How to Prevent the Heel from Slipping Out of the Shoe – Follow These Easy Steps!

Have you ever noticed your child’s feet slipping out of their shoes when they are walking or running? Are your children complaining that their heels keep coming out of their shoes? Do you feel like no matter what shoe style you buy for your child there seems to be a gap around the heel area? Heel slippage is the worst! Let me show you how to prevent the heel from slipping out of the shoe.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time, you can go straight to the guidance on how to prevent the heel from slipping out of the shoe.

Heel Slippage Leads to Discomfort and Foot Issues

The most common issue that children face when their heels slip out of the shoes is blisters, due to the constant friction between the feet and the shoes.

When your kids’ heels slip out of the shoes, their feet are more exposed and prone to developing foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns. Your children will also be at higher risk of developing serious injuries as shoes that slip off can compromise your child’s stability, exposing your children to falling and getting hurt. In addition, shoes that slip off your child’s feet can lead to foot and leg pain, as your child is not getting the proper amount of ankle support from the shoes.

What Are the Most Common Reasons Your Child’s Heels Slip Out of the Shoes?

These are the 3 most common reasons why your child’s heels might keep slipping out of the shoes.

1️⃣ The first one is that the shoes that you got for your child might be too wide around the heel area.

2️⃣ The second one is that your child might have narrow heels.

3️⃣ The third one is that your child might not be pulling the shoelaces or velcro straps of the shoes tight enough.

If you want to prevent your child’s heels from slipping out of the shoes, there are certain steps that you need to follow. Let me show you the 3 most important proven steps that you need to take to prevent heel slippage.

How to Prevent Heel Slippage – The 3 Proven and Most Effective Methods

1️⃣ Make sure your child is wearing the correct shoe size 

One of the most common reasons why children experience heel slippage is from wearing shoes that are too large or too wide.

I always recommend parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust. The issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents have to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.

For your convenience, I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state.

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home. 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.

how-to-figure-out-your-child's-shoe-size

2️⃣ Pull the shoelaces or the velcro straps comfortably tight 

If the shoelaces or velcro straps of the shoes are too loose, this can allow for too much foot movement inside the shoes and your child’s heels will move up and down the shoes.

Don’t be afraid of pulling the velcro straps or the shoelaces tightly, as you won’t hurt your child’s feet. Some parents believe that if they make the shoelaces or velcro closure too tight they might cut their child’s circulation.

If your children are not pulling the shoelaces or velcro closure tightly their stability will be compromised and they also won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer in terms of support.

3️⃣ Try a tongue pad inside the shoes

Try using a tongue pad inside the shoes. A tongue pad is an adhesive-backed pad that fits in the tongue of the shoes and they work pretty much in all enclosed shoes. Tongue pads work great especially for kids that have narrow heels and always have a hard time finding shoes that fit.

Once you fit a tongue pad inside your kids’ shoes, it will push your kids’ heels back, securing them against the back of the shoes. This will fill any remaining gaps around the heels.

If you want to try a tongue pad inside your kids’ shoes you can learn more about them in that article.


If you try these steps and your child’s heels are still coming out of the shoes, then you will have to replace your kids’ shoes and find one that comes with a narrower heel. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:

Let me show you which are the best shoe styles for kids with narrow heels that will prevent heel slippage.

I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 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.

The Best Shoes for Kids with Narrow Heels

Shoes that come with shoelaces are always going to be more effective in reducing heel slippage. If your children have a medium width foot with narrow heels, these are the best types of shoes that will fit the shape of their feet.

The Best Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet and Narrow Heels

If your child has wide feet with narrow heels, below you can find the best type of shoes that will fit the shape of your child’s feet.

What Shoe Size Should You 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 foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

Now that you know the 3 most effective ways on how to prevent the heel from slipping out of the shoe, you are ready to make a better and more informed decision.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly through the comments section or via email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.

Do you know of a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area? Kindly let us know which specialized children’s shoe stores are available in your area so that other parents within the same area acknowledge this useful information.