The Fab 5 Kids Healthy Shoe Checklist

Shoe selection is an important but often overlooked factor in child development. Inappropriate shoes can impact foot structure and function and, potentially, lead to foot (or other musculoskeletal) problems in the future. Follow this easy 5 point checklist to help pick out the perfect shoe for your child.

1.    Foot-shaped

As you can see from the picture the natural shape of the foot is widest at the toes.  Unfortunately, shoes very often taper at the toe and consequently are widest at the ball of the foot. This results in compression of the toes which can lead to reduced function and later deformity (e.g. bunions). A child’s immature bones are particularly susceptible to this type of deformation. Pick a shoe that mimics the natural shape of the foot and is widest at the toes.

2.    Thin Sole

Just like the hands, the feet are sensory organs which provide the body with information from the environment. Thick soles block this information and can affect the functioning of the foot. Pick a shoe with a thin a sole as possible whilst still providing adequate protection. 

3.    Level

Like normally-shaped feet, shoes should be level. Unfortunately most are not. All too often they are either elevated at the heel (heel lift), elevated at the toes (toe spring), or both. This impacts the proper functioning of the foot and can alter proper foot development.

Pick a shoe with no/ minimal heel lift and no toe spring. (Toe spring is not so problematic if it is very flexible and automatically corrects when weight-bearing).

4.    Flexible

Feet are designed to be mobile. Placing your child’s foot in an overly restrictive shoe can limit its natural function. To test; fold and twist the shoe – the shoe should deform with minimal effort.

5.    Good Fit

It is important that the shoe is both long enough and wide enough for your child’s foot. To check: pull out the insole and overlay your child’s foot on top. The insole should be spacious enough that the foot, and especially the toes, do not splay over the insole at any point. This is also a good way of checking the shape of the shoe and ensuring that the toe box (the very front of the shoe where the toes sit) is the widest part of the shoe.

If the insole doesn’t come out of the shoe you can turn the shoe upside down and overlay your child’s foot on the underside of the sole.