With narrow feet, it can be difficult to find shoes that fit. The good news is that there are many options for parents of kids with this foot type.
Narrow feet are usually thin, but not necessarily so. The best way to determine if your child’s foot is narrow is by measuring it from the heel to the toe. If it’s less than 3/4 inch, then it is considered to be narrow.
If you’re shopping for shoes for narrow feet children, there are several brands that offer styles designed specifically for kids with narrow feet. Here are some of our favorites:
Crocs Kids Crocband Clog (for boys) and Crocband Clog (for girls) – This clog style features an adjustable strap across the top of the foot, which allows you to adjust the fit as needed. Plus, they come in a variety of colors and patterns so you can find something to match every outfit!
Crocs Kids Slip-On Sneaker – This sneaker style offers a flexible sole and easy slip-on design that makes them ideal for active kids who need shoes on the go! They come in a variety
Best Shoes For Narrow Feet Kid
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on July 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best shoes for kids with narrow feet.
Do you have a child with narrow feet and you are having the hardest time finding a pair of shoes that fit? I hear parents complain all the time about how hard it is to fit a child with wide or extra wide feet, but they don’t know that is even harder to find shoes for kids who have narrow feet.
Finding a pair of narrow shoes can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, especially if you don’t know which shoe brands and which shoe styles fit narrower than others.
Most kids’ shoe companies manufacture shoes in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths, but these shoe companies fail to address the needs of children with narrow feet.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been working at a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, where we focus on fitting children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fitting as well. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes for kids with narrow feet.
As far as sneakers are concerned, there is no single shoe style available in narrow withs (N). The good news is that certain shoes fit narrower than others, and I will help you find them.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Narrow Feet?
✅ Narrow Heel Counter: Do you know where 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 shoe on the right has a narrower heel counter and a narrow toe-box compared to the shoe on the left?
✅ Narrow Toe-Box: This feature prevents too much foot movement inside the shoes. Your child 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 on the right has a narrower toe-box compared to the shoe on the left?
Always make sure that the shoes that your kids wear are not too wide for their feet. If the shoes are too wide, they can make your child more prone to developing blisters, calluses, and corns, as well as foot and leg pain.
Which are the Best Shoe Brands for Kids with Narrow Feet?
Asics and Saucony are my go-to shoe brands for children with narrow feet. You might even have tried these shoe brands for yourself!
These two shoe brands are the best fitting shoe brands for kids who have narrow feet. In my experience, about 90% of the time that children come in the store having narrow feet, they end up leaving wearing a pair of either Asics or Saucony shoes.
These shoe brands make good supportive shoes that are lightweight and flexible at the same time.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with narrow feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The shoes below are the narrowest sneakers I have fitted before.
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
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 siz
- 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 medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- 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
Your kids will notice an immediate difference when they try any of the shoes described above, since they will fit the shape of their narrow feet a lot better than any other shoe style.
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size?
If you don’t know your child’s foot size you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online.
The issue is that most children’s shoe stores have been closing down, and we are left with big retailers that don’t know how to properly fit children’s shoes. That is the reason why I created a resource where you can check if you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area:
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If after looking at that resource you still can’t find a children’s shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created 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
I always recommend parents to provide their children with shoes with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, since shoelaces will hug your kids’ feet better and fill any remaining gap around the ankles.
Tying Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – 3 Simple Steps!
One of my co-workers who has been working at the children’s shoe store for over 30 years, taught me the perfect way to tie shoes for kids who have narrow feet.
I actually use this method to tie my shoes, even though I don’t have narrow feet. I use this method because I love how it secures my heels and allows my feet to get the most support out of the shoes. I always tie my shoes this way when I am running on the treadmill or playing soccer.
Let me show you how simple this shoe tying method is:
1- Start with leaving the two eyelets (shoe holes) of the shoe open:
2- Go through the top hole first:
3- Go through the holes you left open:
4- You are all done!
How Can you Tell If the Shoes you Ordered Fit Properly?
With your child’s shoes on, check if there is too much extra space (extra material) in the front part of your child’s shoes. Do you notice in the picture below how there is a lot of extra space in the front of the shoes? This means that the shoes are too wide for your child’s feet.
You can also check if the shoes that your child is wearing are too wide by checking if there is too much extra space around the ankles. Do you notice in the picture below how there is too much extra space around the ankles? I can fit two of my fingers around that area.
Why are shoe companies not offering kids’ shoes in narrow widths? The main reason is that most parents are not aware that their children have narrow feet, and they end up buying shoes that are too short (to compensate for the width) or they just allow their kids to walk around in shoes that don’t fit properly.
One of the most common mistakes I see parents make when purchasing shoes for their kids is to ask them: “How do the shoes feel?”
Asking kids to report on how shoes feel is just not enough to make sure they fit properly! Your child might think the shoes feel good until presented with another pair that feels better!
Now that you know which are the best shoes for kids with narrow feet, you can make a better and more informed decision. Shoes that are too wide might lead to discomfort and cause your child’s feet to move too much inside the shoe, which may create all sorts of foot problems such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
In addition, are you having a hard time finding a pair of narrow shoes for yourself? I wrote an article where I describe the best shoes for women with narrow feet and you can find it here:
Narrow Shoes for Women – The Best Shoe Styles for Women With Narrow Feet
Do you have a child with narrow feet? Have you found a particular shoe style or shoe brand that has worked well for your kids’ narrow feet? If you can’t find a particular shoe style for your child with narrow feet leave me a comment section below with your child’s shoe size and I will help you find it.
