Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on April 2022 and reflects up-to-date information on how to check if your child’s shoes are too wide.
Are you concerned that your kid’s shoes are too wide? Have you noticed a lot of extra space around your child’s ankles and in the front part of the shoes as well? Wearing shoes that are too wide can create several foot issues to your child’s feet such as blisters, calluses, corns, and ingrown toenails.
When a shoe is too wide, it allows for too much foot movement inside the shoes, which leads to a constant friction between the feet and the shoes. That constant friction and rubbing between the feet and the shoes usually leads to the foot issues mentioned above. In addition, shoes that are too wide can cause instability and make your child more prone to falling.
Below you can find some examples of children wearing shoes that are too wide for their feet:
It’s important to make sure that your kids’ shoes are not too wide for their feet, and I will show you the simplest, yet most effective method to check this.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, and I handle approximately one hundred shoe fittings and try-ons per week. I have fitted hundreds of children’s shoes, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others. We specialize in children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
Since I have been fitting children’s shoes for so long, I consider myself an expert in this area, and I have different methods I use to check if the child’s shoes are fitting correctly.
Keep in mind that I always encourage parents to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local kids’ shoe store, where a shoe fitter can measure their feet and properly check if the shoes are fitting correctly.
Let’s start by taking a look at a list I created to check whether you have a good fitting children’s shoe store in your area or not:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings
If you don’t have a store in your area, then keep on reading so you can find out how to check if your kids’ shoes are too wide.
How to Check if Your Child’s Shoes are too Wide – 3 Simple Steps
✅ The 1st STEP is to put your child’s shoes on and make sure to either tie the shoelaces properly or pull the velcro strap of the shoe tightly.
If your child is wearing a pair of velcro sneakers, you can check if the shoes are too wide by checking if the velcro straps align properly. If the velcro straps go way over where they are supposed to meet, then it means that the shoes are too wide. Take a look at the picture below for better visualization purposes:
Do you notice how the velcro straps are going way past to where they are supposed to meet? This is one of the most common signs that your kids’ shoes are too wide.
✅ The 2nd STEP is to check if there is extra space around your child’s heels. I want you to slide your finger around the heel counter of the shoe and check how much space there is. There should be enough room that the shoes are not too tight, but if you can fit two fingers around the heel counter area or more, that means that there is too much extra space and that the shoes are too wide. Take a look at the picture below for clarification purposes:
✅ The 3rdSTEP is to check if there is too much extra material in the front of the shoes. If you notice there is extra material around the toe-box —take a look at the picture below for clarification— then the shoes are too wide for your child’s feet.
These 3 steps are very simple to follow, but if you have any doubts on whether your child’s shoes are too wide I suggest that you email me and I will help you figure this out: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Now, let’s say that you checked all these 3 steps and the shoes are too wide for your child’s feet. This doesn’t automatically mean that your child has narrow feet. Maybe you got your child’s shoes too long or too wide — you might have chosen the wrong width to begin with — that’s why I want you to take a look at an article I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Does your Child Have Narrow Feet? – Shoe Shopping Gets more Challenging!
Fitting shoes for kids can be a headache, made even worse by the fact that you have to re-fit them every couple of months. However, the majority of podiatry problems in adulthood are caused by ill-fitting footwear in childhood that’s why it’s important that you always make sure that your child is wearing the correct type of shoes in the correct size.
If your child happens to have narrow feet, then we need to find a different shoe style that will fit the shape of your child’s feet better. I have written several articles for children with narrow feet but there is one that covers everything that you need to know. Go to the link below:
The Best Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Stop Hurting Your Kids’ Feet!
It’s really important to provide your child with narrow feet with the correct type of shoes, otherwise, you will create several foot issues to his/her feet as well as foot and leg pain.
I have put together a selection of the best narrow fitting sneakers for kids that I have fitted before. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Sneakers for Kids with Narrow Feet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out the features that the shoe provides, the type of closure (velcro, lace-up), and what shoe size you should order to provide your child with the correct amount of growing room.
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
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s 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
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- 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
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 a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Keep in mind that if your child has narrow feet and you can’t seem to find any sneakers that fit, it’s always better to find a pair of shoes that come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces help push your kids’ heels back, securing them against the back of the shoes. I strongly suggest that you apply one specific shoe lacing technique I learned that works wonder for children with narrow feet:
How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Make their Shoes Fit and Feel Better!
Do you have a favorite shoe brand or a favorite shoe style for children with narrow feet? Please share your thoughts below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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