Children's orthopaedic insoles: what are they for and where can I find them?

It is normal to want to take care of your children like the apple of your eye.

👧 With growth and school, many posture problems, growth pathology or plantar pain can appear in children and babies.

Orthopedic insoles for children, designed for the little ones, can resolve these concerns quickly, and provide them with comfort and relief.

This article will guide you by giving you all the information on cushioning insoles for children and babies. 👶

When should you take your child to the podiatrist?

Generally speaking, it is considered that a first visit to the podiatrist can be done at the child's 5-6th birthday. At this age, the child has acquired good gait and advanced growth.

This is also where the first posture problems can appear, particularly because of school.

🎒And yes ! Our children's schoolbags, filled with books and notebooks, are often half the weight of our little ones: with a heavy, non-ergonomic backpack, children may suffer from recurring back and foot pain.

It is also important to note that at this age the first extra-curricular activities begin: football, judo, swimming, horse riding... Children let off steam and play sports, but this can also mean the appearance of the first injuries or serious injuries.

Other plantar pathologies, such as pronation or flat feet, may prompt you to consult a podiatrist. Your child may then complain of pain in his feet or legs.

Consult a podiatrist with her child allows you to check where back and posture problems come from, and to detect possible plantar problems: flat foot, plantar fasciitis, arch of the foot that is too arched, etc.

Depending on the diagnosis made by the doctor, your child may or may not be prescribed suitable orthopedic insoles.

✅ Wearing orthopedic insoles for children will correct any growth problems and to help it better distribute its support.

Orthopedic insole: from what age?

Just like the podiatrist, wearing insoles with arch is recommended from 6 years old.

❌ It is in fact not recommended for growing babies to wear orthopedic insoles.

Especially since at the beginning of their life, shoes are more decorative than useful!

You have to wait until a certain stage of the child's growth to suggest wearing shoe insoles to relieve or resolve a health problem.

It is in fact at the age of 5-6 that the bones of the feet position themselves and take their place.

 Orthopedic insoles for children can be prescribed for a specific period of time, to treat a temporary growth problem, or over time.

Regular follow-up with the podiatrist will allow the treatment to be adjusted over the months and years, and with each increase in size, your child will have to benefit from new orthopedic insoles anyway.

Reimbursement of children's orthopedic insoles is possible with a medical prescription from your doctor.

What are children's shoe soles used for?

Children's insoles have many uses. In addition to treating a growth problem or an injury such as tendinitis, the insoles will help treat common plantar problems.

Also, shoe insoles for children can, for example, treat flat foot problems. A pair for children's insoles for flat feet specialized, for example, will correct deformities linked to your child's flat foot, and will provide support for the arch of the foot as well as reinforcement at the heel to protect their feet from impacts. The sole, designed to fit and correct the arch of the foot, is perfectly suited to growing children.

If your child suffers from a deformity of the arch of the foot, suitable orthopedic insoles will help them rebalance their gait and better distribute their support.

It is during their growth that children most need to be in good health so as not to develop more serious pathologies later. Also, adopting orthopedic insoles for children will help your little ones relieve their pain and plantar concerns quickly, so they can grow well in complete safety and health.

In winter you can also opt for children's wool soles, an ideal solution for those who are cold!

Where to find shoe soles for children?

🩺  Insoles for children's shoes can be purchased in several places. First of all, if you consult a podiatrist for a foot or posture problem, it is very possible that the orthopedic center will offer you the creation of custom orthopedic insoles.

You can also find insoles for children and babies in pharmacies. Pharmacies generally offer a large selection of orthopedic insoles, for all ailments and sizes, since cut-to-size models allow you to adapt them to the desired size.

However, pharmacies may not carry specialized orthotic insoles, such as for flat feet or a lack of support for the arch of the foot.

It is online that you will surely have the most choice, and at low prices. Online stores specializing in foot health like Smartfeet will allow you to buy orthopedic insoles for your children adapted to their needs. Available in all sizes, even the smallest and at a very affordable price, this is undoubtedly where you will find what you are looking for.

⚠ Whichever store you choose to buy orthopedic insoles for your child, It is always advisable to seek professional advice before choosing a particular model. This will allow you to choose the model of orthopedic insoles suitable for your child, without making a mistake!

How much do children's insoles cost?

The price of orthopedic insoles for children varies depending on the material and technology used, as well as the pathology to be treated.

However, you should know that custom orthopedic insoles, made by a podiatrist, cost more than insoles purchased in stores. With the rapid growth of children, we must also count on frequent replacement of the soles.

For a pair of children's leather insoles, you should count on between €75 and €125 for a custom-made pair.

Orthopedic insoles made with a more flexible or robust material can exceed €200.

Please note: social security will reimburse you up to 2 pairs per year for a child under 15 years old and one pair per person for a child aged 15 and over. The Social Security reimbursement rate for children's gel insoles is 60% of the convention rate.

In stores, whether in pharmacies or online, you can find orthopedic insoles for children and babies for a budget ranging between €20 and €40. 

Orthopedic insoles for children and babies: do they work?

While orthopedic insoles are not necessarily necessary for a baby, they are often necessary for a child.

Indeed, it is during childhood that children develop their skeleton and posture that they will adopt as adults, or leave a pathology lingering, pain or posture problem from a very young age could cause serious imbalances in adulthood.

Orthopedic insoles, half-insoles or heel pads are an effective way to treat problems in the long term ; and when there is a change in diagnosis or when the child grows up and changes shoe size, the treatment is easily adjusted since all you need is a new pair of insoles.

Sonia Lafore, podiatrist and delegate of the French Foot Health Union, recommends consulting as quickly as possible "if a child complains of pain in the heels, knees or back when doing activities, because it is not not trivial. “, she explains. “Often it is necessary to correct the feet with orthopedic insoles. »

In conclusion, orthopedic insoles, tailor-made or purchased online, are an effective way to treat our children for minor or major problems, and above all, are a long-term solution.

To find the pair of orthopedic insoles suited to your children's needs, do not hesitate to look in our catalog for children.