Whether your toddler is already walking confidently or learning how to walk, I am going to show you a list of the best selling shoes for toddlers in 2023 based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience. I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over a decade, and over the years I have become familiar with the best shoe brands and styles among each brand. All of the shoes I recommend in this article have been fitted by me and they are going to keep your toddler’s feet healthy by promoting healthy foot development.
Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older. You will notice that the list of shoes I have put together is broken down into two separate columns. One column describes the best selling shoes for toddlers who are learning how to walk and the other one describes the best selling shoes for toddlers who are already walking.
First Things First: Is Your Toddler Fully Walking or Learning How to Walk?
Advice for Toddlers Who Are Learning How to Walk
Toddlers who are learning how to walk only need to wear shoes when you take them to the playground or pre-school. However, when you are at home, your toddler doesn’t need to wear shoes to allow for healthy foot development. Shoes come into play when you start taking your toddler outside, and their main purpose is to protect your toddler’s feet. You don’t want your toddler to step on unsafe terrain, broken glass, or sharp rocks.
Advice for Toddlers Who Are Already Walking
Toddlers who are already walking should wear shoes that provide a stable base of support while being lightweight and flexible at the same time. This might sound quite simple, but it’s actually harder than you think. There are a lot of toddler shoes that are either too stiff or too flexible.
What Criteria Do I Use to Determine What Shoes are Best for Toddlers?
1️⃣ Correct Amount of Flexibility
The image below shows the difference between a shoe that provides the correct amount of flexibility versus one that doesn’t. Notice how the shoe on the right provides the correct amount of flexibility as it bends at the ball of the foot but no further:
2️⃣ Stable Base of Support
The outsole of a shoe for a toddler who is already walking must be more supportive compared to the outsole of the shoe for a toddler who is learning how to walk. Toddlers who are already walking are putting more pressure on their feet, and they will need more protection and stability. This doesn’t mean that the shoes need to be heavier or stiff or get in the way of your toddler’s healthy foot development.
3️⃣ Oversized Openings
Shoes with oversized openings simply open up a lot wider than other shoes, allowing the child’s feet to easily slide inside the shoes. A lot of parents complain about how they struggle to get their toddler’s shoes on and off, so this is an awesome feature that will make your life a lot easier.
Additional key features:
- Breathable to prevent your toddler’s feet from sweating excessively.
- Excellent traction to prevent your toddler from slipping and falling.
- Secure velcro closure to provide your toddler with better stability.
Forget About All the Bells and Whistles – Fit Should Always Be Your Main Priority!
One of the most important rules about shoe fitting is a proper fit. I always underscore to families that none of the bells and whistles will matter if the shoe doesn’t fit the child’s foot shape correctly. Did you know that the proper fit of the shoes is just as important (if not more important) than the support or the material that the shoes are made of?
Most toddlers I have seen at the shoe store have medium or wide feet, but I have also fitted shoes for toddlers with extra wide feet. The good news is that all of the shoes that I recommend are available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide widths. If your toddler happens to have narrow feet, don’t worry, there are some styles that I recommend that will also accommodate his/her foot shape.
How to Retrieve Your Toddler’s Exact Foot Length and Shape – In 2 Simple Steps!
If you are unsure whether your toddler has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet you should take advantage of a great resource I created (free of charge) that helps families retrieve their child’s exact foot length and shape from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
How Much Should You Pay for Your Toddler’s Shoes?
The shoes I recommend below all come with different price points, but for a high-quality shoe, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $50.
Parents need to understand that not all toddlers can wear all shoes. You might be limited by the types of shoe brands and shoe styles that your toddler can wear based on your toddler’s foot shape.
I think you are ready to take a look at the best selling shoes for toddlers in 2023. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Selling Shoes for Toddlers in 2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out if it can fit your toddler’s foot shape, the features it provides, the type of closure, and the size that you should order to provide your toddler with the correct amount of growing room.
Boys
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Toe cap reinforcement and bumptoe protection against stumbles
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Step-stabilizing design with comfy Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
- Double velcro straps for easy on and off adjustability
- Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Hook-and-loop closure
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible
- Extra wide toe box allows natural splaying of toes for better balance, comfort, and foot health
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Stitched-on toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- Hook-and-loop strap closure with elastic lace panel
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- Machine washable for quick and easy clean
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Rubber outsole pods designed to stand up to daily wear and tear
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Girls
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Canvas upper
- Toe cap is durable for early steps
- Double velcro straps
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Recycled material linings to help reduce odor
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Leather and mesh upper
- Two adjustable hook-and-loop closures for easy on and off
- Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Rubber outsole pods designed to stand up to daily wear and tear
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Should You Order Your Toddler’s Shoes a Half Size or a Whole Size Bigger?
Take a look at the last bullet point below each shoe to find out whether you should order your toddler’s shoes a half size bigger or a whole size bigger than their current foot size.
*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Should Toddlers Wear Shoes Without Socks? – It’s Not a Good Idea!
Socks play a critical role in keeping your toddler’s feet healthy. Parents should provide their toddlers with socks that are seamless and breathable. Seamless socks will allow your toddler to freely move their toes. Keep in mind that toddlers move their toes as a way of exercising their feet, so it’s important that you don’t constrict this movement.
It’s also important that you order the socks in the correct size. Socks that are too big might bunch up below your toddler’s feet and create discomfort, while socks that are too short can constrict toe movement. If you want to see a selection of the best toddler socks and how to order them in the correct size take a look at the article below:
The Best Seamless Socks for Toddlers – Breathable, Comfortable, and Durable!
Need Help Finding a Specific Pair of Shoes for Your Toddler?
Let me know in the comment section below if you need help finding a pair of specific shoes for your toddler’s feet or you can also contact me via email:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Helpful Resources that I Have Created Throughout the Years
You should check out these awesome resources as you might find them helpful:
The Best Sandals for Toddlers – Supportive, Versatile, and Available in Different Widths!
The Best Snow Boots for Toddlers – Lightweight, Flexible, Waterproof, and Insulated!
Final Thoughts – The Importance of Keeping Your Toddler’s Feet Healthy
I created this resource to help those families who don’t have a specialized children’s shoe store in their area. Keep in mind that the service you receive online will be very different from the one you will receive at your specialized local shoe store. For example, at the shoe store that I work for, I take the time to watch the child walk with the shoes, and actively listen to any feedback the child might have about how the shoes feel. That being said, if you don’t have a local shoe store this resource is the next best thing and I am here to respond to any questions you might have!
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