Infants are learning to walk every day. As they master their wobbly legs, they’re also learning to navigate new environments and new people. Learning to walk is a major milestone for infants, and it’s an exciting time for parents as well!
As your baby begins to take those first steps, you’ll want to make sure that they’re protected from injuries. The best shoes for infants learning to walk are ones with a flexible sole so that your baby can bend their feet and learn how to walk without having stiff shoes getting in their way.
Best Shoes For Infants Learning To Walk
Toddler Shoe Size and Fit
Size does matter. Before you lunge online to order your baby’s first shoes, start with knowing the right size. Take a trip to an actual kid’s shoe store and have your toddler’s tootsies measured by a trained specialist (or someone masquerading as one). Make sure to look out for devious curled toes that can throw off a measurement and remember to try on shoes with socks (an obvious mistake that I made).
Make sure you also pay attention to the W I D T H of your child’s feet, as many little ones tend to have fat little cherub feet. Shoes that run wide are denoted below.
What’s a good fit? Check that the big toe has enough wiggle room (about a half-inch — or a thumb — from the tip of the shoe) and that there’s no pinching on the heel or sides.
Remember: If your kid starts screaming, it may not be the shoe. It may just be nap time! So, congratulate yourself on surviving the crowded (non-virtual) department store with a toddler and head out. Why yes, you deserve that glass of wine waiting for you at home.
One Size Fits Today
As tempting as it might be, don’t buy bigger shoes for the months ahead. Shoes that are too big are hard to walk in and can cause falling and tripping (i.e. drunken sailors on the loose). According to Ross Taubman, DPM, a podiatrist in Clarksville, Maryland, “It’s really important to find shoes that fit properly when she’s learning to walk — otherwise, she could stumble and take longer to develop the skill.”
Toddler feet can also vary up to half a size, so opt for the larger foot’s size. Kids’ feet grow like weeds, so measure again in a few months. One of my favorite shoe companies, See Kai Run, also lists toddler shoe sizes by inches. Handy to know, because age and size can be a crapshoot.
If you like shopping for shoes online, invest in an at-home shoe sizer, like the Squatchi. For $19, the Squatchi will prevent you from having to schlep your kids to the mall — but keep in mind that many brands don’t run true to size. Once you find a brand you love, you’ll get to know its nuances over time.
Bend it like Beckham
Shoes for toddlers should bend easily in your hand. Be wary of plastic (or those cute, cheap sneakers from Target).
Stiff is bad. The best walking shoes for babies are made of leather or mesh material that enable feet to breathe and have a rubber sole for traction.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that toddlers wear lightweight and flexible shoes that allow their feet to move naturally.
New vs. Used Toddler Shoes
Sometimes you can find high quality, “gently-used” kids’ shoes at consignment stores and such, but generally speaking, shoes for young kids take quite a beating and tend to be “single-user” items.
I’ve noticed over the years that cheaper shoes, like those from Target and Payless, have very short life spans and generally land in the trash can once they fall apart, while the higher quality shoes last much longer and may be able to be handed down to a second kiddo if s/he hasn’t already used them to death.
Point being: You get what you pay for.
Hold off on the cowboy boots
And the same goes for the leopard-skin pointy or hipster motorcycle boots. Your shoe fetish should stay in your own closet (for now anyway). Toddler shoes are there to support and stabilize new walkers. Barefoot is best, but when outdoors — think function over fashion.
Top Infant Walking Shoes
Here are our favorite “first-walker” shoes, in no particular order. All of these shoes have a sturdy sole, so they can be worn outside.
Note that Robeez and other soft soled shoes are cute and wonderful for indoor use, but won’t hold up in the elements.
1. See Kai Run
Runs wide
After a Seattle mom couldn’t find the best first shoe for her son, Kai, she decided to design stylish, well-made kids’ shoes that support healthy feet. Hip, adorable, and kudos for colors outside of the primary spectrum of Crayola. Sometimes I wish they came in my size; this is the perfect baby walking shoe, IMO.
2. Pediped
Pediped was founded by a mom in 2005 who set out to make a shoe that was the “next best thing to bare feet.” Pediped now has over 120 styles of fabulous shoes, including super warm winter booties. Pediped is another parent-favorite that’s made for walking.
3. Stride Rite
Probably the shoes you grew up in, Stride Rite has been making quality children’s shoes since 1919, and their legacy continues. Earthy, cool, and sturdy, these are the best! And they also last forever.
4. Tsukihoshi
Although Tsukihoshi began crafting children’s shoes long before (in 1873!), this Japanese company has been working with orthopedic professionals since 1985 to create shoes that offer the utmost protection and comfort for little feet. Tsukihoshi shoes are lightweight, machine washable (heyyyy), and anti-bacterial, and they come in great designs.
5. Livie & Luca
Runs wide
Next are my absolute favorite little shoes: Livie & Luca. These shoes run really wide, which is why you’ll find them in my kids’ closets. Perfect for wide feet.
Livie & Luca shoes are handmade, delightfully simple, and extremely durable. The velcro strap makes on/off super easy.
6. Carter’s Every Step
Every Step™ is a line of footwear from Carter’s designed for young children (6-18 months). They come in three stages of development: Stage 1 (crawl), Stage 2 (stand) and Stage 3 (walk). And each shoe has self-adjusting elastic and is easy to get on/off.
Or see the complete Carters Every Step collection for boys and girls.
7. Ikiki Shoes
Ikiki shoes are recommended by physical therapists and pediatricians because they reinforce good walking habits as they squeak when walking heel to toe. And each sole has a different color, making it easy for your kiddo to put the right shoe on the right foot.
Don’t worry, mom and dad, the squeaker can be turned off ; )
8. Old Soles
Old Soles shoes are super soft and pliable — perfect for first walkers. Their shoes tend to run wide to give unrestricted movement to our little one’s fat footsies. Charlene used them for both her kids, and she loved how minimalist they looked. Genuine leather lining, padded footbed, supple sole… these shoes have it all. They also make shoes for older kids.
