A Guide to Narrow Fit Shoes for Children

Narrow fit shoes for children have a number of benefits both practically and fashion-wise. But before you make any decision regarding footwear for your kids, it’s important to understand the impact of different shoe types for children.

What are narrow fit shoes for children?

Narrow fit shoes are primarily designed for kids with thinner feet than usual. They provide a more snug fit which hugs more tightly to the feet, which can actually help support/promote foot development. 

They can be especially beneficial for children who struggle with balance or discomfort. Contrary to popular belief, wider shoes can actually cause issues such as blisters, corns and calluses. This is because wider shoes which allow for a lot of movement actually facilitate the foot rubbing against the inside of the shoes. 

Whilst wide shoes aren’t always the cause for these issues, it’s definitely useful to consider this as one of the possible factors, so perhaps a narrower alternative may help.

How do you know if your child has narrow feet?

There are a few signs which would indicate that your child has narrow feet:

• Excess room - Ask your child if they feel there is too much room in their shoes, or check for any noticeable space especially around the toes. If there is extra space in regular/wide fitting shoes, it’s likely that your child has narrow feet.

• Get feet measured - Take your child to the shoeshop to have them measured professionally, this way you can receive educated advice regarding the size of your child’s feet. Equally, you could measure their feet yourself, read our blog on understanding children’s foot width for help with this.

• Slipping heel - If your child’s heel slips out of their shoe whilst walking or running, this might be a sign of a narrow foot, or a shoe which is too wide for the foot in question. 

• Surface level examination - Observe your child’s feet for signs of narrow feet. Toes appearing closer together are often a telling sign of narrow feet for kids.

Measuring narrow foot width in children

Considering children’s feet are always growing, and growing fast, it can be hard to understand whether your child actually has narrow feet, or if they will grow wider in a matter of weeks. 

That’s why we’d recommend considering the size and nature of your child’s feet, and subsequently the footwear they need, each time you consider buying a new pair of shoes. Make sure you measure your child’s feet every time, so you can make an informed decision and purchase a pair that will suit your child’s foot shape at the time of buying. 

It’s important to note that we’d recommend leaving some growing room every time you buy new shoes for your child. Many people suggest leaving a finger sized gap for growing room with each new pair of shoes as a general rule of thumb (pun intended)!

Does my child really need narrow fitting shoes?

Your child might need narrow fitting shoes based on the size of their feet, but they might also need them to help ease some issues they might be dealing with. If your child has narrow feet, then narrow shoes are going to help them avoid blisters and corns, as well as promoting proper foot development.

Your child should also be wearing narrow fitting shoes to improve balance and support. Ideally, their shoes should fit snugly, without being too tight, so make sure you find the right balance before spending your money. 

Some of our best narrow fitting shoes for kids

From school shoes to cute boots, here are our top picks for narrow fitting kid’s shoes. 

Lelli Kelly Perrie Black Patent Dolly School Shoes Narrow Fitting are the cutest school shoes for your little one. If you’re looking for a smart classic looking school shoe with an adorable twist, this is the choice for you. With a 3D black bow sitting on the front upper, these school shoes will provide all day style and comfort all in one. They come in size E, which should be perfect for little ones with thinner feet.  

The Lelli Kelly Unicorn Mid Multi Fantasia Pink Baseball Boots are fun, bright, and suitable for narrow feet. Starting with the adorable unicorn feature which boasts a beautiful beaded mane, and not forgetting the scattered pearlescent beaded flowers which also decorate the upper of the shoe. All brought together by a gorgeous pink sole unit, embossed with Lelli Kelly branding.

Lelli Kelly Dafne Red Glitter Warm Lined Canvas Uppers are bright, sparkly, comfortable, and they’re good for thinner feet. The Dafne glitter shoes are lined with warm faux fur, which makes them soft on the feet, adding extra comfort for all foot sizes and widths. Also featuring a shimmering red glitter upper with beaded and sequined designs, we’re sure your young ones are going to love this shoe.

Finally, Lelli Kelly Grace Low White Rhinestone Easy On Trainers are a sleek white footwear choice for those with narrower feet. Decorated with dazzling rhinestone gems, these shoes are both fashionable and comfortable. Don’t forget that they also come with a padded footbed, and white sole unit to finish the design. Your kids are going to love these shoes, for sure.