Picking the Best Baby and Toddler Walking Shoes

Choosing the right shoes for your little one can be a challenge. You want them to be comfortable but also practical and stylish.

It’s important that they are able to wear their shoes for long periods of time without it hurting or damaging their feet, and that they will grow into them as well. Here are some tips on how to choose the best walking shoes for your child, so you don’t have any regrets!

What’s the difference between infant and toddler shoes?

Infant shoes are not only for babies who cannot walk. They can also be worn when a baby is crawling or just learning to stand and take their first steps. They often have grippy soles so that the child doesn’t slip over on slippery surfaces.

Toddler walking shoes, by contrast, need more stability than infant’s do because they’re heavier with stronger muscles in the feet and legs.

The toes of toddler footwear should always point forward so that it will help them learn how to balance themselves without holding onto something else as they start to move around independently.

Types of Baby Shoes

There are many different types of kids shoes available. Here are a few below to consider.

Booties

Booties are thin shoes that cover your child’s toes but do not zip over their ankles like some other models. These can start from 0 months old and go all the way up to size 12/14 (depending on brand) making them an excellent choice if you’re looking for something cheap or washable with easy access to feet inside winter boots!

However booties don’t offer as much support as other styles and so aren’t suitable for babies who are starting to walk because they can slip off easily.

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Soft sole shoes

Soft sole shoes come in a range of styles from dressy Mary Jane’s to more rugged bootie type styles that cover up your child’s ankles too, making them less likely to fall over when walking on slippery surfaces like floors or pavements outside.

Soft soles start at around size 0-12 months but their biggest drawback is that some parents find them difficult to put on which makes them impractical for fast paced adventures with an impatient toddler!

The Nike Flex Runner gets our recommendation for new walkers! This shoe is both stylish, rugged and easy to put on during hectic morning activities! I bought my son a pair in every color available!

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Hard sole shoes

Hard sole styles cover both feet all the way up past the ankle and has a rubber sole inside. The traditional white lace-up shoes fit into this category. These shoes slip on and off easily but may not be the best choice for when your child is playing or running around.

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Which Type of Shoe is Best?

The best baby walking shoes encompass both hard and soft sole shoes. Soft sole walking shoes typically have a flexible rubber sole that mold to the shape of your baby’s feet as they walk, these start at size 0 and go up to 12-months.

Soft soled shoes are recommended by some experts because babies’ feet change so quickly that their small onesies might not always fit comfortably over them.

Hard soled shoes are for older children from 18 months+. These shoes have the advantage of being able to slip into them very quickly if needed.

They’re also harder wearing than soft soles meaning you don’t need to replace them as often and if it rains outside then these can get wet without soaking through your baby’s socks. Here are the best baby walking shoes according to parents on Amazon:

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The Best Material for Baby or Toddler Walking Shoes

Both pre-walking and walking baby shoes should be flexible (you should be able to feel your baby’s toes through them). The best material for toddler walking shoes is canvas. It is flexible and breathable, so it will not pinch or rub the feet of your little one.

Leather walking shoes are another good option for children’s walking shoes because they tend to be less slippery than canvas.

Here are a few other elements to consider when making this very important purchase!

What to Look for in Baby Walking Shoes

A good walking shoe will also provide a grip on all surfaces so your baby is able to stand and walk quickly without slipping or losing their balance. This means that most babies need shoes with non-slip soles as they transition from crawling to walking.

A flexible shoe that bends and moves with the foot is a good choice for toddlers. Shoes with rubber soles are best as they provide grip on all surfaces, although you should avoid shoes which go past your baby’s ankle to prevent tripping over their feet when they walk.

The best walking shoes for babies should be snug. Once you take them off, keep an eye out for any red marks. The American Association of Pediatrics gives advice on what to look for in the best baby walking shoes. If your baby is in the process of perfecting their walk, here’s a checklist of things to look out for.

Environment

One of the most questions to consider before buying a pair of new baby or toddler walking shoes is what type of environment will they be used for?

If this shoe will only ever be worn by your child indoors, then go for the softest, most cushioned and affordable option.

If they will be used outside on pavements or in playgrounds then look for shoes with a good grip pattern to keep them stable when running around and low-profile soles so as not to trip up too easily.

We recommend finding a compromise between the two types: soft soles are less likely to get dirty while out and about, but if you have only hard-soled shoes then it may be worth getting some good quality ones which will last longer than cheaper alternatives.

You could also consider getting a pair of both so that your child has one option or the other on any given day depending on how they feel in them!

Closure system

Choose shoes with an easy closure system such as velcro straps, elastic laces, or pull tabs instead of tying shoelaces because small children don’t have large enough hands to tie their own laces yet (and may struggle in general).

Velcro straps are best because they can easily be undone by toddlers themselves! Walking shoes without any closures will need an adult’s help when getting dressed.

Snugness

Test your selected pair of shoes for looseness too. The shoes should fit your little one’s feet snugly because loose fitting shoes can cause blistering on the heel and toes due to rubbing against them while walking, but they shouldn’t be too tight either.

When you hold their feet by the heel with one hand and bring up on tippy-toes with the other it should stay in place without slipping off.

Padding

Good quality baby or toddler walking shoes have a thicker padding in areas of high contact with the ground (such as under the balls of their feet). This will cushion any steps that are hard on their feet so that they’re not hurting after just one day out!

Toddlers 16 months and under do not need arch support as their feet are supposed to be flat. If needed, you can search for a good orthopedic insole once they’re older and have graduated to a new pair.

Walk along with your little one in-store to see how much pressure points are made by each type of sole (for example hard surfaces vs soft).

Try different styles until you find something that is comfortable for your child to walk in and that does not cause redness or chafing.

Look out for any sign of redness on baby’s feet before choosing footwear; this could be an indication that the shoes are too tight in certain areas or rubbing against their skin.

Heel Height

Consider the width, shape, heel height and sole material options before making a purchase. Some babies may find it more difficult to navigate soles with high heels like rubber while others might prefer softer materials such as suede that are more forgiving but less durable than other types of footwear.

For toddlers, walking shoes should be more sturdy and durable with good traction. They also need to have a higher heel height because now they are able to walk on their toes without tripping over themselves!

Look for shoes labeled ‘non-skid rubber’. This can save your child from injury when walking down stairs or other slippery surfaces where they might lose balance easily. This will also make them feel more secure when taking those first steps outside onto cold concrete floors during wintertime.

How to Fit Baby Shoes

Sizing can be an issue too; if you’re unsure about how wide your little one’s feet will be then go up at least one size from what would normally fit their foot length.

There should be no more than a half-inch space between the big toe and tip of the shoe. To check if the shoe is too narrow, look at the sides near the pinky toe. If there is a small bump, it’s too tight. If possible, get your little one’s feet professionally measured at least every six months.

The key thing is to make sure their feet can move freely inside without your little one feeling like they’re being squeezed. Don’t buy anything too small as younger babies won’t need this yet and it’ll lead to sore toes from not having enough room for growth.

Make sure there’s plenty of room in the toe area to allow their little toes some space and air!

Walking “temperament”

Make sure that when choosing new baby or toddler walking shoes, you take into account what type of walker he/she will become: someone who likes to wiggle around a lot (and may have trouble staying upright) at an early age (so soft-soled might not work as well for them) or someone who is a more methodical walker with strong muscle control and feet that are able to grip the ground.

Once you find some good quality shoes, it’s time to break them in before your next outing! Gently wear them around home while your little one is sitting down, to stretch out the material and prevent chafing.

Be sure to purchase an extra pair of baby shoes just for indoor use (indoor/outdoor) so you have them on hand when they inevitably get dirty outside!

When to Buy Walking Shoes

In the past, it was thought that children should wear shoes as soon as they start walking – but this theory has been debunked by many people in recent years because of its negative effects on foot development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your child’s second birthday to buy the first pair. This is because there are other concerns that may take precedence during this time, such as preventing flatfoot or taping up toes with a pediatrician before walking can be allowed.

The AAP also suggests giving infants and toddlers more opportunities for playtime in order to develop their skills at standing, sitting upright, and moving around on their own without help from an adult.

Kids can benefit from not wearing shoes when they’re learning how to balance themselves and gain their sense of direction. Since it’s important during these times for kids’ toes and arches to develop properly, make sure you have some great sandal options available too!

Wrapping Up!

The most important thing is that the shoe fits your child well! Just like adults, your child will love trying out different styles of shoe once he/she gets older.

But until then we recommend you stick to shoes that have a flat soles and leather or canvas uppers.

This will ensure they’re flexible, durable, and can be removed easily if your child decides not to wear them anymore.

Hopefully, this guide has shed some light on how to choose baby or toddler walking shoes and sparked some ideas about what kind might work best for your little adventurer!

Last update on 2022-07-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API