Are you looking for the perfect pair of Stride Rite shoes for your child but you can’t seem to decide what shoe styles might work best for your child’s foot shape? It can be hard to figure out which styles will be the most comfortable and last the longest. Since I have been fitting children’s shoes for many years now, I am not going to show you a list of bazillion Stride Rite shoes. What I will do instead is show you a list of the most comfortable and best-fitting Stride Rite shoes that will help keep your child’s feet comfortable and healthy.
Most parents who bring their children to the shoe store that I work for mention that their first pair of walking shoes were made by Stride Rite (over 30 years ago!)
Since Stride Rite is mostly known for manufacturing shoes for babies and toddlers who are learning how to walk, I will break down my list into two columns. One column will have the best Stride Rite shoes for babies who are learning how to walk, and the other one will describe the best Stride Rite shoes for toddlers and little kids who are already walking.
Why So Many Families Choose Stride Rite?
Several families prefer Stride Rite compared to other shoe brands as all of their shoes have been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Approval. This seal is awarded to shoes, socks, insoles and other products that relate to foot health.
Stride Rite shoes are also available in different widths and can accommodate different foot shapes (medium, wide, extra wide, high insteps).
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – 10 Years of Shoe Fitting Experience
If you have visited my website before, you are probably aware that I have extensive knowledge in fitting children’s shoes and fit. I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years and I take children’s foot health very seriously. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.
To offer a comfortable fit, all of the Stride Rite shoes that I recommend are available in wide and extra wide widths.
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “What are the best Stride Rite shoes for kids?” At the shoe store that I work for we carry most Stride Rite shoe models, so over the years I became familiar with which styles work better than others. Even though we carry several different Stride Rite shoes, I usually always recur to the same ones over and over again, and those are the ones I will show you below.
Best Stride Rite Shoes for Kids
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out what foot shape that style can accommodate (medium, wide, extra wide), as well as other important information such as what features it provides and what size you should order. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Babies and Toddlers Who Are Learning How to Walk
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Foam padding placed around the ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Double-strap Mary Jane with hook and loop closure and faux-buckle detail
- Soft memory foam footbeds and flexible, rounded soles for natural movement
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your baby’s current foot size
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Toddlers and Little Kids Who Are Already Walking
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Ortholite memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Light-ups
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Ortholite memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Extra padding around the heels to prevent blisters
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Makes Stride Rite Shoes Stand Out from Other Shoe Brands?
Stride Rite shoes help build strength, coordination and confidence from a child’s first steps through their older years. I really value that this shoe company invests money in rigorous testing to earn the APMA Seal of Approval for shoes that help promote kids’ foot health.
Below you can find the 3 main reasons why Stride Rite is the number one choice for many families:
1️⃣ They Accommodate “Complicated” Foot Shapes
Most Stride Rite shoes are available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide widths. This means that the company recognizes that children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and no matter how wide or extra wide your child’s feet are, you will find a pair that works.
2️⃣ They are Made of Soft and Safe Materials
The shoes are made with flexible, rounded rubber outsoles that match the natural shape of the child’s foot and promote stability and sensory feedback. The shoes made for older children include a reinforced shank for extra support.
3️⃣ Sensory Response Technology
This technology helps enhance proprioception, or the way joints and muscles communicate with the brain to help coordinate movement and improve stability.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Some parents think that they know what size they need, but it’s nice to know exactly, with no fuss or guessing.
Did you know that your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer if they are not fitted correctly? What’s even worse, your child might end up developing foot issues from wearing the wrong shoe size.
I usually suggest to parents to take their children to be properly measured and fitted for shoes at their local shoe store. Stride Rite shoe stores don’t provide the best shoe fitting service, but if you have one in your area it might be worth taking your child to be measured for shoes. If you are unsure whether you have a good-fitting shoe store in your area check out this resource that I created:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where to go for Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you can’t find a shoe store in your area, there is a great resource that I created to help families retrieve their child’s exact foot length and shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide) from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Do you have a favorite shoe from Stride Rite that has worked well for your child’s feet? Help me make this resource even better by adding your shoe recommendations in the comments section below.
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