
5. Shoe Style Tracks by Timberland
The sturdy design ensures that toddlers can enjoy outdoor activities without compromising on foot stability or comfort, but this style is slightly heavier than my other shoe recommendations.
Key Features:
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos or Amazon.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- Water-friendly
- I suggest getting this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
6. Shoe Style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance
This is a versatile shoe that provides a soft and comfortable fit while supporting your toddler’s flat feet and low muscle tone. Families appreciate how this shoe is offered at a very reasonable price.
Key Features:
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website or Amazon.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- I suggest getting this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
7. Shoe Style 2002 by New Balance
The 2002 model by New Balance is another great option for flat-footed toddlers with low muscle tone at a more affordable price point than the 990v6.
Key Features:
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website.
- Available in medium and wide widths.
- I suggest getting this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
When I help parents with toddlers with low muscle tone, I always recommend trying a good supportive shoe before trying an orthotic.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Shoe Recommendation
As a shoe fitter passionate about children’s footwear, I offer personalized shoe suggestions based on your toddler’s foot shape and condition. By understanding the unique needs of each child, I can recommend the best supportive shoes via email that cater to their specific requirements.
The Importance of Ordering the Correct Shoe Size
One of the most common challenges parents face is ordering the correct shoe size for their toddlers. A well-fitted shoe is essential not only for comfort but also for the shoe to provide the intended support and benefits. An ill-fitting shoe can lead to discomfort, impede natural foot movement, and even cause developmental issues over time. I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.
Testimonials from Families
Over the years, many families have shared their success stories after finding the right supportive shoes for their toddlers with low muscle tone. Here are a few testimonials:
These testimonials highlight the transformative power of the right pair of shoes. They underscore how supportive footwear can enhance a child’s mobility, instill confidence, and improve overall quality of life.
Additional Resource: Orthotics for Toddlers with Low Muscle Tone
In certain cases, providing your toddlers with a pair of good, supportive shoes is not going to be enough to improve their posture and help them walk and run straighter. If this is the case with your toddler, then an orthotic might be required for extra support and to help align your toddler’s feet and legs to walk straighter.
Orthotics work by aligning the foot correctly, which can help improve overall posture and balance. Working with a pediatric podiatrist can help determine whether orthotics are appropriate and how they can be integrated with supportive shoes.
The orthotics I recommend for toddlers with low muscle tone are the least restrictive ones as they allow for the normal movement of the foot. One of the main reasons why the orthotic works so efficiently for toddlers with low muscle tone is that it provides a deep heel cup (30mm to be more precise) that provides stability and improves the child’s walking gait.
Shoes for Toddler with Low Muscle Tone – Visualizing the Impact!
For those interested in seeing the difference supportive shoes can make, I recommend checking out a YouTube video that illustrates what features your toddler’s shoes should provide. This visual guide can help parents understand the importance of each feature and how they promote good posture and movement.
The Golden Years of Treatment Opportunity
The first seven years of a child’s life are considered crucial for treatment opportunities, especially for conditions like low muscle tone. During these years, the foot and lower extremities are still developing, making it easier to implement changes through supportive footwear and orthotics. This period is often referred to as the “golden years” for intervention, as the body’s adaptability is at its peak.
Encourage Barefoot Time
While supportive shoes are crucial, allowing toddlers some time barefoot can also be beneficial. It helps develop foot muscles and proprioception, which is the body’s ability to sense movement and position. Barefoot time can encourage natural movement patterns and improve balance and coordination, complementing the benefits provided by supportive footwear. Finding a balance between wearing supportive shoes and allowing for barefoot exploration can support overall foot health and development.
“Low Muscle Tone And Your Child – What You Need To Know.” Surestep, 1 Dec. 2016, surestep.net/blog/low-muscle-tone-hypotonia-an-overview-for-parents/.
“Muscle Weakness (Hypotonia): Boston Children’s Hospital.” Boston Children’s Hospital,www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/muscle-weakness-hypotonia.
Hello
Stumbled upon this useful website of yours. I have a 4 year old boy, with hypotonia with back ankle bones collapsing inwards like the pictures on your website. what supportive shoes can we get for him? Iis it too late to fix this problem? We do prefer a velcro shoe so he can wear them himself in nursery.
I’m currently living in UK. Thank you
Hello Serene,
To recommend specific shoes for your son I first will need to know his foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), and the exact shoe size that he wears.
What is the model name/number of the last sneaker shown in blue on the velcro side? When I click on the link it just takes me to the New balance home page.
Hello Laura,
That specific color is sold out, but here is a link to the same model in a different color: 574 New Balance Shoe
There are only a few shoe sizes available so let me know if you are having a hard time finding your child’s shoe size and I can help you look for the same shoe on a different website.
Hello there, my daughter is 2.5 years old is not walking due to low muscles tone, I am looking for the shoes which can help and support her for learning to walk, could you please guide me which one is good for her?
Hello Sheetal,
To recommend specific shoes for your daughter I first need to know her foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), and the country you are contacting me to check what shoes you will be able to order.
What is a good shoe to get if toddler wears orthotics? Size 2 extra wide new balance with removable soles is what we have now. He has wide feet so need something wide. Also small feet. He is learning to walk. But without orthotics walks on his ankles. The ones we have are Velcro.
Hello,
The New Balance that you have are probably a good choice. I do suggest getting shoelaces instead of velcro closure as shoelaces provide better support and stability compared to velcro. Another alternative to New Balance is this shoe: Stride Rite Bootie
Make sure to order the extra wide (X-Wide), remove the original insoles, and apply this shoe lacing technique: How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics – Stop Heel Slippage
My son has flat feet so I need a good pair of shoes for him , He is 6 years old
Hello Gurleen,
Do you know if his feet are medium, wide, or extra wide? Would you like a pair of velcro shoes or shoes with shoelaces? Once you get back at me with that information I can show you a selection of shoes for boys with flat feet.