Have you been looking for the perfect pair of shoes for your toddler? Are you looking for a pair of shoes that are going to keep your toddler’s feet healthy by promoting healthy foot development? I have put together a list of the top 5 most lightweight, flexible, and affordable toddler shoes.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I recommend shoes based on my experience of having worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years. The shoe store specializes in shoes for children with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Due to my experience in fitting thousands of kids, I became familiar with the best shoe brands for toddlers who are already walking and the best shoe styles among those brands.
I am going to show you a list of the best toddler shoes in 2022, but keep in mind that fit should always be your top priority. I have noticed how most toddlers have wide or extra wide feet, so this is something parents should keep in mind when looking for their toddler’s shoes.
The top priority for most parents who bring their toddlers to the shoe store I work for is for their toddlers to walk out of the store wearing shoes that fit correctly.
What Type of Shoes Are Best for Toddlers?
The shoes I recommend are lightweight and flexible but provide a stable base of support 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.
✅ The image below shows a toddler shoe that provides the correct amount of flexibility. Notice how the shoe bends at the ball of the foot but no further:
❌ The image below shows a toddler shoe that is too rigid at the front. Notice how the shoe is too stiff at the toe box area. If you have a hard time bending the front part of the shoe, then I suggest that you choose a different one:
❌ The image below shows a toddler shoe that is too flexible. If you can bend your toddler’s shoes like a spiral, then it’s highly likely that the shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support:
In addition to providing the correct amount of flexibility, your toddler’s shoes must provide a stable base of support. This means that the outsole of the 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. Take a look at the image below to visualize the difference between a shoe that provides a stable base of support versus a shoe that doesn’t:
All of the toddler shoes I recommend are made from durable materials to prevent the shoes from falling apart too quickly. I know that most parents don’t think of durability as an important factor for toddlers since they outgrow their shoes pretty quickly. However, I have seen toddlers who destroy their shoes in less than two months due to wearing shoes that are poorly made.
I will show you a list of toddler shoes that provide these important features, but keep in mind that if you don’t provide your toddler with the correct shoe size you will make your toddler more prone to developing foot issues.
How to Retrieve Your Toddler’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I always recommend parents to take their toddlers to their local specialized children’s shoe store. The problem is that most children’s shoe stores were closing down even before the pandemic hit.
Places such as Nordstrom’s, Payless, or other big retail stores don’t do a good job at properly sizing children’s feet. In fact, most parents who take their children to be fitted for shoes at these stores end up with the wrong shoe size.
If you are unsure of your toddler’s exact foot shape, I strongly suggest that you take advantage of a free service I offer in which I help parents determine their toddler’s exact foot shape from home. I will be able to tell whether your toddler has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet, as well as whether your toddler has a high instep or not. Follow the instructions in the article below:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
There is a large selection of shoes available for toddlers so it can get confusing for parents to choose the correct ones.
Best Toddler Shoes in 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These shoes were handpicked by me and they have proven to be the best choice for toddlers who are already walking as they provide all of the features a toddler needs to promote healthy foot development:
- Accommodate different foot shapes —medium, wide, extra wide— as well as high insteps.
- Lightweight and flexible but supportive at the same time.
- 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.
All of the shoes I recommend are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Please note that many of the shoes featured below come in several color options, so if you want the shoes to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.
Everyday Sneakers
The Tsukihoshi sneakers below can fit toddlers with medium or wide feet.
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 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 than your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size than your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
Everyday Sneakers
The Saucony sneakers below can fit toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 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 child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 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 child’s current foot size
Everyday Sneakers
The New Balance sneakers below can fit toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Everyday Sneakers
The See Kai Run sneakers below can fit toddlers with medium or wide feet.
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Everyday Sneakers
The Stride Rite sneakers below can fit toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- Available in medium and 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
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes I indicate whether you need to order a half a size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
*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.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are unsure of what shoe size to order or if you are looking for a different pair of shoes for your toddler:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
How Often Should Toddlers Get New Shoes?
Toddler’s feet tend to grow pretty quickly, so even if you are providing the correct amount of growing room you can expect to replace the shoes every 4 months.
Follow my guidelines below each shoe recommendation to check how much growing room you should leave for your toddler.
What Are the Best Socks for Toddlers? – Seamless and Breathable
Keep in mind that socks play a key 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!
My Final Thoughts on Toddler Shoes
Providing your toddler with the correct type of shoes will affect your toddler’s day-to-day life and prevent your toddler from developing foot issues in the future.
Several older children walk into the store with bunions or other issues from wearing the wrong type of shoes when they were younger.
Let me know in the comments section below if you have found a specific shoe brand or shoe style that has worked well for your toddler’s feet!
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Hi! Thanks for your work and advice! I have a question about something you posted above. On the individual TSUKIHOSHI listings, you say to order ½ size larger than the actual shoe size, but right below it, you say that this brand runs “long” and to order the same size as the child’s foot measures. Can you please clarify? Thanks!
Hello Bobbie,
Thank you for pointing this out and sorry about the confusion, this was a mistake on my part. The size recommendations have been revised. Please refresh your browser and take a look at the description below each shoe to find out what shoe size you should order.