How to Fit Heel Cups – The Most Effective Way to Fit Heel Cups Inside Your Kids’ Shoes!
Has your child been complaining about heel pain? Have you taken your child to your physical or occupational therapist and has been diagnosed with Sever’s disease or plantar fasciitis? After you have identified which heel cup is best for your child’s feet, the next step is to make sure they fit perfectly inside your kids’ shoes. If the heel cups don’t fit correctly inside your kids’ shoes, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the heel cups have to offer. Let me show you how to fit heel cups inside your kids’ shoes.
Heel pain in children happens more often than you imagine, and this is mostly because they are wearing the wrong pair of shoes, but sometimes it’s due to having a foot condition such as flat feet, rolled ankles, or low muscle tone. Follow my simple 2 step method to make sure that your kids’ heel cups are fitting correctly inside the shoes.
How to Fit Heel Cups – Follow These 2 Simple Steps!
1️⃣ First Step: Make Sure you Have the Correct Type of Shoes
Heel cups are not able to fit in any type of shoe. The shoes need to provide extra depth to allow the heel cups to fit deeply inside the shoes. If the heel cups don’t fit deeply inside the shoes, your kids will get the impression that their feet are coming out of the shoes.
Let me show you the difference when a heel cup is fitted in a pair of shoes that provide extra depth versus a pair that doesn’t. Do you notice how the heel cup on the left shoe is fitting a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the right?
Let’s take a look at an image from a different angle:
I always recommend parents provide their children with a pair of shoes that come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. The main reason for this is that shoes that come with shoelaces provide better support and stability. A pair of shoes with shoelaces also helps push the child’s heels back and secure them against the back of the shoes.
2️⃣ Second Step: Apply my Special Shoe Lacing Technique
There is a particular shoe lacing technique that I use for children who wear heel cups or orthotics inside their shoes. This technique is extremely effective as it pushes the kids’ heels back supporting them and securing them against the back of the shoes.
➡️ Start by leaving the two top eyelets (small holes of the shoe) of each side of the shoes open – take a look at the image below for clarification.
➡️ Grab the shoelaces and go through the top hole first as shown in the image below.
➡️ The last step is to go through the holes you left open.
If you follow these 2 steps, your child will get the full benefits that the heel cups have to offer and you will notice how the pain will be greatly reduced or eliminated.
I have had the opportunity to help several children that were dealing with heel pain to minimize and in most cases, fully eliminate the pain that they were experiencing by fitting them in a pair of heel cups and good supportive shoes. It’s important to understand that the heel cups and the shoes work together in reducing or eliminating your child’s heel pain.
Supportive and Deep Shoes for Fitting Your Child’s Heel Cups
Below you can find a selection of the deepest and most supportive shoes that have proven to be the most effective ones for children who need to wear heel cups. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Do You Need to Remove the Original Insoles Before Fitting the Heel Cups?
No, you don’t need to remove the original insoles of your kids’ shoes when placing the heel cups, just place the heel cup on top of the shoe insoles.
Do You Have the Correct Type of Heel Cups? – Let’s Find Out
I have found a particular heel cup that offers superior shock absorption – minimizes the impact that the feet take when they come in contact with the ground and prevents foot fatigue – it prevents your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired by returning energy.
This is the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cup available today. I have fitted this heel cup before and I have seen the positive outcome that it has if fitted with the correct type of shoes.
The Best Heel Cup to Treat and Prevent Heel Pain
Tuli’s Heel Cups are the #1 Podiatrist recommended Heel Cups in the world!
- Ideal to treat and prevent general heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s disease, excessive pronation, Achilles tendonitis
- Innovative multi-cell, multi-layer waffle pattern design, helps to absorb impact pressure (shock) and return impact energy back to the feet
- The extra cushion this heel cup includes reduces and prevents sore heels and shin splints
- Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6
- Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above.
What Heel Cup Size Should You Order?
Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6.
Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above.
The 3 most important benefits of wearing heel cups are:
➡️ Preventing long-term foot problems.
➡️ Accommodating every contour and feature of the children’s foot.
➡️ Providing better balance and proper support.
If you want to learn in more detail about the benefits of this heel cup you should take a look at a different resource I created.
Heel Cups for Sport Shoes – Reduce the Impact on Your Kids’ Feet!
When children get involved in a particular sport such as soccer, football, baseball, or basketball, they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level.
I have helped several children that were experiencing heel pain after their soccer games or even during soccer practice, by fitting them in the correct type of heel cups. If you have a child that is playing sports and experiencing heel pain, the heel cup I showed you will significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s heel pain.
Do You Think Your Child Will Benefit More from Wearing Orthotics?
If after trying the heel cups I recommend with a pair of good supportive shoes your child still complains of heel pain, then your child might need to be fitted for an orthotic.
Never ignore your child’s heel pain, is not normal and there are various ways of reducing or fully eliminating the pain. If you have any doubts about how to fit heel cups inside your kids’ shoes do not hesitate to contact me:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
How to Fit Heel Cups Inside Your Kids’ Sports Shoes – Watch Video!
If your child is experiencing heel pain during or after his/her soccer games, you should fit a pair of Tuli’s heel cups inside their cleats. The video below will show you how to fit them correctly!
Children between the ages of 4 and 8 are at the most risk of developing Sever’s disease, which is an inflammatory condition of your kids’ growth plate in the heel bone, and it happens because children tend to put a lot of stress and pressure on the growth plate.