Are you having the hardest time finding a pair of narrow shoes for your toddler? Do you feel like every single pair of shoes that you try gaps too much in the front part of the shoe and around the ankles? Finding a pair of narrow shoes for toddlers can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience if you don’t know which shoe brands and which shoe styles among those brands fit narrower than others. There is only a small selection of shoes that are capable of fitting the shape of a toddler with narrow feet, but the good news is that I will help you find them.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, where we focus on helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoe brands for kids with narrow feet.
Most parents complain about how hard it is to find shoes for their toddlers with wide or extra wide feet, but what these parents don’t know is that it’s a lot harder to find shoes for toddlers with narrow feet.
I have been helping parents find the correct pair of shoes for their children online for the last 5 years. I am always telling parents that it doesn’t matter how narrow or wide their child’s feet are, there is always at least one particular shoe style out there that will fit the shape of their kids’ feet perfectly, and I will help them find it!
Be Careful About Fitting Your Toddler in Shoes that Are Too Wide
If your toddlers have narrow feet and you provide them with a pair of shoes that are too wide for their feet, their feet will end up moving too much inside the shoes, and that constant friction and rubbing between the feet and the shoes might lead to the formation of all sorts of foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
Certain shoe styles fit narrower than others, and I know which ones they are from having fitted them before. Please keep in mind that the selection of narrow shoes for toddlers is very small, but all you need is one pair of well-fitting shoes to keep your toddler’s feet healthy.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Narrow Feet?
1️⃣ Narrow Heel Counters: The shoes I recommend all provide a narrow heel counter instead of a rounder one. Take a look at the image below for clarification purposes:
2️⃣ Narrow Toe-Boxes: The shoes I recommend provide narrower platforms instead of rounder ones:
When looking for shoes for their kids, most parents narrow down their search to shoes that will be easy for the kid to put on as well as easy to take off. Buckles, velcro closure as well as elastic straps are some of the most popular choices among parents. However, when a child has narrow feet, a pair of shoes that come with shoelaces makes the shoes fit a lot better. Shoelaces will hug your toddler’s feet better and push their heels back securing them against the back of the shoe, which will eliminate any remaining gap around the ankles.
Let me show you a selection of the best narrow shoes for toddlers, but let’s first make sure that you know how to provide your toddler with the correct shoe size.
How to Retrieve Your Toddler’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Dr. Dananberg, who was featured in “Podiatry Today” magazine advises that “Measuring of feet can be helpful and it will lead to figuring out the correct shoe size, but parents must be cautious that the fit of shoes varies from one shoe company to another”. It pays when you understand which of the two feet are larger, and then it is the larger foot that needs to be taken into account.
I wrote an article where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Always make sure you measure both of your kids’ feet, and please pay attention to whether your child has a high instep or not. If you don’t know what the instep of the foot is, you can’t possibly be getting your child the correct shoe size. I wrote a post where I describe the best way to figure out whether your child has a high instep or not and you can find it here:
The Best Shoes for High Instep – Stop Getting the Wrong Shoe Size for Your Child!
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best shoes for toddlers with narrow feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Sneakers for Toddlers with Narrow Feet: Lace-Up Closure
There is one particular shoe style made by the shoe company Stride Rite which is an ideal shoe for toddlers who are taking their first steps or have already learned how to walk and have narrow feet.
The three shoes below come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. Remember that shoelaces work a lot better for children with narrow feet as they are capable of “hugging” the child’s feet more effectively, eliminating any remaining gaps.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
The Best Sneakers for Toddlers with Narrow Feet: Velcro Closure
Girls
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight and flexible
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort to child’s feet
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collars
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight and flexible
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort to child’s feet
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Boys
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collars
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collar and tongue for superior comfort
- Dual hook-and-loop strap for a snug fit
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight and flexible
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort to child’s feet
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Padded collars
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
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 toddler’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
The procedure of finding narrow shoes for a toddler who is already walking or just learning how to walk has been a subject matter to most parents whose child has incredibly narrow feet.
The Negative Impacts of Wearing Shoes that are Too Wide
There are two main issues with providing your child with the wrong shoe size:
➡️ Safety: One of the main issues of toddlers wearing shoes that are too wide is that it compromises their stability as that extra space in the shoes will make your toddler stumble and fall.
➡️ Friction: When shoes are too wide, they can lead to blisters, calluses, and corns to form, especially around the tender heels of your toddler. The constant contact or rubbing of the back of the child’s delicate skin against the shoe can be really painful and make your toddler uncomfortable.
Please also keep in mind that wearing shoes that don’t fit properly can also lead to foot and leg pain. I have helped several children who were experiencing foot and leg pain simply because they were not wearing the correct shoe size.
Remember that something so simple as providing your child with the correct shoe size is going to help keep your kids’ feet healthy and allow them to perform their everyday activities without feeling uncomfortable.
Now that you know which are the best narrow shoes for toddlers, you are ready to make a better and more informed decision.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Do you have a toddler with narrow feet? Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well for his or her feet? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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I am a concerned grandma. My grandaughter, age 2, has narrow feet and I am trying to buy some snow boots for winter. I read your article and looked for them in amazon. I did not find any in the brands you mentioned but found these: BARTEK, baby girls leather weatherproof snow boots and wanted to know your opinion. Have you heard about them?
Dear Maria,
I have not fitted the brand BARTEK before so I don’t know whether it fits narrow or not. However, there is a particular snow boot I have fitted at the shoe store I work for that I know it will fit a child with narrow feet. You can find it below:
The Best Snow Boots for Kids with Narrow Feet
Please let me know if that clarifies.
I am in need of toddler slip on shoes (no socks) for my 2 year son who wears a size 8. Something that will not break the bank, please!
Hello Tanni,
There is one style made by the shoe brand named Native that will fit a child with narrow feet, but you will have to compromise in the growing room since you want a slip on shoe.You will not be able to leave as much growing in slip on shoes, since there is nothing holding your kids’ feet. I describe those shoes in a post called:
Native Shoes – The Must Have Shoe for the Summer
Please maake sure you choose the style that is called the “Jefferson” since it’s the style that fits the narrowest.
I hope this helps!
I was hoping for more of a canvas shoe since winter here can get a bit cold (60°) on a low. Brrr. Lol
Hello Tanni,
There is a shoe brand called Naturino that makes some of the narrowest slip on shoes for kids. The issue is that their shoes are usually on the high end I don’t know how much you wanted to spend exactly.
Take a look at a post I wrote called: Leather Shoe Tongue Pads – Stop Heel Slippage
Let me know if this helps!
I forgot to mention, if you happen to find any of the Naturino slip on shoes for boys at a reasonable price, go for those! They are better made and FIT narrower.
Hi,
My girl has ultra narrow feet, naturino boots fitted but naturino walking shoes are too wide. I read your article and it mentioned Jumping Jacks, but im unable to find the shoes you have the picture of online. We live in Easrern Scandinavia in Europe and here people normally have extra wide shoes, so I have to order online. I could order from the states too, I order Munros superslims for myself and my girl has similar feet.
Hello Maria,
The white bootie made by Jumping Jacks is actually available in narrow widths. I just checked and I am able to see it just fine, have you tried clicking on the image of the shoe?
For everyday shoes you should try the shoe brand Saucony or Asics for your daughter, they both fit narrow.
Thank you. Tried again and now I can see it, the only problem is that my girl, now five has a longer foot, what similar would you recommend similar in size about US 12 (Europe 30).
Hello Maria,
Are you looking for velcro or shoelaces for your daughter?
Here is a shoe made by Asics (fits very narrow) with velcro: Asics Shoes for Narrow Feet
Here is another style that fits very narrow made by Saucony and it comes with velcro: Saucony Shoes for Girls with Narrow Feet
I hope this helps!