Does Your Child Have Narrow, Medium, Wide, or Extra Wide Feet?
Last updated: August 2026 | By Juan Valenzuela, Certified Children’s Shoe Fitter
Buying the wrong shoe width is one of the most common — and most invisible — mistakes I see parents make in fittings. Most parents focus entirely on length and assume their child will speak up if something’s wrong. But in over 10 years of fitting children’s shoes, I can tell you kids rarely complain about width, even when their feet are being squeezed all day. By the time they do say something, the damage is often already done: blisters, calluses, poor posture, and sometimes lasting changes to the shape of the foot.
How I Determine Your Child’s Exact Foot Width — For Free
You have two easy options. Either one gives me what I need to assess your child’s exact foot shape remotely — narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide — along with any conditions I notice, like flat feet or overpronation.
Option 1 — Record a Short Video
Use good lighting and have your child stand on a flat, hard surface (not carpet). A 30–60 second video is ideal.
Option 2 — Send Three Photos
If video isn’t possible, three photos work just as well. Same setup: flat, hard surface, good lighting.
Photo 1 — Front view: Child standing naturally, both feet photographed straight-on from the front.
Photo 2 — Inside view: Photograph the arch side of the foot. This shows instep height and arch shape (flat, normal, or high).
Photo 3 — Outside view: Photograph the opposite side, showing the outer edge and overall foot profile.
What to Send
Email your video or photos to customerservice@fittingchildrenshoes.com and include:
- Your video or three photos
- The country you live in (so recommendations match what’s available to you)
- Any relevant details — pain, existing conditions, current shoes, or concerns
You’ll get a response within 24 hours with your child’s exact foot shape and specific shoe recommendations. If you don’t hear back within 24 hours, text or call +1 301-691-8479.
This service is completely free — every child deserves properly fitting shoes regardless of budget or where they live. If it helps you and you’d like to support the work, you’re welcome to make a donation, but it’s never required.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Once I identify your child’s exact foot width, I’ll send specific shoe recommendations — brands and styles — based on their shape, size, and any conditions I observe, so you’re not guessing in the store or ordering the wrong thing online.
Width isn’t standardized across brands. A “wide” in one brand can fit completely differently than a “wide” in another. Knowing your child’s foot shape is only half the equation; knowing which shoes are actually built to accommodate that shape is the other half, and that’s where my experience as a certified shoe fitter makes the real difference.
Why Shoe Width Matters as Much as Length
A shoe can be the perfect length and still be completely wrong for your child’s foot. Width determines how the foot sits inside the shoe, how much room the toes have to spread naturally, and how stable your child feels while walking or running.
Too narrow: squeezes the foot inward, restricting circulation and causing blisters, calluses, and discomfort. Over time, it can push the toes out of alignment and contribute to deformities like bunions.
Too wide: lets the foot slide and shift inside the shoe, creating instability. This affects balance and walking gait and raises the risk of trips, falls, and ankle injuries.
The first seven years of life are the critical window — this is when the bones and soft tissue of the foot are most responsive to the right (or wrong) footwear. Getting width right early isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s one of the few things you can still influence.
I’m a certified children’s shoe fitter with over 10 years of experience helping families find properly fitting shoes for every foot shape and condition. Read my full bio or get in touch.
Hello. I paid the $10.00 fee yesterday and I’m not sure how to upload my pictures.
Hello Melody,
Please check your email as I have sent you further instructions.
Can over pronation be cured by orthotics and the correctly supportive shoes, or will he always need these.
Hello Sam,
This depends on how early you intervene. The earlier you intervene, the higher the chances are to improve your son’s foot posture and waking gait.
If you have an older child, the orthotics and shoes can help prevent foot and leg pain, and allow your son to participate in sports and other activities.
Hi! My daughter is 8 and has Autism. She has always worn mary jane shoes. She was recently referred to a PT bc of her right foot turning inward. Her PT suggested a good, stable shoe. She is a 4.5. I plan on using your tool for measuring but i know she has a wide forefoot. I bought a pair of Saucony cohesion shoes. Prior to finding this website. My concern is that since she is already showing a deformity if i need to go on and get her orthotics. The right foot looks super flat and overpronated. She needs something super stable for her heel. I feel terrible. She was just really picky and likes velcro bc she can’t independently put on laced shoes yet. She is also in a size that you can’t find velcro shoes in. Idk what shoes have removable insoles (the saucony conhesions do not) and she is still a girl and likes pretty shoes. We have no shoe shops in our area for her to be fitted. Thank you.
Hello Gloria,
It is frustrating when we don’t actually have a shoe store to take our kids to be properly fitted for shoes. I understand that your daughter prefers Mary jane shoes and she can still wear them, but I will definitely recommend she wears a pair of supportive, stable sneakers for most of the day.
For the record, you always should get the orthotics first before purchasing shoes because the shoes need to accommodate the orthotic not the other way around. Saucony cohesion shoes are great in terms of support, you might have to use a screwdriver to remove the inner sole though.
I would recommend you take her to your physical therapist to be evaluated for orthotics. I don’t know if she has expressed that she has foot or leg pain, but children with flat feet and overpronation normally do.
I can definitely provide you with a selection of velcro shoes (probably 2 or 3 shoe styles) that come in her size and will be supportive enough to fit an orthotic.
But please first find out what orthotic she needs. If I were you I would mention to the PT if they are familiar with CASCADE DAFO orthotics since I have fitted those before and they make a huge difference. I hope this helps and please folow up with me.
Hi Juan
Where are you? Id love to come and see you. My daughter is 5 years old and she has long narrow flat feet. However she has a bump on the top of her foot from me, due to having extremely high arches and also a pinkie toe that hasn’t quite turned out so become sore on her shoe. She has just started school and we got “fitted” at a rebel sports store but after just 6 weeks she has very sore feet. It was an asicis – can you help? we live on the Sunshine Coast,qld but happy to drive to Brisbane if you recommend anyone. Ive read your posts and I am trying to decide between the new balance or sacouny
Hello Rachel,
The children’s shoe store I used to work in is called Shoe Train and is located in Potomac, Maryland. I am not there anymore but the staff is great and some of them have 25+ years of experience. I am not familiar with any good children’s shoe store in your area.
Did you try shoelaces or velcro? Keep in mind that shoelaces will provide more support and stability and also fit the shape of her narrow feet much better than velcro.
When it comes to dealing with her pinky toe there are certain orthotics that might help her specially if you put a toe rise, since it will help spread her toes more evenly.
Where does her feet actually hurt? This will allow me to identify if the shoe is not supportive enough, or if it’s hurting on the top of her feet the shoe might not be deep enough which means that the top part of her foot is being pressured by the shoe. Let me know so I can give you better advise!