Shoe Recommendations for New Walkers and Toddlers

Those first steps your child takes is an exciting time – watching them develop from those first, uneasy steps to eventually running! As your child begins walking, parents will need to begin purchasing shoes to help your little ones. Below are recommendations based on where your little one is in development:

NEW WALKERS

For a typically developing foot, it is best to encourage barefoot walking to help develop foot intrinsic muscle strength, arches, and ankle balance strategies. Shoes are indicated once your child is walking 80% of the time or walking outside. When looking for shoes for a new walker, straight lasted shoes are best, meaning the sole of the shoe is not curved inward. Additionally, a shoe with a flexible sole, wide toe box, sturdy heel cup, and laces or an ankle strap for stability is recommended. Shoes with an open heel are not recommended for new walkers. Here are some of our favorites:

Stride Rite Soft Motion Rhett Sneaker
Stride Rite Soft Motion Jazzy Sneaker
Nike Downshifter 9
OshKosh B’gosh Infant & Toddler & Little Kid Barnaby Sneakers
New Balance Infant & Toddler IA680LL6 Running Shoes *also available in wide to accommodate bracing*

TODDLERS WITH POOR ANKLE STABILITY

As a general recommendation for toddlers with poor ankle stability, knock knees, and/or low muscle tone, a high-top shoe with a strap around the ankle or laces and a sturdy heel cup may be indicated to improve foot and ankle alignment for improved stability. These are also good shoes recommendations for toddlers who are toe walking. Some of our favorites include:

TOE WALKING

Toe walking in older children may be due to a neurological, orthopedic, or sensory issue, but may also be idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. Please consult with a physical therapist to determine a specific plan of care based on the most-likely cause. However, children who toe walk secondary to sensory issues may benefit from high-top shoes for increased proprioception at the heel. The additional tactile (touch) cues provided by the high-top shoes will better enable the body to know where the foot is in space. An appropriate high-top shoe is one with laces or straps to the top of the shoe and a stiff heel cup. You should not easily be able to squish the heel cup down with your thumb. A flat sole is also recommended meaning the entire sole should be in contact with the ground, the toe should not curve up. Be sure to lace the shoes all the way to the top! Check out these options:

Secure-Close Color-Blocked High Tops for Boys
Reebok Unisex-Child Bb4500 Court Sneaker
Rebound Layup High-Top Sneaker *good for narrow feet*
Hoops 2.0 Mid-Sneaker

FLAT FEET

Children’s foot arches are not fully developed until between 7-9 years of age, therefore mild foot pronation (flat foot) is okay and expected. If you believe your child demonstrates excessive foot pronation for their age or is having difficulty standing, walking, and/or preforming gross motor skills, it is best to consult with your local Physical Therapist. Otherwise, it is best to support the arch when wearing shoes and encourage the child to walk barefoot at home to improve the strength of their foot intrinsic muscles.

IN-TOEING

Children may in-toe for a variety of reasons including hip weakness, which should be addressed with strengthening, or issues with bony alignment at the foot, lower leg, hip, or pelvis. Mild in-toeing and out-toeing is normal; however, if you believe your child is in-toeing or out-toeing excessively, please consult with a physical therapist to determine the source and create a plan of care. For children who in-toe it is important to use a straight last shoe as the curved and semi-curved soles will promote further in-toeing. Some favorites include:

Nike Downshifter 9
New Balance Infant & Toddler IA680LL6 Running Shoes *also available in wide to accommodate bracing*
Saucony Kids S-Cohesion 13 LTT (Little Kid/Big Kid)- Girls
Saucony Kids S-Cohesion 13 LTT (Little Kid/Big Kid)- Boys
Under Armour Toddler Surge 2 AC Running Shoes

ADAPTIVE FOOTWEAR

Finding shoes to wear with braces such as SMOs, AFOs, or KAFOs can be difficult, but more options are becoming available. When purchasing a shoe, try for a “wide” option if it’s available. Recommendations for a brace compatible shoe include: an open shoe tongue, a heel pull tab, a wide toe box, a straight last sole, and a removable insole or increased shoe depth. Following these guidelines will make it easier to fit the brace inside the shoe and more comfortable for the wearer. Here are some places to look: