Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on May 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of leather shoe tongue pads.
Do you have a child with narrow feet and you are having a hard time finding shoes that fit? Do you feel like you try a whole different type of shoes but you always end up empty-handed? I have found tongue pads to be extremely effective for kids with narrow feet.
I also have used tongue pads for children who wanted to wear slip-on shoes.
Tongue pads are important because they help prevent heel slippage by snugging up a loose-fitting shoe. While they are used for several different reasons, tongue pads are known for providing two main things:
✅ Keeping the foot from sliding forward.
✅ Keeping the heel from slipping.
Do you know what a tongue pad is? Tongue pads are adhesive-backed pads that go in the tongue of the shoes and they work in all enclosed shoes. Tongue pads are extremely effective for children that have narrow feet.
I normally use tongue pads for 3 different reasons:
- When a child has a narrow foot with skinny ankles.
- When a child wants to wear a slip-on shoe.
- When the child’s foot moves too much inside the shoe —in these cases the shoe might have been fitted too wide or too long to begin with.
If your children always complain about their heels slipping out of their shoes every time they walk, try a tongue pad. You will be amazed by the huge difference a tongue pad can make. It will significantly reduce or completely eliminate heel slippage, and you won’t have to worry about your children falling by feeling unstable in their shoes.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes and Tongue Pads
Tongue pads can make the way shoes feel totally different. I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses in children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoe hacks.
The Best Leather Shoe Tongue Pads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Children who have narrow feet always have a hard time finding shoes that fit. This is not a surprise since I have been fitting children’s shoes for over 10 years now and it still takes me the longest time to find shoes for children with narrow feet. Shoe companies rarely make sneakers in narrow widths for children, even though some shoe brands fit narrower than others.
I have used tongue pads several times for children with narrow feet since by putting more pressure on the instep of the child’s foot, it secures the child’s heel against the back of the shoe, and snugs up any remaining gap left inside the shoe.
If you are having a hard time finding tongue pads locally, you can order them from Amazon which also offers the best price for them. Here you can find a selection of the best leather shoe tongue pads for kids. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
If you are wondering what tongue pad size to order you can refer to the following guidelines:
- The small size for kids’ shoe sizes 8 to 10 1/2.
- The medium size for kids’ shoe size 10 1/2 to 3.
- The large size for kids’ shoe sizes 3 to 7.
- The extra large is for children that are wearing adult shoe sizes 7 1/2 and up.
How to Fit Tongue Pads in Shoes? – Easy Steps!
Fitting a tongue pad in a shoe is quite simple since they are self-adhesive and can be easily placed on the tongue of the shoe. The only question that might arise is that you will notice how tongue pads have a larger side to them, so how do you know which side goes where?
I always place the wider end closer to the opening of the shoe, that is the correct way of doing it! Below you can find a picture of the wider part of the tongue pad, which is placed on the top of the tongue.
Is There a Right Time to Remove the Tongue Pad?
As soon as your child starts complaining that the shoes feel too tight, then it’s time to remove the tongue pads.
As the child starts growing into the shoe, the tongue pad can easily be removed and this will open up extra space in the inside of the shoe for your child to keep wearing the shoes for another month or two.
Tongue Pads for Kids – When to Use Them?
Tongue pads are extremely handy, especially when children want a pair of slip-on shoes and their feet keeps slipping off them. When fitting a slip-on for a child, we cannot expect to leave as much growing room as we would if we were fitting that child in a pair of sneakers. A slip-on shoe needs to be fitted heel to toe —meaning no growing room for the child’s foot not to come out of the shoe.
Slip-on shoes don’t have a velcro fastener or shoelaces to hold the child’s foot in place, that is the main reason why we can’t leave as much growing room inside the shoes. Parents’ immediate response is: I don’t want to buy shoes for my children that are only going to last them 2 months!
That is when I recommend fitting a tongue pad inside the shoes. The tongue pad will put more pressure on your child’s instep (top part of the foot), and it will push your kids’ feet back, securing them against the back of the shoes.
The Benefits of Using a Tongue Pad – Let’s Find Out!
✅ Easy to apply (it can be applied in a matter of seconds).
✅ They can be used in most shoes.
✅ They will eliminate heel slipping.
✅ They will prevent the shoes from sliding forward.
✅ They can help reduce or eliminate the pain caused by the crease of a shoe.
Have you ever worn a pair of shoes that kept slipping off of your foot? When there is too much heel movement in a shoe it can start rubbing against your ankles, which can create several foot problems such as blisters and corns.
Parents can use tongue pads for their shoes as well. I have talked to parents that come to the shoe store telling me what they can do about their favorite shoes from slipping off their feet. I always advise them to try a tongue pad, since it will significantly improve the way the shoes feel.
If you need a pair of shoes for your children such as everyday, summer, winter, or sport shoes, you can find them all in a tool I created which lets you filter by the type of shoes that you need. This tool is extremely valuable since it shows you shoes in different widths such as narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide. It also tells you exactly how each shoe style fits (short, long, narrow, or wide) and allows you to filter by the instep of your child’s foot. You can even find shoes that accommodate orthotics. Go to the link below:
Find The Best Shoe Style For Your Child’s Unique Feet
Do you have a child with narrow feet and you always seem to have a hard time finding shoes that fit? Have you ever tried tongue pads in your kids’ shoes? Please share your experiences below so other parents can benefit from them!
Hi Juan,
I bought a couple of tongue pads since my child slip on shoes were huge on him. I follows your guidelines and it made such a big difference! Something so simple fixed the shoes and now my child can walk and run comfortably! I am bookmarking your website Juan!
Zuzana,
Tongue pads do make a huge difference when it comes to fitting kids’ shoes. Remember to remove them as he starts growing into the shoe or when he starts complaining that the shoes feel too tight,
Good fitting shoes are so important for kids but because their feet grow so quickly it can become expensive for the parents. The leather shoe tongue pad would enable the child to wear the shoe longer before mom had to buy new shoes. I remember having blisters on my heels from my shoes slipping at the heel. The leather shoe tongue would prevent that happening. A very useful product.
Margaret,
You are correct! A simple thing like a tongue pad can STOP the shoes from slipping in the heel, and prevent blisters and calluses! Most parents don’t even know that tongue pads exist and what difference it can make to their kids’ feet, so help me spread the word!
Hi!
Great post, very informative! I will definitely be bookmarking this website for future use as my baby has an issue with her pinky toe. It curls up over her other toes and I am worried it will cause her problems walking or being uncomfortable in her shoes. It looks like a tongue pad would be very useful to her in the future.
Alison,
I wouldn’t recommend using a tongue pad in this case. Please make sure you are not getting your child shoes that are too small or too narrow. This will only make her pinky toe curl even more! If you don’t have a local children’s shoe store in your area, you can find the best wide and extra wide shoes for kids’ here: Children Extra Wide Shoes – Prevent Blisters, Calluses, And Corns!
Great Information. I had never heard of these before. I always had a Problem finding shoes for my middle daughter because her feet were so long and skinny. I sure wish i would have known about these earlier. My niece has the same problem so i will sure recommend these to my sister. Thanks for the good info
Hello Dhall,
These tongue pads are a life saver for kids’ or adults with narrow feet! They make a huge difference and will stop your kids’ heel from slipping too much inside the shoe.
I was looking to put a tongue pad in my shoes since they were slipping around too much and they were really expensive shoes. I came across your website and even though it is for children, I believe in this case it applies to adult shoes. I ordered a bunch of them and I will follow the instructions to put them on the right way! Thank you for showing us this!
My website mainly focus on children’s shoes and their feet, but a lot of the things I describe do apply to adult shoes. You will see what a difference tongue pads will make in your shoes!