Do you agree with me that finding a pair of shoes for a child with narrow feet usually translates into lots of wasted time and money? Some families take their children with narrow feet to be fitted for shoes at their local shoe store where they spend up to an hour of their time trying different shoes, but they always end up empty-handed. Some other families buy their kids’ shoes online and also waste time and money by having to return the shoes back and forth. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes for kids with extra narrow feet based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I understand how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to find a pair of shoes for a child with narrow feet. I know this because I have been fitting children’s shoes for the last 10 years, working for a specialized shoe store that focuses on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes (such as narrow feet) as well as foot problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
I always enjoyed working with kids and I truly care about your children’s feet, as I know that the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Making sure that your child ends up wearing the correct type of shoes is my main goal.
When it comes to sneakers, I have found that certain shoe brands such as Asics and Saucony tend to manufacture narrower shoes. However, this doesn’t mean that all Asics and Saucony shoe styles are going to fit the shape of your child’s extra narrow feet, only a few of their shoe styles.
The Two Biggest Challenges of Finding Shoes for Children with Narrow Feet
These are the two biggest challenges of finding a pair of shoes for a child with narrow feet:
1️⃣ Finding a pair of shoes with a narrow heel counter: It’s important to find a pair of shoes that is going to prevent your child’s heels from constantly slipping off the shoes. Too much heel slippage can lead to foot issues such as blisters and also compromise your child’s stability by making your child more prone to falling.
2️⃣ Finding a pair of shoes with a narrow toe-box: When there is a lot of extra space inside the shoes it usually leads to a lot of foot movement, and that constant friction and rubbing between the feet and the shoes can lead to the formation of blisters.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Kids with Extra Narrow Feet?
1️⃣ Narrow Heel Counters
Let’s visualize how a narrow heel counter looks like. The shoes below are the same length and the same width. Do you notice how the Asics shoe style (black and orange) has a narrower heel counter compared to the New Balance shoe style (black and blue)?
2️⃣ Narrow Toe-Boxes
Now let’s visualize how a narrow toe-box looks like. The shoes below are also the same length and the same width. Do you notice how the Asics shoe style (pink) has a narrower toe-box compared to the New Balance shoe style (navy blue)?
3️⃣ Narrow Platforms: The shoes I recommend provide narrower platforms to accommodate the overall shape of your child’s narrow feet:
It takes a lot of testing and shoe fittings to figure out which kids’ shoes provide those two important features since kids’ shoes don’t come labeled as “narrow toe-box” or “narrow heel counter”. The good news is that I know exactly which shoe styles provide these two features from having fitted them before.
I always explain to parents that finding a pair of shoes for a child with narrow feet is always more time-consuming than finding a pair of shoes for a child with wide or extra wide feet. The main reason for this is that shoe companies manufacture shoes in wide (W) and extra wide (XW) widths, but they don’t manufacture shoes in narrow widths (N).
I usually had to try several shoe styles before finding the perfect one for a child with narrow feet. However, as time went by and I gained more experience I became more familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles among those brands are capable of accommodating the shape of a narrow foot better.
Before I provide you with a selection of the best shoes for kids with extra narrow feet, I want to make sure that you are aware of your child’s exact foot size.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If you are 100% sure of your child’s exact foot size, then you can scroll down and take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with narrow feet. However, if you don’t know your child’s exact foot size, then I recommend that you take a look at the article below, so you don’t end up wasting time and money by having to return the shoes back and forth:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with extra narrow feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Extra Narrow Feet
One thing I need you to keep in mind is that shoes that come with shoelaces are always more effective in fitting the shape of a narrow foot. I understand how some parents prefer to provide their kids with an alternative shoe closure such as velcro, as their kids might not be ready to learn how to tie their shoes just yet, so I will provide you with both options.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 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 child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 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 child’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 child’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 child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro straps
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Natural leathers
- Double velcro closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s 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 whole size larger than your child’s 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 whole size larger than your child’s 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 whole size larger than your child’s foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable insoles
- Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
- Breathable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Infused gel for extra cushion and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL® Technology Cushioning System lessens the amount of shock during impact
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
These are the 5 most important features that the shoes I recommended above provide:
1️⃣ Narrow Toe-Boxes: These shoes come with a narrow toe-box that is going to prevent your child’s feet from moving too much inside of the shoes.
2️⃣ Narrow Heel Counters: This feature is going to prevent your child’s heels from slipping out of the shoes.
3️⃣ Supportive: This feature is going to reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take when they come in contact with the ground.
4️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: Kids’ shoes need to be lightweight and flexible to help them feel more stable and prevent their feet and legs from easily getting tired.
5️⃣ Breathable: This feature is going to allow your child’s feet to breathe and prevent the feet from sweating excessively.
Please note that if you try any of these sneakers and they still seem too wide on your kids’ feet, do not jump the gun and return them just yet. There is another article that I wrote in which I explain to parents the most effective way to make the shoes fit the shape of their kids’ narrow feet better:
How to Make Shoes Fit Kids with Narrow Feet – The 2 Most Effective Steps!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style to fit the shape of your child’s narrow feet. I know which dress shoes, sport shoes, and seasonal shoes fit narrower than others, and I will help you find them: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a particular shoe brand or a particular shoe style that has worked well for your child’s narrow feet? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
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