Do Shoe Stretchers Work?- The Solution to Kids With Wide and Extra Wide Feet
Are you feeling frustrated because, no matter how many extra wide shoes you try, your child still complains that their shoes feel too tight? Before giving up on that almost-perfect pair, consider this handy solution: a shoe stretcher. These clever tools are designed to gently expand shoes, giving toes some much-needed breathing room. For kids with wide or hard-to-fit feet, shoe stretchers can be a game-changer, transforming a tight squeeze into a comfortable fit. Let’s explore whether shoe stretchers really work—and how to use them effectively for your child’s footwear!
How Can a Shoe Stretcher Help Your Kids’ Extra Wide Feet?
A shoe stretcher is a simple yet powerful tool that helps expand tight areas of your child’s shoes for a more comfortable fit. Whether the shoes feel too snug overall or are causing pressure in a specific spot, like near a bunion, corn, or the toe box, a stretcher can target that exact area. It’s especially useful when your child needs just a bit of extra wiggle room for their toes to move freely—without the need to buy a new pair of shoes.
Children with wide or extra wide feet often face the frustration of struggling to find shoes that fit comfortably—and too often, they have to settle for styles they don’t even like. A shoe stretcher can change that! It gives kids the chance to wear the shoes they love, even those they might have avoided before, by creating extra room where it’s needed most.
Do Shoe Stretchers Work in All Shoes?
The shoe stretcher spray I recommend works well on most types of materials, including suede, leather, canvas, and linen. It’s a versatile solution that helps soften the fabric and makes stretching your child’s shoes much easier and more effective.
Best Shoe Stretcher Spray for Kids with Wide or Extra Wide Feet
One product I’ve used countless times in the children’s shoe store is a liquid shoe stretcher—perfect for easing tight sneakers, dress shoes, and boots. It works wonders to keep kids comfortable while they play and move, and it’s earned glowing reviews from parents worldwide for its excellent results.
- Order the shoe stretcher spray by FOOTMATTERS on Amazon
- Leather conditioner that is formulated to soften and stretch tight-fitting shoes
- Safe to use as the spray will go on clear and will never cause discoloration
- Works on a wide variety of materials including: Leather, Suede, Canvas, Synthetics, Linens, Nubuck and Patent leather
- Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
When using this product, it’s crucial to take it slow and avoid overstretching, as that can damage the shoes. Apply the spray gradually and check the fit often. Keep asking your child how the shoes feel, and as soon as they say the tightness is gone, stop applying more product. A little patience goes a long way in saving the shoes—and your child’s comfort!
How to Apply the Shoe Stretcher Spray to Your Kids’ Shoes?
The directions are quite easy to follow:
Step One. Simply spray on your kids’ shoes and make sure your child wears them to stretch to proper fit.
Step Two. If the shoe still feels tight after applying the product, spray it again until your child reaches a comfortable fit.
3 Important Questions Parents Have About This Product
- Will it stain the outside of the shoe if I spray it there?
No worries—it won’t stain leather shoes at all, and you can safely spray it on either the inside or outside.
- Can I use it on all of my kids’ sneakers?
That depends on the material, but it’s compatible with most types of kids’ shoes.
- Is it safe for patent shoes?
Yes! In fact, it works beautifully on patent shoes and helps keep them comfortable without damage.
Choosing the Right Shoes for Extra Wide Feet
Finding shoes for a child with extra wide feet takes more than just picking a pair labeled “XW.” You also need shoes that are deep and have a rounded toe box to prevent pinching. I created a resource that has a list of the best extra wide shoes for children.
Contact Me with Any Questions
If you’d like tailored recommendations for your child, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to help answer your questions and guide you to the perfect fit.
Yes, it works. I have been using it for my kids’ school shoes 2-3 times.
Thanks for sharing!
I ordered the shoe stretcher you recommended and it works wonders! My son who has the widest feet ALWAYS said that the shoes were too tight! Life saver! Thank you
I am glad it worked out!
I had not heard of these devices before. Wish I had of!! My son has big feet and wide and I have spent many hours going from shop to shop to find shoes that fit. Because he wears a size 14/15 it makes it difficult to find shoes at all.I am getting one of this shoe stretcher to have for the whole family.
Shoe stretchers come handy when you have children with really wide feet. You will really get some good use out of it!
Hello Juan,
My niece has wide feet and she always has some trouble in finding a comfortable pair of shoes. We never used any kind of shoe stretchers so far thinking that it might not help.
After reading your post i realized that the shoe stretches do help kids with wider feet. Also, the “Professional Boot and Shoe Leather Stretch” seems to be a wonderful product and easy to use (just spray it). I’m getting this product for my niece! Thank you!
Hello,
You should probably read this post since it describes the best shoes for wide feet: Extra Wide Shoes for Girls – The Best Shoe Style for Girls with Extra Wide Feet! I use shoe stretchers when I fit a child in a shoe that is already wide, but still not wide enough for the child’s foot.
My family has thrown many kids shoes away due to their children having wide feet and complaining about the shoes feeling too tight. I didn’t know that kids shoes could be stretched. I still remember my niece shoes being thrown away after wearing for 1 month as she complained about them feeling too tight on her feet.
I think this article will save tons of money for our family in the future. The last part of the article answered all my questions. Thanks for the info here.
Maxx,
Remember that shoes come in wide, and extra wide widths. It might be possible that your family is not getting the right shoe width to start with. However, if you are getting an extra wide width shoe and it still feels tight, a shoe stretcher will definitely help!
My son has the widest feet, and even when I get him wide shoes he complains of them feeling too tight. I am definitely getting a pair of this! I never knew something like a shoe stretcher even existed until now. I like how you included the types on shoes it will work best on also. Gives a good idea to your readers on the expectations of using this on certain types of shoes.
Props to the person that invented a shoe stretching spray!
Nate,Let me know how it works out! What type of shoes are you getting for your child? I wrote a post about the widest shoes for kids that you might want to give it a read: Extra Wide Shoes for Kids
I had never heard of shoe stretching spray before, or a shoe stretcher either for that matter. Interesting. I know this article is about kid’s shoes, but I have always had a problem with shoes being too narrow. Now I know what to do!
I appreciated you going over some frequently asked questions at the end. That cleared up a few questions I had.
Elisa,
I started learning everything I know about shoes when I started working at a children shoe store 6 years ago. I write about kids’ shoes, and parents find the information to be extremely valuable. I wrote a post you can definitely benefit from depending on what women shoe size you wear and it’s called: Women and Kids Shoe Size Conversion Chart – Save Big Buying Kids’ Shoes!