Shoes are a child’s most important accessory. They can be the difference between a mild, manageable foot deformity and a severe one that requires surgical intervention.
The first step in preventing Intoeing is finding the right shoe size. The second step is choosing a shoe that fits your child’s feet properly.
Shoes come in different widths and shapes: athletic shoes, dress shoes, and even boots. Each style of shoe has different features that make it ideal for certain activities or environments. For example, an athletic shoe may have a thick sole to absorb shock from jumping or running on hard surfaces like pavement; dress shoes may have leather uppers to keep your child comfortable during long periods of standing; and boots may have rubberized soles that provide traction on slippery surfaces like snow-covered sidewalks or icy parking lots.
Best Shoes For Intoeing Child
The Best Kids’ Shoes for Intoeing – Let’s Improve your Child’s Walking Gait and Posture!
Have you noticed your child walking and running differently lately? If your child’s feet are turning inwards instead of straight when walking or running, then it’s highly likely that your child has a foot condition called intoeing. The good news is that I have put together a selection of the best kids’ shoes for intoeing, and I will show you these shoes shortly.
Intoeing simply means that your child’s feet turn inwards instead of pointing straight. However, parents always have a hard time when they notice that their children are struggling with their gait. I have helped hundreds of children with this condition and it can be treated and corrected by wearing the correct type of shoes.
Main Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Leave Intoeing Untreated!
Most children who experience intoeing don’t experience foot and leg pain, but they do tend to stumble and lose balance more often. I strongly recommend that you don’t leave this condition untreated since it can lead to several complications in the future.
When children are growing, the normal development of the pelvis and the spine will suffer if there is a foot imbalance. In most cases, intoeing might correct itself as the child keeps growing. However, in some children, it doesn’t get better on its own and treatment is necessary to help treat and correct the condition. When children walk with their feet turned inwards, it’s important to protect the foot from damage due to compensation, since this can lead to short and long-term problems that involve:
- An unbalanced gait.
- Reduced athletic ability.
- Foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, and flat feet.
- General foot and leg pain.
Even if your child is not complaining about foot or leg pain, I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. I get contacted by families from all over the world who are told by their pediatricians that their child will eventually outgrow the condition, but these families are still concerned since their child’s walking gait is clearly abnormal.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
My experience in helping children with intoeing is a result of working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, and this experience has afforded me a great deal of experience when it comes to treating and preventing children’s foot and leg problems.
I am familiar with which are the best shoes for children who have intoeing from having fitted and tested them before.
What is Causing Your Child’s Intoeing? – Let’s Find Out!
Intoeing is believed to be hereditary, and as a parent, there is nothing that you could have done to prevent it.
The most common cause of intoeing is due to the thigh bone being turned in at the hip, which tends to throw the child’s body out of alignment.
Some physical or occupational therapists might recommend casts, orthopedic shoes, and even surgery to correct intoeing. These 3 approaches can be very effective, but providing your child with the correct type of shoes and in some cases, orthotics is a less invasive and more affordable alternative that will help treat and prevent your child’s intoeing.
Treating Your Child’s Intoeing – What a Difference a Shoe Makes!
The correct type of supportive shoes will help your child walk and run straighter, as well as improve your child’s overall posture. I always recommend parents to start by trying a pair of supportive shoes first and monitor whether the child’s walking gait and posture improves or not. If it doesn’t, the next step would be trying an orthotic.
I have helped improve the walking gait and posture of hundreds of children who were intoeing by providing them with a pair of everyday supportive sneakers. I want to clarify that the shoes that I recommend are not orthopedic shoes, they are regular everyday sneakers that simply provide better structure and support.
Something so simple such as providing your child with the correct type of shoes can help correct your child walking gait and allow your child to walk and run straighter. Let me prove it to you!
Before and After Images of Children with Intoeing!
Let’s take a look at an image of a barefoot child who is experiencing intoeing issues. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards? The feet are shifting the child’s whole body out of alignment.
Before Image
Now, let’s see what happens when we fit that same child in a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet look a lot straighter? These shoes will allow the child to walk and run straighter, which will improve the child’s overall posture as well.
After Image
I also recorded one video of another child walking barefoot and a different video of the child wearing the shoes that I recommend. Let’s see if you can notice a difference.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Kids with Intoeing?
The main reason is that the shoes come with a substantial and supportive outsole with arch support that will help prevent the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards, allowing your child to walk and run straighter. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with a sole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
The other reason why this particular shoe style is so effective in treating and preventing intoeing is that it provides a firm heel counter. The heel counter is the back part of the shoes that provides ankle and heel support, and the firmer it is, the better. Some children experience intoeing from having rolled ankles. Always make sure that the heel counter of your child’s shoes feels firm and not soft.
In addition to providing these 2 features, the shoes must also fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly. Children can have narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet, and depending on your child’s foot shape the selection of shoes that your child can wear might be very large or very small.
The good news is that the shoe styles that I recommend are available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide. This is also helpful in the event that you need to fit an orthotic inside your kids’ shoes.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
To figure out your child’s exact foot size and provide your child with the correct shoe size, I always recommend parents to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. If you are unsure whether you have a good fitting children’s shoe store in your area, start by taking a look at a resource that I created that describes the best kids’ shoe stores by state. Go to the link below:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then take a look at another article I created that will help you identify how to figure out your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Now that you know how to figure out your child’s exact foot size, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best kids’ shoes for intoeing.
There is a very small selection of shoes that help improve your child’s walking gait, but the good news is that I know exactly which styles these are from having fitted them before. I only recommend shoe styles that I have fitted before since that is the only way for me to tell how supportive and well-made the shoes are, and most importantly, how the shoes fit.
Below you can find a selection of the best kids’ shoes for intoeing that can fit children with narrow, medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Adjustable double hook and loop closure
- Built-in multi-dimensional orthotic support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth and width for orthotics
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot fresh foam
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive heel for active kids
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium feet
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive outsoles with extra cushion
- Firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should 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.
*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
