Thongs are basically part of Australian childhood.

Beach days. Pool trips. Backyard afternoons. That quick “just chuck your thongs on” trip outside.

So when we posted a reel showing my son trying on a pair of Spiderman thongs and noticed how differently his feet seemed to move, it sparked quite a conversation.

Some parents agreed immediately.

Others thought we were being a little dramatic.

Fair enough.

Because the answer to “Are thongs bad for kids’ feet?” is not really a simple yes or no.

A pair of thongs for the pool is very different from asking a child to spend an entire active day running, climbing and walking in them.

And the research is more nuanced than “thongs are bad”.

Here is what we actually know.

What happens when kids walk in thongs?

Thongs are held on very differently from sneakers.

There is no heel strap and very little material securing the shoe around the foot.

Researchers at the University of Sydney studied 13 healthy children aged roughly 8 to 13 while they walked and jogged barefoot and in thong-style flip-flops.

They found differences in ankle, midfoot and big-toe movement while the children wore thongs.

In particular, the researchers suggested that some of the changes could represent a strategy used by the foot to help retain the thong during walking and jogging.

You can read the peer-reviewed Australian study here.

That is where the idea of “toe gripping” comes from.

But there are two important details.

First, this was a very small study.

Second, the children were older than the toddlers and preschoolers many Rafferty’s parents are shopping for.

So we should not take the findings and assume every toddler wearing thongs is constantly clawing their toes or damaging their feet.

Do thongs make kids grip with their toes?

Possibly, but this needs careful wording.

The 2013 study found reduced big-toe dorsiflexion and changes in midfoot movement.

The researchers suggested that these findings may indicate a mechanism for retaining the thong.

That is different from proving that every child dramatically curls or overworks their toes whenever they wear thongs.

You might visibly notice your own child changing the way they walk to keep a loose thong on.

But that observation should not be turned into a universal medical claim.

What we can reasonably say is that footwear that is not secured around the heel can require a different walking strategy from footwear that stays attached to the foot.

Are thongs basically the same as being barefoot?

Not quite.

The foot is still interacting with a sole, and the child still needs to keep that sole with them as they move.

Interestingly, though, the research is not as anti-thong as you might expect.

The Australian study concluded that, despite measurable changes in movement, overall foot motion while wearing thongs may be more similar to barefoot walking than previously thought.

That is an important part of the study and one we should not leave out.

Thin and minimally structured footwear can share some characteristics with barefoot movement.

But “similar in some biomechanical measures” does not make thongs literally equivalent to being barefoot.

Do thongs make children’s feet work harder?

Not necessarily.

This is another claim that needs a little perspective.

A later study involving eight healthy children compared barefoot walking with flip-flop walking while researchers measured muscle and tendon behaviour.

They did not find evidence that flip-flops increased the mechanical work performed by the gastrocnemius muscle or increased Achilles tendon strain.

You can read the study here.

So it would be too strong to say that thongs automatically “overwork” children’s feet or muscles.

They change aspects of movement.

That is not automatically the same thing as harm.

So are thongs bad for kids?

Based on the available research, I would not describe thongs as inherently bad for healthy children.

There simply is not strong evidence supporting that blanket claim.

Children’s footwear research more broadly shows that different types of shoes can alter gait and foot movement, but there is still uncertainty around which specific footwear features produce the best long-term outcomes.

That means we need to be careful with statements like:

“Never let children wear thongs.”

The evidence does not justify that.

A better approach is to match the footwear to the situation.

When do thongs make sense?

This is where the answer becomes much more practical.

Thongs can be incredibly handy for situations where you want quick, simple protection between the foot and the ground.

Think about:

• the pool
• communal showers
• going between the beach and the car
• a quick trip outside

Healthdirect Australia recommends wearing thongs or sandals in communal showers and similar areas as one way to reduce exposure to fungal infections such as tinea.

So thongs clearly have a useful place.

The question changes when your child is going to spend hours running, climbing, walking or doing an activity where footwear needs to stay securely attached.

When might another shoe be more practical?

Imagine two situations.

Your child walks fifty metres from the car to the beach in thongs.

Now imagine the same child spending six hours at daycare running between climbing equipment, bikes, concrete, grass and the sandpit.

Those are completely different footwear jobs.

For more active or prolonged wear, I would usually look for a shoe that stays securely on the foot, fits the activity and provides appropriate protection.

That is not because one short session in thongs is going to damage a child’s feet.

It is simply because secure footwear is often more practical when children are moving quickly and unpredictably.

What about toddlers?

This is where we should be especially careful about applying the thong research too broadly.

The main Australian thong study involved children whose average age was just over 10 years.

That is very different from a two-year-old who has only recently started walking.

We do not currently have enough evidence to say that the exact same biomechanical findings apply to toddlers.

For younger children, the practical questions are more useful.

• Can they walk comfortably in the shoe?
• Does it stay with their foot?
• Does it provide enough protection for where they are going?
• Is it appropriate for what they are about to do?

If the answer is yes for a short beach or pool trip, there is no reason to panic because the shoe happens to be a thong.

What if my child loves wearing thongs?

Then you do not need to throw them in the bin.

This is not about making parents feel guilty over a completely normal piece of Australian footwear.

Think about context and activity.

For short, casual situations, thongs can be perfectly practical.

For longer active days, playgrounds, daycare or lots of running and climbing, you may prefer footwear that stays more securely attached to the foot.

That middle ground makes much more sense than treating one type of shoe as either completely harmless or completely terrible.

Are thongs better than stiff or badly fitting shoes?

This is another reason comparisons get tricky.

A secure sneaker that is two sizes too small is not automatically a better choice simply because it has a heel strap.

And a thong that fits comfortably is not automatically worse than a heavy shoe that your child hates wearing.

The category alone cannot tell you whether footwear is suitable.

Fit still matters.

So does the activity.

So does the individual child.

What should you look for in an everyday alternative?

If you are choosing footwear for longer periods of everyday walking and play, I would check a simple set of things.

1. Enough length

There should be enough growing room without so much extra space that the foot slides around.

2. Room through the toes and forefoot

The front of the shoe should not visibly squeeze the toes together.

3. A secure heel

The heel should stay reasonably secure during walking and play.

4. Enough depth

The shoe should not press heavily across the top of the foot or instep.

5. Adjustable fastening

Velcro, laces or another adjustable closure can help keep the shoe securely attached without needing to squeeze the foot.

6. Protection appropriate for the activity

A beach trip, daycare day and bushwalk do not necessarily need the same footwear.

If you want to check all of these properly, our How Should Kids’ Shoes Fit? guide walks through them step by step.

What if your child keeps kicking other shoes off?

Do not assume thongs are automatically the answer.

But also do not assume your child is simply being difficult.

Check the shoes they are rejecting.

Are the toes crowded?

Is there enough growing room?

Does the shoe feel tight through the sides or across the instep?

Has your child recently had a growth spurt?

Sometimes the issue is simply fit.

Our 7 Signs Kids’ Shoes Are Too Small guide covers the clues worth checking.

Where do barefoot shoes fit into this?

Barefoot-style shoes and thongs share some characteristics, but they are not the same thing.

Both can be lightweight and relatively minimally structured.

Barefoot-style sneakers generally add features that thongs do not have, such as a heel enclosure and adjustable fastening.

They also commonly use:

• a wider, foot-shaped toe box
• a flexible sole
• zero-drop construction
• lightweight materials

But just like any other shoe, a barefoot shoe still needs to fit properly.

The word “barefoot” does not automatically make footwear suitable for every child or every activity.

Our Beginner’s Guide to Kids’ Barefoot Shoes explains those features in more detail.

What does Rafferty’s do differently?

Rafferty’s shoes are designed for everyday activities where parents want footwear that stays securely on while still giving the front of the foot plenty of room.

They combine:

• a wide, foot-shaped toe box
• a flexible zero-drop sole
• lightweight construction
• adjustable Velcro fastening
• a built-in growth guide

That does not mean your child should wear Rafferty’s instead of thongs every second of summer.

There are plenty of times when a pair of thongs is quicker and makes perfect sense.

The goal is simply to have a more secure option available when the day involves more walking, running and play.

If you are looking for an everyday closed option, you can browse our kids’ barefoot shoes.

The bottom line

So, are thongs really bad for kids’ feet?

The research does not support such a simple conclusion.

Studies show that children move somewhat differently when wearing thongs compared with walking barefoot, including changes that may help keep the thong attached to the foot.

But the research is small, and other work has not found evidence that flip-flops necessarily increase muscle or Achilles tendon strain.

Thongs have a perfectly reasonable place in family life.

Poolside? Makes sense.

Beach? Absolutely.

Quick trip outside? No drama.

A full day of running, climbing and active play? That is where a more secure shoe may simply be the more practical option.

It does not have to be more dramatic than that.

If you are looking for an everyday closed shoe, start with our Kids’ Shoe Size Guide.

Then explore Rafferty’s current range of kids’ barefoot shoes.