Supportive Summer Shoes!

What are the best (and worst) supportive summer shoes for your little?

Ahhh summer time. The sun is out (if you don’t live the PNW apparently), the temps are rising, and your little is out and about and exploring all around! If you are wondering what the best (and worst) summer shoes are for your little, you’ve come to the right place. Supportive shoes are key for new walkers, littles with low muscle tone, decreased arches in their feet, and balance and stability challenges. It is always a good idea to consider footwear for littles, so let’s talk about what to look for and what to avoid during your summer shopping.

NOTE: I found plenty of affordable, great options at Target! Brand doesn’t matter as much as the structure and fit of the shoe does, so choose your favorite while keeping these concepts in mind:

What we WANT in supportive summer shoes:

• Arch support

• Breathable material (avoid excessive sweating which can make things slippery)

• Secure straps: no slip ons

Stride Rite sandals

Carter sandals

Mesh SEMARY sandals

Native Sandals

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What we DON’T want in summer shoes:

• No arch support

• Slip ons

• Stiff, flat soles

• Thick, unbreathable material

These sandals are not ideal for supportive summer wear, despite how cute they may be. Try to avoid styles like these for optimal support

When you’re at the store, try these tips to determine which shoes might be more supportive: run your finger along the sole of the shoe to feel for a gentle contour where the arch is. That indicates some arch support! If the sole is stiff and flat, it likely has no arch support. Also try tugging at the straps by the heel to make sure they are secure and not slipping away. Pay attention to the material too, choosing breathable, cooler materials to avoid excessive moisture in the shoe which can lead to slipping.

This shoe has good arch support and stable straps: GOOD! :)

These shoes are flat and firm soled, and material is not breathable: NOT GOOD :(

TL;DR

• Summer time means time for summer shoes and sandals!

• If your baby is a new walker, has low muscle tone, decreased arches, or balance and stability challenges, it is especially important to choose supportive summer shoes.

• Things we WANT to look for: arch support, secure, stable straps, and breathable material.

• Things we DON’T WANT to see: no arch support, slip ons, flat, stiff soles, and thick material.

• Brand doesn’t matter as much as structure and fit does! Try the trick provided to make sure it’s right for your little.