How Often Do Children Need New Orthotics?

Common foot problems  •  Mon 17 Nov 2025

If you’re a parent trying to keep up with your child's school schedule, sports, outgrown cloths and shoes and suddenly… orthotics, you’re not alone.

One of the most common questions we hear at Complete Podiatry is:

“How often should my child get new orthotics?”

The short answer?

More often than adults, because children’s feet are constantly growing, adapting, and changing.

But the long answer matters, especially if your child loves sport, struggles with foot pain, or needs extra support to stay confident and active with their friends.

Let’s break it down in a way that helps you understand what your child truly needs, and when it’s time for new orthotics.

Why Children’s Feet Deserve Special Attention

Children’s feet aren’t just “small adult feet.”

They’re packed with soft, developing bones, flexible joints, and fast-changing alignment patterns.

The foot your child has at 6 can look completely different at 8, 10, or 12.

And all of this happens during some of the most important years of your child’s physical and social development.

1. Feet That Work Well Help Kids Stay Active

Running, jumping, climbing, and playing sports all place big demands on a child’s feet.

Healthy alignment and good shock absorption help them move with ease, avoid injury, and feel confident.

Kids who struggle with foot pain often stop participating (or hold back) long before they complain to a parent.

2. Foot Problems Can Affect Social Inclusion

Children naturally want to keep up with their friends.

If foot pain, fatigue, or “funny walking” slows them down, they might avoid sports days, PE, playground games, or weekend activities.

Supportive orthotics help them stay included, active, and confident.

3. Growing Feet Change Constantly

Children’s bones don’t fully harden until around age 13–17 (depending on gender), and their alignment patterns continue developing well into their teens.

That means the orthotics that worked at age 8 will very likely need adjusting even if your child hasn’t outgrown their shoes yet.

Every child is different, but here’s the general guide based on the large number of paediatric clients we’ve seen over the years at Complete Podiatry:

Ages 3–7: Every 6 months: This is the fastest period of growth. Their feet can change size, shape, and function within months.

Ages 8–12: Every 6- 12 months: Growth rates slow slightly, but alignment and skeletal maturity still change rapidly, especially around sports demands.

Ages 13–18: Every 12+ months: Teenagers go through growth spurts that significantly affect biomechanics. They also tend to increase training volumes and intensity.

Sporty kids usually need new orthotics sooner

If your child is playing:

• Netball
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Football
• Dancing
• Gymnastics
• Athletics

…their orthotics will wear out more quickly due to the repetitive stress and higher training loads.

So, for children who play a lot of sport, it's better for them to get checked more regularly as their orthotics may wear out quicker than those of other children.

Pain or gait changes = a review right away

Regardless of timelines, you should book a review if you notice:

• Foot, leg, or knee pain
• “Funny walking” or limping
• Tripping or fatigue
• Worn-out shoes
• Complaints of sore heels or arches
• Their orthotics are slipping or feeling uncomfortable
• Anything different to what your child has previously experienced

These are all clues that their orthotics are no longer matching their foot development.

Signs Your Child’s Orthotics Need Replacing

Children often don’t articulate pain well, or at all.

Here are the red flags to look out for:

• Their shoes look unevenly worn: Wearing out the inside or outside edges suggests their alignment has changed.
• Your child starts avoiding sport: “I don’t want to play today” is often code for “My feet hurt.”
• They complain of heel pain or ‘growing pains’: Pain isn’t normal — it’s a signal of increased stress in the foot and leg.
• The orthotics look too short or don’t sit properly in their shoes: As soon as they’re sliding in the shoe or rubbing, they’re no longer doing their job.
• They trip more often than usual: Fatiguing feet don’t stabilise well.

Why Growing Feet Outgrow Orthotics So Quickly

Children’s feet are like fast-changing puzzle pieces, and orthotics are designed to match each piece perfectly.

1. Bones Harden and Realign as Children Grow

Young children have soft bone structures that slowly mature and change shape. Orthotics must match this evolving architecture to avoid over-correction or under-correction.

2. Growth Spurts Change Foot Function Almost Overnight

You might notice:

• Clumsiness
• Heel pain (Sever’s)
• Knee or shin pain
• Flatness or arch changes

These indicate changes in biomechanics that may require updated orthotic support.

3. Increased Sports Load Changes What the Foot Needs

As kids move from basic PE to club training and competition, their training load often increases quite dramatically.

When this happens, the forces and stress on their feet will also increase.

In this situation, feet often need more stability and more shock absorption, which can mean an orthotic update.

What We Look for in a Child’s Orthotic Review

At Complete Podiatry, our goal is simple:

We want to help your child build an amazing life from the feet up and stay involved in the activities they love.

A proper orthotic review includes:

• A growth and shoe-fit check
• Gait analysis
• Joint mobility and muscle strength testing
• Foot posture and pressure assessment
• Sport-specific movement testing
• Comparing their current orthotics to their current biomechanics

This is how we make sure the orthotics are still doing the job your child needs, not the job they needed last year.

Do Kids Always Need New Orthotics, or Can They Be Modified?

Good news!

Often, we can modify existing orthotics with:

• New covers
• Longer top covers
• Updated posts
• Additional cushioning
• Shoe-specific adjustments
• Arch height tweaks

But if the foot has changed significantly, modifying old devices can lead to compensation, new pain, or reduced performance.

We will always offer you all your alternatives so you can make the best choice that gives your child the best outcome.

Your Child’s Feet Matter For Life

Healthy, pain-free feet help children:

• Keep up with their friends
• Enjoy sport without fear of injury
• Stay socially confident
• Build strong, resilient movement patterns for adulthood

Children who develop good foot function early tend to have fewer injuries and fewer activity limitations later in life.

And that’s why regular orthotic checks (and timely updates) should be seen as a regular part of your child's health checks.

They’re part of helping your child stay active, healthy, and included.

Need Your Child’s Orthotics Checked?

If your child has grown, started complaining of pain, or simply hasn’t had a review in the last 12 months, now is the perfect time.

Book an appointment at Complete Podiatry online or phone us on 8330 0004, and we’ll make sure their feet and their confidence are heading in the right direction.