How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Make their Shoes Fit and Feel Better!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on February 2022 and reflects up-to-date information on how to tie shoes for kids with narrow feet.

Do you have a child with narrow feet and you feel like all of the shoes gap too much around the ankles? You can significantly reduce this gap by using a shoe-tying technique I learned that works particularly well for children with narrow feet and narrow heels.

When children’s feet move too much inside the shoes, that constant friction between the feet and the shoes can lead to painful blisters, calluses, and corns.

Certain shoe lacing techniques can improve your child’s stability and prevent injuries, alleviate pain and relieve foot problems. Even though shoelaces play a key role in how the shoes fit, most parents underestimate the importance of tying their children’s shoes properly.

There is a way to tie your kids’ shoes that will push your kids’ heels back, supporting and securing them against the back of the shoes. This will make your child feel more stable and confident when walking and running around.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store evaluating children with foot issues and helping them find the right pair of shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years. I had the opportunity to teach several children how to properly tie their shoes and I have noticed how girls start tying their shoes at an early stage —between the ages of 5 and 6— while it takes a little longer for most boys —between the ages of 7 or older.

If you have a child with narrow feet, take a look at the most effective way to tie the shoes to reduce any remaining gaps and make the shoes fit and feel better.

How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Let’s Find Out!

✅ 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.

Your child will notice a difference right away.

I hope you found that shoe lacing technique easy to follow because it does make a huge difference! You should try this shoe lacing technique on your shoes so you would be able to see what a difference it makes.

For this shoe lacing technique to work properly, your child’s shoelaces must be the correct length. If the shoelaces are too long your child might be more likely to step on them and fall. On the other hand, if the shoelaces are too short, your child will have a hard time tying them – untied shoes can also lead to your child falling and getting injured.

To figure out the proper length of the shoelaces, you must count how many eyelets (small holes) the shoes have. Take a look at the picture below for clarification:

There is a particular type of shoelaces that are called the “Bubble Shoelaces”, and they are very popular as they come with small bumps along with the shoelace that prevents the shoelaces from becoming untied. This means that once you tie them, they are much less likely to become untied. These shoelaces are also very durable.

Good Shoelaces for Children

You can find the best shoelaces for kids below. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

These shoelaces are guaranteed to stay tied all the way!

Have you tried this shoe lacing technique before? Is there any other shoe lacing technique that you will recommend for a child who has narrow feet? Please share your shoe lacing techniques below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.