How to choose the best shoes for your toddler
When your baby starts walking, chances are they’re going barefoot a lot, or wearing basic shoes when they are outside. After all, it doesn’t really make sense to invest in a good pair of kids’ shoes until they really start walking (plus, those little feet grow so fast!). But, eventually, your little one will need a good pair of shoes.
So how do you balance finding a pair that supports their feet, their pace of growth, seasons, style, price, and most importantly, their physical activity? That’s a lot of boxes to check off. Here are some tips for finding the right shoes (and socks) for your toddler’s feet.
Why it’s important: The benefits of finding the right shoes for your toddler
Seniors aren’t the only people that can benefit from orthotics or good shoes! The best thing for your child is to go barefoot as much as possible, weather and conditions permitting. Shoes can go against the natural growth and mechanics of our feet, but, of course, shoes also keep feet safe from the elements. The next best thing you can do is find the right shoes for your toddler.
- Supports natural foot development and movement: Children’s feet are soft and pliable, which means that shoes that don’t fit right can hinder the natural growth process while shoes that fit well support healthy growth and development. Good shoes also help encourage proper movement.
- Promotes healthy walking habits: Well-fitted shoes offer better balance and stability, which is very important as toddlers master the art of walking and eventually running. This can reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
- Prevents foot problems: Proper footwear can help in preventing common foot problems in children, such as ingrown toenails, overlapping toes, etc. If you do notice this in your child, it’s recommended to take them to a pediatrician and/or podiatrist. Though the right shoes can help improve this (and the wrong shoes make it worse), there could be something else going on.
- Confidence in walking: When toddlers are comfortable in their footwear, they’re likely to be more confident in their walking abilities, encouraging them to challenge themselves to more advanced physical movement, including running, climbing, dancing, stepping, and overall coordination.
7 tips for finding the best toddler shoes for your child
These days, there’s an overwhelming amount of information online, especially when it comes to parenting. So, before you set out to the shoe store (and, yes, you should definitely buy your children’s shoes in person and not online, unless you’re confident the shoes are good—and even then you should order different sizes), we’re here to prepare you with some helpful tips to think about before making your purchase.
1. Make sure they’re ready
This may go without saying, but before you worry about buying the right shoes, you’ll want to make sure your toddler is ready for that pair of shoes. Generally, parents are able to do a good job of gauging when this is, but it’s helpful to know that babies and toddlers may have different types of shoes for each stage prior to walking—pram shoes, crawling shoes, and cruising shoes (the latter for gaining confidence and comfort when wearing shoes—before getting their walking shoes.
Because babies walk at all different times, when they’ll need real walking shoes with good grip, support, and comfort will vary for each child. Once they start walking confidently and consistently—without falling or tripping over themselves or resorting back to crawling—it’s time for walking shoes.
2. Get their feet measured
When you’ve determined that it’s time for them to get the right walking shoes, take your child to a shoe store to get their feet measured. (More on this below.) The correct shoe size helps in preventing potential foot deformities that can arise from shoes that are too tight or too constrictive. Also, since your toddler has no way of telling you otherwise, this is the best way to know that their shoes will fit them correctly and comfortably, not giving them blisters.
3. Leave room for growth
Kids’ feet grow quickly, and having shoes that fit helps ensure your child’s foot has sufficient room to grow without restriction. Normally, it would seem counterintuitive to buy shoes a bit bigger when the purpose is to get them the right-sized shoe. Most professionals may even recommend going half a size up or a full size up (but, not too big, as this can make it uncomfortable for them).
4. A high-top lightweight shoe
According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, high-top shoes “don’t necessarily offer better support than shoes with low-cut ankles. However, a shoe with a higher ankle might help at this stage since they are harder for your toddler to remove.” Additionally, choose a lightweight shoe since it requires toddlers to use a lot of their energy to walk at this age. Needing to pick up their feet with heavy shoes attached can make them tired more quickly.
5. Flexible soles and breathable shoes
It’s also important to look at the make-up of the shoe in general, as this contributes to many aspects of how the shoe fits and how the foot breathes.
According to FootCareMD, shoes consist of four parts: the upper, the insole, the outer sole, and the heel. While the upper can be made of leather, canvas, or mesh, it should be made of breathable materials (mesh or canvas, and not plastic) because little kids have feet that sweat a lot, which can cause fungus or general discomfort.
The insole should also be made of absorbent material. And, while most children don’t need special arch support at this age, all toddlers younger than 16 months have flat feet and only fully develop an arch by six to eight years old. However, padded soles can help with both breathability and support.
Lastly, the outer sole is meant to provide traction, cushioning, and general flexibility. Thick outer soles may make your toddler off-balance. Additionally, toddlers do not need heels on their shoes. For a dressy event it would be okay, but there are plenty of dressy shoes with flat outer soles that get the job done just as well.
6. Ease of putting on
Now for the parents. No need to buy shoes with laces just yet (unless they’re decorative). Any shoes designed for toddlers in mind should be adjustable with velcro straps. Not only does this help make it easier to get their shoes on and off—a skill they’ll start to practice, but it’s also easier on parents’ backs—but it also leaves some room to accommodate their growing foot, which we discussed earlier.
7. Style is secondary and price is worth it
Sure, we’d all love to put on some adorable shoes for our mini-mes—rocking that pair of Chucks, Vans, or other shoe brands you love as an adult. It’s not to say that these shoes are bad for your toddler, but they may not be good for everyday wear. So, while you can put them on your toddler, try not to let them wear them all day or when they’ll be spending a lot of time walking.
Finally, while it may seem outrageous to spend a lot of money on a toddler’s shoes given how fast they grow, if you have the means, think of it as an investment in their growth and development at the one time in their life they’re learning to walk for the first time. They’ll have plenty of time to find sales on shoes they like when they’re teenagers. Getting them a solid pair now can set up their physical health for the short and long-term.
How to choose the right socks
In some ways, choosing socks for your toddler can be just as difficult as finding the right shoes. They need to go hand-in-hand; just like for us adults, if a sock doesn’t fit right, it can slide down and make the shoe uncomfortable. According to Stride Rite, “The perfect pair of socks should cradle the foot in the right way. Check that the sock’s heel meets your child’s heel. If it’s too high up, then the sock is likely too large for your little one’s foot. If the heel appears underneath their foot, then the sock is too small.”
Of course, you’ll have to also find what’s comfortable for your child. Soon enough, they’ll let you know!
When all else fails, visit a professional
You don’t need to go on the shoe hunt by yourself. Consider making a visit to a specialized shoe store for children, like Stride Rite or a family-owned business. Some of these stores have been around for generations and their staff are particularly knowledgeable about finding the right shoe for kiddos. They often offer a wide selection of good shoes and styles that are also appropriate for your toddler. Also, these people tend to have experience working with toddlers and will have much more time and patience than in chain stores!
