Do you have a child with narrow heels and always have a hard time finding shoes that fit? Does your child complain that his or her heels always move up and down the shoes? I am going to show you a list of the best kids’ shoes that fit narrow heels. If you believe that your child is wearing the correct type of shoes but is still experiencing heel slippage, I will teach you a specific shoe hack that you can try to make the shoes fit better.
Heel Slippage Can Lead to Discomfort and Foot Issues
Heel slippage is the worst! It’s important for parents to always keep an eye on their kids’ shoes, as heel slippage can lead to different foot issues. In fact, one of the most common foot issues children face when there is excessive heel slippage is blisters around their heels. The constant rubbing and friction between the shoes and your child’s heels is what usually leads to blisters. Take a look at the image below to check the most common place where children develop blisters when their shoes slip off their feet:
When children develop blisters around their heels they might change their walking gait to avoid discomfort.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Experience!
I know which shoes are better for a child who is experiencing heel slippage as I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years. At the shoe store we specialize in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot conditions. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes for kids with narrow heels.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Narrow Heels?
The shoes I recommend provide narrow heel counters (back part of the shoe) which are going to secure your child’s heels inside the shoes and prevent heel slippage.
Let me show you how different the heel counters can be when we look at two different shoes that are the same length and width. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has a much rounder heel counter compared to the shoe on the left? This is exactly the type of shoe that we need for your child.
Shoelaces or Alternative Closure for Kids with Narrow Heels?
I always recommend shoes with shoelaces for children with narrow heels as they help keep the feet in place and prevent heel slippage. I understand that most parents might be hesitant about getting shoelaces if the child doesn’t know or is not ready to learn how to tie the shoes just yet. Just keep in mind that shoelaces truly make a tremendous difference!
There is also one specific shoe lacing technique that works wonders for children with narrow heels. My coworker who has over 20 years of shoe fitting experience taught me this shoe lacing technique, which basically pushes the feet back, securing and protecting them against the back part of the shoes. You can learn how to apply this shoe lacing technique in your kids’ shoes by taking a look at a different article I wrote called:
How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Make their Shoes Fit and Feel Better!
Before I show you a selection of shoes with narrow heel counters I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot length and width. This is the only way that you will be able to order the correct shoe size online.
Do You Know Your Child’s Exact Foot Shape? – Let’s Find Out!
I always recommend parents take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local shoe store, not just to support their local businesses, but to also make sure that their child gets properly fitted for shoes. The issue now is that most specialized children’s shoe stores are closed, so I came up with a system that helps parents determine their child’s exact foot shape from home.
I explain how this system works in a different article called:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Now that you know your child’s exact foot size and shape and what features your kids’ shoes must provide to prevent heel slippage, let’s take a look at the best shoes for kids with narrow heels. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Kids’ Shoes that Fit Narrow Heels ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The shoes below all provide narrow heel counters and can fit children with narrow and medium width feet.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collar and tongue for superior comfort
- Dual hook-and-loop strap for a snug fit
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collars
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collars
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight and flexible
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort to child’s feet
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable insoles
- Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
- Breathable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Infused gel for extra cushion and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL® Technology Cushioning System lessens the amount of shock during impact
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If your child happens to have wide feet and narrow heels I suggest that you email me so I can send you specific shoe recommendations. You can also reach out to me if you are looking for a different type of shoe other than a sneaker:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Are Your Child’s Heels Still Moving Up and Down the Shoes?
If after trying any of the shoes I recommend your child still experiences heel slippage there is one shoe hack that works wonders for children with narrow heels.
Have you ever heard of tongue pads? They are adhesive-backed pads that are placed on the tongue of the shoes. They basically help push and secure your kids’ feet against the back of the shoes.
If after trying a pair of shoes with shoelaces and narrow heel counters your child still experiences heel slippage I strongly suggest that you try a tongue pad. If your child doesn’t like how the tongue pad feels you can always remove it by peeling it off the shoes.
Fitting Tongue Pads Inside Your Kids’ Shoes – It Takes 2 Simple Steps!
Fitting tongue pads inside your kids’ shoes is a simple process.
The first step is to get the tongue pad ready to be fitted inside the shoes as shown in the image below:
The second step is to place the tongue pad inside your kids’ shoes. The only tricky part is to place the widest part of the tongue pad at the top of your child’s tongue as shown in the image below:
You can get tongue pads at your local shoe store or if you find it more convenient you can get them online as they are available on Amazon:
Please follow the instructions below to order your child the correct tongue pad size:
- The small size fits kids’ shoe sizes 8 to 10 1/2.
- The medium size fits kids’ shoe sizes 10 1/2 to 3.
- The large size for kids’ fits shoe sizes 3 to 7.
- The extra large is for children that are wearing adult shoe sizes 71/2 and above.
Kids’ Shoes that Fit Narrow Heels – Final Thoughts!
Finding a pair of shoes for a child with narrow heels can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. Most children don’t speak up when their shoes are uncomfortable so always keep an eye on your kids’ shoes and feet. With that said, you don’t want your child to be slipping and sliding around their shoes!
I have noticed how many parents complain about how hard it is to find shoes that fit children with wide feet. However, what these parents don’t know is that it is actually a lot harder to find shoes for children with narrow feet than it is for children with wide feet.
Let us know in the comments section below if you have found a specific shoe brand or shoe style that has worked well for your child’s narrow heels. I am sure other parents will find your feedback very helpful.
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