What Shoes Do You Recommend for Littles?
Shoes can be one of the most challenging things to figure out once our babies become more mobile! There are so many different options, styles, colors, types - talk about overwhelming! Then throw in any specific considerations for your unique little one and WOW! it can be a lot! I’ll break down my favorite shoes by section and give some quick tips to consider - but please know, for the vast majority of children, whatever shoe you can make work is okay! Please don’t stress or feel that you are going to ruin your little one if these options are out of your price range, if hand-me-downs work better (I’ll give a quick tip for assessing hand-me-downs!), or whatever your situation may be! As long as they fit your child, they wear them well & safely, it will be okay!
For most children, the characteristics of a shoe that we are looking for are the following:
WIDE TOE BOX - This allows fanning of the toes, which naturally occurs without shoes on. This is crucial, especially for children because the structures of their musculoskeletal system are still developing, and restrictions from shoes worn for prolonged periods *can* potentially impact the development of these structures. A wide toe box also allows your child to naturally grip with their toes during uneven terrain walking and/or balance challenges. This is a natural reaction to balance perturbations that even as adults we do!
FLEXIBLE FOOT-(meaning you can easily bend it) - This allows for the most natural pattern of walking, which is to strike the ground with your heel, then allow your foot to flatten, followed by pushing off last with your toe.
FIRM HEEL CUP - This helps prevent your child’s foot from slipping up and down, and provides stability to the ankle bone.
NON-SLIP BOTTOM - We definitely want to make sure that there is adequate grip on the sole of the sneaker to prevent slips and loss of balance.
I also personally like it when shoes have a VELCRO STRAP near the ankle for added support in that area, adjustability, and to give your little one independence!
**The characteristics listed above are especially important for first walkers.
See below for the breakdown of categories with suggestions under each. I did my best to hit on multiple price points within each one, so I hope you’re able to find something that works for you & your family!
REMINDER the links below are affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you. When you shop through them, I make a small commission. ALWAYS no pressure, but I appreciate your support so much!
After first walkers really any sneaker works, so please don’t stress - but here are some suggestions!
👟Toddler Parker Apparel Sneakers by Cat & Jack at Target
👟 Ari Apparel Sneakers by Cat & Jack at Target
👟See Kai Run Stevie II Sneakers for Kids
**Stonz also makes an insert that turns their rain boot into a snow boot, so another option if you’re looking for more of an “all in one”.
I recommend closed-toe when looking at sandals/water shoes, mostly for protection! The shoes linked below can double as shoes/sandals, as well as water shoes, and are some of our absolute favorites! You can also often find the Keens on sale at places like Nordstrom Rack, and these are GREAT for hand-me-downs!
👟Oscar Water Shoes by Cat & Jack at Target
👟Skechers C-Flex Sandal for Girls
👟Sketchers C-Flex Sandal for Boys
When I polled the community, Asics & Nike were by far the most recommended! I don’t have experience with these exact shoes, but the ones listed here came highly recommended by the community - hope this helps!
👟Tsukihoshi - older toddler sneaker
There were a lot of suggestions that came through for moccasin-type shoes, which often come in smaller sizes and may have soles!
& more moccasins are listed below!
The key here is finding brands that offer wide or extra wide (New Balance) AND have velcro for strapping, which gives extra adjustability!!
Wide or extra wide and velcro straps are the key here. You can also remove the inner sole for more depth if needed!
*Disclaimer: If you have concerns about your child’s foot alignment, I would highly recommend speaking further with a professional! Some degree of pronation is absolutely normal in children, but again, if there are balance issues, pain, poor alignment, or significant flatness, it is worth looking into!
👟Wobbly Waddlers
Similar to pronation/flat-footed, it’s also worth considering that if you’re noticing persistent toe walking (more than 70% of the time that isn’t resolved with simple cues like feet flat or heels down), and/or you’re concerned about hyper-mobility in your little one’s ankles, it’s always worth having an assessment done by a professional to be sure anything that may be contributing to these issues is addressed!
👟See Kai Run High Tops - These are my absolute go-to for the perfect amount of support when a little boost is needed. I find that the fabric they’re made of gives great support in the heel cup and ankle without being overly restrictive, which allows their muscles to continue to do as much work as possible while using a more flat-footed posture (hopefully!)
👟Ikiki- They have a squeaker in the heel that can be turned on/off as an auditory cue to touch heels down. I do find that these are a bit on the heavy side, so may not be the best option for every child - but lots of parents RAVE about them!
👟Toddler Boots by Cat & Jack at Target
👟See Kai Run Basic Sneaker at Target- These are a better price point on the See Kai Run, but I can’t speak to the quality of these, as I haven’t personally used them!
👟Zutano - I size up in these, but that’s just my personal preference!
👟Ten Little Crib Shoe - These I find to be TTS!
👟Freshly Picked Mary Jane Moccasins
👟Freshly Picked Leather Moccasins
SOCKS
Last but not least, these are my absolute FAVORITE toddler socks. They’re perfect for non-skid if just wearing them inside, but they’re also perfect for inside sneakers, and come in a variety of color packs/options! They don’t come down over the heel, fit true to size (in my opinion), and won’t snag as you get their shoe on. Win, win, win!
CozyWay Toddler Socks
HAND-ME-DOWNS
Here’s the thing, I use hand-me-downs for my kids! That’s one of the biggest reasons I can justify in my head spending a little more because I know that multiple kids (mine and others!) will likely get use out of them. The reality is, most children’s feet are growing so quickly that by the time they outgrow a shoe, it is barely worn! That being said, one thing to consider is the wear pattern on the bottoms when thinking of using a hand-me-down. When shoes are heavily worn, they can develop changes in the treads on the bottom of their shoe. Think of it this way - it’s basically a unique “footprint” made by the person using them that relates to the way they walk. You can imagine, if someone else then wears them after they’ve been heavily used and the wear pattern has changed, it can impact the next user’s walking pattern as well. One way to tell is to flip the shoe over. If the bottom of the shoe is intact with no obvious wearing, you’re good to go with the use of them! You can also set them down next to each other flat on the floor, and look from behind. If the shoe sits flat on the floor without obvious tilting in one direction or not, they are likely good to be used!
SIZING
I typically recommend printing out a sizer for whichever brand you are ordering, as they all fit slightly differently, and most brands offer a free one on their website! You can also tape down a piece of paper on all four sides, have them stand with both feet down & quickly mark the front and back (directly behind their heel and at the longest part of the toe). Then simply take a tape measure and measure between the two lines, and match that up with the specific shoe company sizing you’re looking for!
What about the need for two different-sized shoes?
Someone was also kind enough to share stores that are willing to sell two different size shoes! Nordstrom, Zappos (also has a specialty shoe section), Zappos, & Ikiki were all recommended.
Check out this resource as well!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- this community is the best! Hope this all helps!
WANT MORE?
For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.
KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife, and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels and currently specializes in birth to three years.
