Physician Referral

Certified Orthotists for Pediatric Bracing &
Custom Orthotics

Bracing for children can be complicated - Let us help you find their best.

Pediatric Orthotic Bracing Designed for
Your Child

Conveniently located in Mississauga and Guelph

Custom pediatric orthotic bracing helps children move better, stay supported, and build confidence every day. At Custom Orthotic Design Group Ltd., our Certified Orthotists provide expert pediatric orthotics using over 30 years of clinical experience. We design personalized solutions, including AFOs, SMOs, and cranial helmets, tailored to your child’s unique needs.

As a trusted pediatric orthotic clinic, we take a family-centred approach—working closely with parents to create the right treatment plan. Our goal is simple: help your child move, play, and participate in daily life with greater comfort and confidence. Contact us today to learn more or book a consultation.  Our clinics are located in Mississauga and Guelph and at The Bracing and Orthotics Centre at the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.

Professional Care

What Does a Certified Orthotist Do?

Assessment and Diagnosis

When your child needs a brace or helmet, it can feel like a big step. A special visit called an “orthotic assessment” is where we figure out the very best brace for them. Think of it as a friendly check-up specifically for their body’s needs.

Here’s what usually happens:

First, you’ll meet the Certified Orthotist, who is like a brace expert! They’ll talk with you and your child about what’s going on, how your child moves, and what you hope the brace will help with. They’ll want to hear about daily activities, any wiggles, or things that might be tricky for your child.

The orthotist will gently assess and move your child’s body part that needs the brace (like their head, leg, arm, or back) to check for flexibility and fit. They will watch your child walk, play, or just move around naturally. This helps them understand how your child’s body works and what kind of support is needed. It’s all very gentle and never painful.

To make a brace that fits perfectly, they’ll need to take some measurements. This might involve using a tape measure, a special scanner, or even making a mold of your child’s limb (like making a cast, but just for the outside shape). This part is usually fun for kids, especially if they get to pick a colour for their mold!

After gathering all this information, the orthotist will explain what kind of brace they think will be best. They’ll talk about how it will help your child and answer all your questions. They want to make sure the brace will be comfortable, supportive, and help your child move and play the best they can.

Custom Orthotic Design and Fitting

After your child’s assessment and measurements are completed for a custom brace or helmet (orthosis), our team gets to work behind the scenes to make sure everything is just right. We carefully review the measurements and plan a design that fits your child’s specific needs, then order the right parts and materials. Using a mold or digital model, the brace is custom-made and shaped by our Registered Orthotic Technicians (RTO) to provide the right support and comfort. Before your fitting appointment, we check every detail and make sure the brace is ready for final adjustments, so when your child comes in, we can focus on making it fit well and feel as comfortable as possible.
Most of our technical work happens right in our own lab at our head office in Mississauga!

Ongoing Adjustments and Support

After your child receives their custom orthosis or helmet (brace), ongoing follow-up care and support are essential to ensure the best results. As your child grows and adapts to wearing the brace, regular appointments help us monitor fit, comfort, and effectiveness. Our team makes any needed adjustments to keep the orthosis properly aligned and supportive, helping your child move more comfortably and confidently. We’re also here to answer your questions and provide guidance every step of the way. With consistent follow-up and personalized care, we help ensure your child gets the most benefit from their treatment. 

Cranial remolding orthosis or baby helmet
Girl walking with AFOs
Boy with AFOs (Ankle foot orthoses or leg braces)
custom orthosis, custom knee brace, child

We know bracing, you know your child:
Together we can do great things!

Solutions

Orthotic & Bracing Treatments

Baby helmet

Cranial remolding helmets are specialized devices used to help treat conditions like deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and other head shape concerns in infants. These custom-fitted helmets gently guide the growth of the skull to achieve a more symmetrical and balanced head shape over time. Designed specifically for each baby, cranial remolding helmets are closely monitored by specialists to ensure comfort, safety, and effective results, helping support healthy development while improving overall head shape.

Protective helmet
  • Protective
    Helmets

Protective helmets are specially designed to help keep children safe from head injuries caused by falls, bumps, or other impacts. They are especially important for children with challenges related to balance, coordination, cognition, or seizures, providing extra protection during everyday activities and play. These helmets are custom-made to ensure comfort, secure wear, and reliable safety, helping children stay active and confident while reducing the risk of head injuries.

Paediatric ankle foot orthoses (AFO or leg braces)
  • Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO)

Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are custom braces designed to support, protect, and improve the function of the ankle and foot. They are used to address a variety of needs, including anatomical differences or challenges with movement and biomechanics. AFOs can help children with conditions such as toe walking, cerebral palsy, or spina bifida by improving stability, alignment, and mobility. Each AFO is carefully made to a child’s unique needs, helping them move more comfortably, safely, and confidently in daily activities.

Sports bracing for kids
  • Sports bracing

Sports bracing for kids provides safe, effective support to help children stay active and confident in the sports they love. Whether your child needs a knee brace for running and soccer, an ankle brace for court sports, or wrist support for activities like gymnastics, each custom brace is designed for comfort, stability, and natural movement. These pediatric sports braces can help prevent injuries, support recovery, and protect growing joints during physical activity. With the right brace and expert guidance, your child can continue to play, move, and participate with confidence.

  • Foot Orthoses (Inserts)

Foot orthoses, also known as foot orthotics, shoe inserts, or foot supports, are custom medical devices designed to support, align, and protect a child’s feet as they grow. Pediatric foot orthotics can help address common concerns such as flat feet, walking difficulties, or foot and leg pain, while improving comfort and overall mobility. There are several types of orthotics for kids, including soft inserts for cushioning, semi-rigid orthoses for improved alignment, and more supportive designs for complex needs. Each device is carefully prescribed based on your child’s unique development, helping them move more comfortably, stay active, and build confidence with every step.

SMO - Supramalleolar ankle foot orthosis
  • Supramalleolar Orthoses (SMOs)

Supramalleolar orthoses (SMOs), also known as short ankle-foot orthoses, are custom braces designed to support a child’s feet and ankles while improving alignment and stability. SMO braces help guide the heel into a better position and support the arches, making them especially helpful for children with flat feet, ankle instability, or balance concerns. They provide more support than standard foot orthotics, while still fitting comfortably inside most shoes for everyday wear. Each SMO is customized to your child’s needs, helping improve walking, stability, and confidence during play and daily activities.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

A Certified Orthotist (CO(c)) is a healthcare professional with specialized university and post-graduate clinical training (typically 8 years) specifically in the assessment and manufacture of custom braces. We are the only professionals specifically credentialed in Canada to design and fit the full spectrum of orthotic treatments from head to toe.  We are also the only health care professionals that can access funding for people who need a custom made brace (orthosis) for everyday use for a chronic medical condition through the Ontario Ministry of Health Assistive Devices Program (ADP).

A comprehensive initial assessment usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. We take this time to discuss your family’s goals, perform a physical evaluation, and observe your child interact with you and if you are visiting for concerns about their feet or legs, have them walk or move around.  We try to gather as much information as we can to ensure the treatment plan fits your child’s lifestyle.

Children grow at different rates, but generally, a custom brace is replaced every 12 to 18 months. However, we provide regular follow-up appointments to make minor adjustments for growth and comfort to ensure the device remains effective as long as possible.

When a baby comes to us for a cranial remolding helmet, we schedule visits every 2-4 weeks to ensure that we accommodate for growth in the faster growing baby.

Most custom-made orthoses are eligible for funding through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) in Ontario. We also work with WSIB, NIHB, and private insurance providers. Our administrative team assists families in navigating the paperwork required for these claims.  Please see link to our funding page;

C.O.(c) and R.T.O.(c) are professional designations given by Orthotics Prosthetics Canada(OPC) to people who have competed the necessary education and Residency or Internship.  OPC is accredited by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) for excellence in orthotics and prosthetics education.  ISPO worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop the standards.

C.O.(c) stands for Certified Orthotist and R.T.O.(c) stands for Registered Technician in Orthotics.

A Certified Orthotist CO(c) is the only healthcare professional in Canada specifically university-trained and clinically credentialed to provide the full spectrum of custom-made braces from head to toe, ensuring the public receives safe, regulated, and expert medical care that is eligible for government and insurance funding.

Funding Information
Client Feedback

Praise from our clients

Give Feedback

"I just wanted to let you know - for the first time in months and months - I am able to go for a long, long walk - because my feet are not killing me anymore!!! I am not limping at work anymore either!!! Thanks so much - I feel great! Even walking 8 blocks back to the car after the last appointment with them in my shoes - I could have done a tap dance all the way - the change was so drastic!"

    MS. J.D.

    "The whole process was very positive, Custom Orthotic Design Group answered all of my questions and responded to my concerns in a professional pleasant manner. I highly recommend that anyone requiring any form of custom-made orthotic from a simple shoe insert to a sophisticated support such as my CROW walker consider Custom Orthotic Design Group."

      MR. M.B.

      Start your journey of finding your personal best

      Schedule Your Initial Consultation