Why Does My Child Keep Falling? – Blame the Shoes!
Is your child tripping or falling more than usual, even after learning how to walk confidently? While it’s normal for toddlers to fall as they master walking, frequent falls in older children may be a sign of something more. One of the most common concerns I hear from parents at the shoe store is, “Why does my child keep falling?” In many cases, the answer starts at their feet—specifically, their shoes. Ill-fitting or unsupportive footwear can significantly impact a child’s stability, balance, and overall mobility. Let’s take a closer look at how the right shoes can make a big difference.
Have You Already Consulted Your Medical Professional?
Before assuming your child is simply clumsy or blaming the shoes, it’s important to consider other possible causes that may be affecting their balance and coordination.
- Inner ear issues, such as blocked ears, can throw off balance.
- Flat feet may impact posture and stability.
- Vision problems could alter the way your child walks and navigates their environment.
Watch closely: Is your child tripping over objects—or their own feet? If it’s the latter, there’s a good chance their shoes don’t fit properly. Shoes that are too long or too short can easily throw off a child’s stride and lead to frequent falls.
Are Your Kids’ Shoes to Blame?
Shoes that don’t fit well or are overly large can indeed cause frequent falls. As a shoe fitter with years of experience, I emphasize the importance of choosing the right shoe size and style. Properly fitting shoes should offer ample support without being restrictive. Watch out for shoes that lack adequate support or are too big, as these can lead to instability and frequent falls.
How to Tell If Your Child’s Shoes Actually Fit
Did you know that ill-fitting shoes are one of the leading causes of slips, trips, and falls in kids? Before jumping to conclusions about balance or stability issues, start with the basics—check the fit of their shoes. If you suspect your child’s footwear might be the culprit, this virtual guide will guide you step-by-step on how to tell if their shoes are too short, too long, or just not right. A proper fit can make all the difference!
The Story of the Child that Kept Falling!
Last week, a family visited the shoe store, concerned about their daughter’s frequent falls over the past four months. Her pediatrician found no issues with her feet, ears, or vision, and recommended checking her shoes.
When I measured her feet, I discovered her shoes were two full sizes too big—plus, they were heavy and stiff. While support is important, children’s shoes should never be bulky or restrict movement.
I fitted her in a properly sized, lightweight, and flexible shoe. Two weeks later, her mother followed up to say the falls had completely stopped. In this case, the problem wasn’t with the child’s body—it was simply the wrong shoes.
Is Your Child Learning How to Walk? – Falling is Totally Normal
I once helped a concerned mom whose toddler was covered in bruises from frequent falls. After speaking with her pediatrician, she was told not to worry—falls are a normal part of the walking process and rarely cause serious harm. Still, she was understandably anxious about the risk of head injuries.
I reassured her that toddlers are naturally built to handle falls. As they practice, they learn to fall more safely—usually catching themselves with their hands. After our chat, we found her daughter a pair of soft, flexible “transitional shoes” that provide protection without hindering development. These shoes mimic barefoot walking and are ideal for outings like visits to the park or mall.
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or for specific shoe recommendations. As a professional shoe fitter, I am here to assist you in finding the best footwear for your child’s unique needs.
Proper shoe fitting isn’t just about guessing a size—it takes training and experience. I learned the ropes from experts with over 20 years in the children’s footwear industry, and one thing is clear: the right shoes, in the right size, can significantly impact how your child walks, runs, and plays. A good fit doesn’t just mean comfort—it helps prevent falls and injuries, which are all too common in growing kids.
I remember that when I was a kid I fell down quite a bit and a new pair of better quality shoes did do the trick for me!
You have pointed out the child could have a health related problem as well, it would be good for parents to talk to their child’s doctor as well just to be on the safe side. Do you know where I can find shoes for my child with extra wide feet? I always end up getting him longer pairs because of his wide feet.
I have fitted hundreds of children with extra wide feet! The key is to find a shoe that comes in extra wide but that is also deep enough. STOP buying longer shoes to compensate for the width!Here you can find the best extra wide shoes for children:
Extra Wide Shoes for Children
As the father of 4 children, and someone who used to have a weekend job in a shoe shop when I was a teenager, I thought that I was already an expert on all things related to kids shoes, but it seems not. I wasn’t aware of the fact that poor fitting shoes could cause such severe problems with falling down. Is there a particular age when you need to watch out for this phenomenon? Is there a way that a parent can double-check that their kids’ shoes are fitted? What are the key things to look out for? Thanks.
Hello Kristian,
I have been fitting kids’ shoes for 7 years now, and I still feel like I learn something new everyday.You must make sure your kid shoes are fitted properly SPECIALLY when they are learning how to walk and they are still working on their stability. But I will say it is always important to provide our kids’ with well fitted shoes even when they are older, since shoes that are too long will comprise the child’s stability no matter what age they are!
I always recommend parents to take their kids’ to their local kids shoe store to make sure they are wearing the correct shoe size. For those parents who don’t have a children’s shoe store that they trust, I created a post that describes how to make sure your kids’ shoes fit. You can find that post there: How Can I Make Sure My Kids’ Shoes Fit? – Learn The Secret Here!
it is funny that i had never once thought that having the wrong shoes on a child could be the cause of them being what appears to be clumsy and falling over and tripping etc. of course the shoes that they are wearing is a large and direct influence on this! at what age do you suggest we start to pay thorough attention to shoes for the small child?
As soon as they start walking! Shoes play a huge role keeping our kids’ feet healthy! Never underestimate the importance of shoes. I wrote a post where I describe how to make sure your child is wearing the correct pair of shoes. You can find that post here: How Can I Make Sure My Kids’ Shoes Fit? – Learn The Secret Here!
As I was reading, I realized that way back when, my sisters and I would have spared most of our nerves had we known about the shoe thing. My oldest and my sisters oldest always seemed to fall down. Being new moms, we thought that it was normal because it stopped as she got bigger. Looking back I guess that is because she grew into her shoes. My youngest had a problem walking as well but it was when she started walking into walls that we realized that something was wrong. Sure enough she is not only almost legally blind but she has severely impaired hearing from persistant ear infections as a child. One would never think that all it takes is a simple pair of shoes to throw a kid off of their game, but I know now that it can.
Hello Wendy,
Thank you for sharing. It is crazy the impact that well fitted shoes can have in our children. Something so simple as providing them with the correct pair of shoes can have a positive impact in their lives! Help me spread the word!
To think that a simple pair of shoes can have that much of an effect on children is unbelievable. I had a feeling that velcro sneakers provide less stability than those that tie so at least I knew something anyway. I prefer the velcro for my son because he is very independent and doesn’t have the patience to learn to tie his own shoes. I know that if he starts falling over a lot, I know that he won’t have a choice but to.
You are right, shoe laces do provide more stability than velcro sneakers. As your child starts getting older, you should definitely consider teaching him how to tie his shoes.I actually wrote a post where I describe the best way to teach a child how to tie his shoes. You can find a link to that post here: How To Teach A Child To Tie His Shoes – Follow These Easy Steps
Life saver! My child kept falling down until I came long your post and found out it was the shoes. I wanted to drop you a line because it really made a difference! He was full of bruises and I was afraid he was going to get badly hurt! I will be ordering shoes from your site from now on.
Hello Marie,
I am really happy it made a difference! Like I say in my post, NEVER underestimate the improtance of properly fitted shoes!