Shoe Guide For Kids
With Spring around the corner and kids wanting to start playing outside, it’s time to start thinking about your little one’s shoes. There are a lot of options on the market, but it’s important to know what to look for and what to avoid as not all shoes are created equally.
Your little walker’s foot is a complex structure. An infant’s foot is compromised mainly of cartilage with the majority of bone development occurring around 7 years of age. It is important to wear proper fitting shoes (no slip on, flip flops or crocs!) especially in your child’s early years as ill-fitting shoes can warp the soft bones resulting in foot deformities that can last their lifetime. A general rule of thumb when fitting shoes is to ensure a thumb width distance between your child’s big toe and the start of the toe box. Check out my FREE guide on how to measure your kid’s feet!
In younger children the arch is usually not be visible or developed for the first 2 years. In the early years of childhood, there is a “fat” pad in the arch area of the foot, which gives the appearance of a flat (and fat) foot – but rest assured this pad does offer some structural support to your kiddo’s foot.
I always recommend to let your child go barefoot as often as possible to promote natural foot development (and balance!) However, when shoes are required, there are a few things to consider when shopping for shoes:
· The Upper Part: should be made of leather, canvas, or the newer mesh materials. Children’s feet perspire twice the amount of adults and the upper part of their shoes should be made of breathable materials. Leather or canvas allows the foot to breathe.
· The Insole: should be made of absorbent material. Padded insoles are fine but most children do not need a special arch support. All toddlers younger than 16 months have flat feet and fully develop an arch by the age of 6–8 years.
· The Outer Sole: provides traction, cushioning, and flexibility to the shoe. Flat outer soles make it easier to begin walking. A rubber outer sole prevents slipping or sliding.
· The Heel: are not necessary for toddlers. Older children can wear shoes with heels but they should be less than one inch as this can cause the foot to slide forward, cramming the toes against the shoe.
· The Velcro Ankle Strap: Children’s feet change shape quite frequently. The Velcro strap can help prolong shoe’s lifespan by helping to secure your little walker’s foot in place and preventing their foot to slide forward as the amount of fat in their feet decreases. Often, parents think their child has outgrown their shoes, when in reality their foot has become thinner and has just slid forward.
· The Heel Cup: A sturdy heel cup provides stability and balance to your child’s foot, preventing them from rolling their foot inward (pronation) or outwards (supination). Think of a heel cup as a pseudo-orthotic for your child – a sturdy heel cup provides structure to the shoe which allows your child’s foot to remain in a neutral position which will allow for proper biomechanics while your child walks. To test the sturdiness of a heel cup, pinch the cup together with your fingers – there should be a bit of give but the cup should not collapse together. You should also not be able to press the heel cup in with your thumb. If you can, these shoes are not suitable and should be left on the shelf.
· The Toe Box: Children learn to walk by scrunching their toes, gripping onto whatever surface is underneath them. This motion allows them to they build and develop the intrinsic muscles of their foot and arch.
General Shoe Recommendations for Children Based on Age
· Pre-Walking Shoe: Certain types of shoes are appropriate for your child’s age. Babies and crawlers do not need shoes. They need booties or pre-walking shoes that do not bind their feet. The shoe should be flexible rather than providing a rigid support, and it’s very important that the shoe be shaped like the child’s foot. The function of a shoe at this age is warmth and protection.
· Toddler Shoes: Choose a lightweight shoe as children at this age, tend to use a lot of energy walking. A leather or canvas tie shoe is more secure, will stay on the foot, and will fit little feet better. Toddlers should be barefoot as much as possible when in a protected environment such as indoors.
· School-Age Children’s Shoes: Style and shoe fit is important for school-age children. Their main function is shock absorption and protection. At this age, they can choose from a variety of options including athletic shoes, sandals, hiking shoes, etc. It is very important to wear the right shoes for the right activity to prevent injury. Look for reasonably priced, flexible, well-ventilated shoes that allow plenty of room for growth.
In general, I suggest avoiding crocs (they can cause blisters), slip ons, flip flops (this one applies to adults too), and natives. A few brands of shoes that are suitable for kids are Stride Rite, See Kai Run, Pedi Ped and New Balance. This list is not exhaustive, I know there are brands out there I have not mentioned, feel free to shop the brand you like!
If you have questions about footwear for you kids, feel free to connect with me and we can chat about which shoes would be appropriate for your individual child. Use this form to send me a message or book a consultation online to see me in clinic.
Happy shopping!