These are 2 of the most common questions I get from parents of toddlers with narrow feet:
- Why is it so hard to find shoes for toddlers with narrow feet?
- Are there any toddler shoe styles that are available in narrow widths (N)?
The answer is simple. Shoe companies don’t manufacture any toddler shoe styles in narrow widths because of the lack of demand. I have seen how most toddlers have medium, wide, or extra wide feet, and just a few of them have narrow feet. If you pay close attention you will notice how most toddler’s shoes are only available in medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW). This doesn’t mean that your toddler has to walk around with shoes that are too wide on his/her feet.
I understand how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to find a pair of shoes for a toddler 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 as well as foot problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.
The good news is that certain toddler shoes fit narrower than others, and I will help you find them.
It takes a lot of shoe fittings to figure out which shoe styles fit narrower than others, and after having tried over 100 different shoe styles, I came up with the top 3 best sneakers for toddlers with narrow feet.
The challenge was to find shoes that fit narrower and that were also lightweight, flexible, and provided the correct amount of lateral support. Toddlers who are learning how to walk tend to grab onto furniture and move side to side, that is why it’s so important that the shoes provide good lateral support.
These are the 2 most important features that your toddler’s shoes must provide to fit the shape of their narrow feet:
✅ Narrow Heel Counter: Do you know what the heel counter is located? The heel counter is the back part of the shoes that helps prevent the heels from coming out of the shoes.
Let me show you the difference between two shoes that are the same size in length and width but have very different heel counters. Do you notice how the red shoe style has a narrower heel counter compared to the blue shoe that has a rounder one?
✅ Narrow Toe-Box: This feature prevents too much foot movement inside the shoes. Your toddler needs to have enough room at the front of the shoes to prevent the toes from getting cramped. However, too much extra room can compromise your toddler’s stability and the constant friction and rubbing between the feet and the shoes can lead to blisters, calluses, and corns.
Let me show you the difference between two shoes that are the same size in length and width but have very different toe-boxes. Do you notice how the blue shoe has a narrower toe-box compared to the grey shoe that has a rounder one?
It is a fact that shoes that come with shoelaces are always more effective in fitting the shape of a toddler with narrow feet. I understand that most parents prefer to provide their toddlers with an alternative shoe closure such as Velcro, as toddlers don’t know how to tie their shoes, so I will provide you with both options.
Before I provide you with a selection of the best sneakers for toddlers with narrow feet, I want to make sure that you know your toddler’s exact foot length. That is going to be the only way for you to be able to order the correct shoe size, otherwise, you are going to end up wasting time and money by having to return the shoes back and forth. I will tell you if you need to order a shoe size that is a half a size or a whole size longer of your toddler’s foot size, depending on if the shoe fits short or long. That’s why it’s so important that you know your toddler’s exact foot length.
If you are 100% sure of your toddler’s foot length, then go ahead and scroll down to see a selection of the best sneakers for toddlers with narrow feet. However, if you are not 100% sure then take a look at another article that will show you the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your toddler’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Making sure that your toddler ends up wearing the correct type of shoes in the correct shoe size is my main priority since I know that wearing the correct type of shoes can be life changing. Without further ado let’s take a look at a selection of the best sneakers for toddlers with narrow feet.
The Best Sneakers for Toddlers with Narrow Feet
I have chosen the 3 shoe styles listed below because they are specifically designed for toddlers with narrow feet. Please keep in mind that I only review shoe styles that I have fitted before, since that is the only way for me to tell how the shoe fits, and what type of features the shoe provides.
First Choice
Stride Rite Elliott Bootie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This particular shoe style made by the shoe company Stride Rite is the best fitting shoe for toddlers with narrow feet.
This shoe style is ideal for toddlers who are taking their first steps or have already learned how to walk and have narrow feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
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To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these shoes half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.7 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
There is a particular shoe tying technique that I have found to be the most efficient one when it comes to lacing shoes for kids with narrow feet:
How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Make their Shoes Fit and Feel Better!
Are you concerned about providing your toddler with shoes that come with shoelaces? Scroll down to the second and third options to see a selection of shoes with Velcro closure.
Parents love how this shoe style is made out of soft leathers, which allows the foot to breathe naturally and prevents the formation and buildup of bacteria inside the shoes. This bootie provides a padded collar that provides extra comfort and is going to prevent your toddler’s heels from coming out of the shoes.
Stride Rite Bootie – The 3 Most Important Features!
In addition to featuring a narrow heel counter and a narrow toe-box, this shoe style provides the 3 following important features:
✅ Lightweight and Flexible: Your toddler’s shoes must be lightweight and flexible to prevent your toddler’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.
✅ Supportive yet Soft Sole: This shoe style is going to properly support your toddler’s feet and allow for healthy and natural foot development at the same time.
✅ Lateral Support: The shoe provides a firm heel counter to properly support your toddler’s feet when moving side to side.
Second Choice
Naturino/Primigi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Naturino is one of the leading shoe brands when it comes to manufacturing high quality shoes for kids with narrow feet. This European shoe brand is my go-to brand for kids with narrow feet.
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To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these shoes half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.7 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Naturino Cocoon – The 3 Most Important Features!
In addition to featuring a narrow heel counter and a narrow toe-box, this shoe style provides the 3 following important features:
✅ Lightweight and Flexible: Your toddler’s shoes must be lightweight and flexible to prevent your toddler’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.
✅ Supportive yet Soft Sole: This shoe style is going to properly support your toddler’s feet and allow for healthy and natural foot development at the same time.
✅ Double Velcro Straps: This feature allows parents to open up the shoe widely and easily slide their child’s feet inside the shoes. The double Velcro straps also help the toddler feel more stable.
Third Choice
Saucony Baby Ride ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This particular shoe style made by Saucony is the narrowest style that I have fitted before.
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To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these shoes half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.7 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Saucony Baby Ride – The 3 Most Important Features!
In addition to featuring a narrow heel counter and a narrow toe-box, this shoe style provides the 3 following important features:
✅ Lightweight and Flexible: Your toddler’s shoes need to be lightweight and flexible to prevent your toddler’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.
✅ Supportive yet Soft Outsole: This shoe style is going to properly support your toddler’s feet and allow for healthy and natural foot development at the same time.
✅ Lateral Support: The shoe provides a firm heel counter to properly support your toddler’s feet when moving side to side.
These are the best 3 sneakers for toddlers with narrow feet. If you happen to try any of these 3 shoe styles and they still feel too wide on your toddler’s feet please do not hesitate to contact me and I will send you another specific shoe recommendations: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a particular shoe brand or shoe style that has worked well in fitting your toddler’s narrow feet? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
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