How to Prevent Converse Shoes from Slipping Off Your Kids’ Heels? – The Most Effective Way!

Do your kids love their Converse shoes, but constantly complain about their heels slipping out? It’s a common issue, especially since Converse shoes often run long and don’t offer much heel support. If your child refuses to wear any other pair, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’ll share two easy and effective tricks I use at the children’s shoe store where I work to help secure Converse shoes and keep them from slipping off your child’s feet.

Chuck Taylor All Stars—commonly known as Converse—are among the most iconic sneakers in history, with over a billion pairs sold worldwide. Their timeless style appeals to kids and adults alike. However, despite their popularity, Converse shoes offer little to no padding around the heel. This lack of structure often causes children’s heels to slip, leading to excessive foot movement inside the shoes. Over time, this can result in painful issues like blisters, calluses, corns, and even ongoing foot and leg discomfort.

Check out the difference in heel padding between a pair of Converse shoes and a pair of supportive everyday sneakers—this side-by-side comparison shows exactly why your child’s heels might be slipping!

How to Prevent Converse Shoes from Slipping Off Your Kids’ Heels?

The most effective way to prevent your kids’ Converse shoes from slipping off is by fitting a tongue pad inside of the shoes. Tongue pads offer several advantages, as they create a snugger fit by filling in excess space, reducing the likelihood of slipping. Additionally, they can enhance overall shoe comfort by providing extra cushioning.

A tongue pad is a soft, adhesive-backed insert placed on the underside of the shoe tongue. It helps create a more secure fit by gently pushing the foot back, reducing excess space and preventing heel slippage—especially useful for kids wearing shoes that feel too loose around the heels.

If you’re having trouble finding tongue pads in local stores, Amazon is a great option — it often has the best prices and widest selection. When selecting tongue pads, quality is key. I recommend investing in high-quality leather shoe tongue pads.

Best Leather Shoe Tongue Pads to Prevent Heel Slippage

These are not only comfortable but also durable, ensuring they last as long as your child’s shoes.

Leather tongue pads for kids' shoes.
  • Order these Pedag Supra leather tongue pads on Amazon
  • Made from high-quality skin safe vegetable tanned suede leather
  • Adjusting memory foam cushion
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How to Fit Tongue Pads Inside Your Kids’ Shoes? – 2 Simple Steps!

Installing a tongue pad is quick and easy—they’re self-adhesive and designed to stick directly onto the tongue of the shoe. The only part that may cause confusion is their shape: one side is slightly larger than the other. So, how do you know which end goes where? Let’s clear that up.

I always place the wider end of the tongue pad closer to the shoe’s opening for the most secure fit. In this image, you can clearly see the broader section of the pad and exactly how it should be positioned at the top of the shoe tongue for best results.

Still Experiencing Heel Slippage After Adding a Tongue Pad?

A strategic lacing technique can significantly improve the fit and security of Converse shoes on your child’s feet. This method helps lock the heel in place, preventing unwanted slipping.

Step One: Begin by leaving the top two eyelets on each side of the shoe unlaced—check out the image below to see exactly what I mean!
Step Two: Thread the shoelaces through the top eyelets first, just like you see in the image below!
Step Three: The final step is to thread the laces through the eyelets you left open.

Are Your Kids’ Converse Too Long? – Common Mistake to Avoid!

One of the most frequent issues I see is kids experiencing excessive foot movement and heel slippage simply because their Converse shoes are too long. Many parents don’t realize that Converse tend to run big—often requiring the same size or even a half size smaller than their child’s actual foot size.

I understand the hesitation: no parent wants to buy shoes their child might outgrow quickly. But when a shoe runs long, sizing down is the right move to ensure a secure fit. If you’ve ever worn Converse yourself, you probably know exactly what I mean. I hope this clears up any confusion!

Kids’ Converse: Low Tops vs. High Tops – Does It Really Matter?

The truth is, not much! The lacing method I shared works equally well for both low tops and high tops. So whether your child prefers one style over the other, you can still prevent heel slippage and ensure a better fit. If you’re looking for the best Converse styles for kids, I recommend checking out my dedicated guide that highlights the top picks.

Reach Out with Any Questions

If you continue to face challenges with your child’s shoes slipping, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Expert guidance can make a significant difference in finding the right solution.