Kids shoes that fit over AFOs, SMOs and custom orthotics
PLAE makes ordinary-looking shoes that happen to fit a braced foot. Nothing here is branded as medical footwear, because most kids would rather not advertise it. Every style below is sold in regular kids sizes, 5 tiny-tots through 4.5 youth.
What makes a shoe work with a brace
If you are shopping for a child who wears an AFO, SMO or a custom orthotic, these are the four things that actually matter:
- A wide opening. The upper has to open far enough that you can get a braced foot in without a fight. A wide tongue opening or a full-length opening does this; a narrow slip-on does not.
- A removable insole. Take the footbed out and you gain the depth a custom orthotic needs. Every PLAE shoe is made to wear with the insole in or out.
- An adjustable closure. Our tabs come off and swap, so you set the volume of the shoe to the foot rather than sizing the whole shoe up to get it closed.
- Enough length, not too much. Sizing up a whole shoe to fit a brace usually leaves the child tripping. Going up a tab size instead keeps the length correct.
Which PLAE styles to look at
- Ty and Max have the widest openings and mesh uppers with the most give. These are the usual starting point for an AFO.
- Emme opens very wide for a Mary Jane, which is why it comes up so often for toddlers who wriggle.
- Miles holds up well to the extra wear a brace puts on a shoe, and cleans up.
- Wes and Sam 2.0 are the warm-weather options. Both are adjustable and open, which matters for a kid wearing braces through summer.
- XL tabs are what make the rest of it work. Buy them separately.
When PLAE is not the right shoe
If your child wears a very large or rigid KAFO, or needs a shoe with a fully removable side panel, a purpose-built adaptive brand will serve you better than we will. We are a normal kids shoe that accommodates a brace, not a medical device. We would rather tell you that than sell you the wrong pair.
Orthotic-Ready Features
Stretchy, airy uppers, higher ankle support, and a wide tongue opening make these styles ideal for kiddos with high insteps, or for use with ankle-foot orthotics.
Toe guard
Flexible air mesh
Pull tabs
Wide tongue opening
Interchangeable tabs
Removable insole
Community Recommendations
"During my multiple internet searches, I saw Plae shoes recommended several times…We walked in, got fitted, tried on a pair of Emme's, and got some longer tabs in a matter of 15 minutes!…The Emme's large opening makes them so easy to get on my wiggly toddler!"
- Elena
"Finally a shoe for our special kids that is not only functional and lightweight, but so stylish. She loves expressing her own style! Thanks Plae!"
- Melissa E
"We were so pleased to find a lightweight spring/summer shoe that is compatible with SMO's! Super easy to slip on and off, and breathable (a huge plus for a kiddo wearing braces all summer)."
- Kelcy W
"They have held up better than most brands to the extra wear and tear of the SMO braces, even through a couple of washes. We both love that they open wide to slip on easily and look cool for play but also dress up well!"
- Sharon W
Interchangeable Tabs
Custom fit
Mix and match tabs in different colors, textures, materials and prints so kids can add their own style. Tabs come in four sizes to accommodate instep height and foot width: small fits shoe sizes 6 to 7.5, medium 8 to 12.5, large 13 to 3, and extra-large 3.5 to 4.5 or any size with a high instep or an orthotic.
Be part of the PLAE with Orthotics Community
Frequently asked questions
What size should I order to fit over braces?
Order your child's normal shoe size and go up a tab size rather than sizing the whole shoe up. Choose a style with a wide tongue opening such as Ty, Max or Miles. If you need more room still, remove the insoles. Every PLAE shoe is made to wear with the insoles in or out. Sizing the shoe itself up usually leaves too much length, which becomes a trip hazard.
What is the best style to fit over an AFO?
Ty and Max are the usual starting point. Both have a wide tongue opening and mesh uppers with enough give to get a braced foot in and out easily. Emme opens very wide for a Mary Jane and works well for toddlers. For warm weather, Wes and Sam 2.0 are both adjustable and open.
Do adaptive shoes come with XL tabs, or do I buy them separately?
Buy them separately. Most PLAE shoes ship with tabs sized for an average foot in that size, which will usually not accommodate a brace. Order a set of XL tabs alongside the shoes.
How do I know I need a bigger tab rather than a bigger shoe?
If the tab is at its loosest setting and still marking the top of the foot, or if you have sized the shoe up to get it closed and the heel now slips, you need a longer tab, not a longer shoe. A fuller foot or high instep is usually one tab size up; a narrow foot or low instep, one size down.
What is the best warm-weather style for an AFO?
Wes and Sam 2.0. Both are adjustable, open wide, and are water-friendly, which matters for a child wearing braces through summer.
I need two different shoe sizes. What should I do?
For anyone who wears only one brace, or otherwise needs two different sizes, contact our customer care team at hello@plae.co. Through your local Nordstrom store you may also be able to buy a single pair in two different sizes; contact the store for details.
Are PLAE shoes DAFO approved?
Several PLAE styles are tagged DAFO approved in our catalog. Filter by that attribute on the Adaptive collection to see the current list, since it changes as styles come and go.
Have questions about specific styles? Want to see a new design feature or product? Reach out at hello@plae.co
Are you a clinic that wants to carry PLAE for your patients?
Please reach out to hello@plae.co