Children Rain Boots – More Puddle-Jumping, Please!
Most parents don’t put a lot of thought when it comes to choosing rain boots for their children, and I get it, most rain boots look the same and serve a simple purpose, which is to keep your kids’ feet dry. Now, some rain boots are a lot more lightweight and flexible than others ,and it’s also important that they provide good traction (to prevent slips and falls) and they should not be too heavy. The rain boots that I recommend are also affordable and come with oversized handles to make it easier for our child to get the rain boots on and off.
Prevent Your Child’s Feet From Getting Wet
Children love playing in the rain. There is nothing more fun for them than jumping into puddles and making a big splash. As a parent, you must know how uncomfortable it feels when your socks get wet, and you feel like switching to a dry pair right away. Most children might not express any discomfort, and staying in wet, soggy socks most of the day leads to frozen toes.
This can also create a myriad of problems such as damaging the skin of the foot, to creating blisters due to the friction of the sock. Never allow your children to stay in wet socks or wet toes when it is cold or rainy outside. Providing them with a rain boot will allow them to play in the rain, the mud, or any wet surface safely.
Some of my go-to shoe brands that manufacture reliable rain boots are Kamik, Western Chief, Crocs, and Steven Joseph. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Children’s Rain Boots – Oversized Handles for Easy On and Off
These rain boots are all waterproof, durable, provide good traction, and come with oversized handles to make it easy for your child to put them on and off.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Order this boot style Rubber Rain Boots by Norty on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Rubber handles to make it easier for children to pull these rubber rain boots on all by themselves
- Removable footbed
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this boot style Skipper by Bogs on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Cushioned footbed features maxwick performance to move sweat away from your child’s feet
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this boot style Skipper Solid by Bogs on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Cushioned footbed features maxwick performance to move sweat away from your child’s feet
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Ladybug Rainboot by Western Chief on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Happy Helper Rain Boot by Western Chief on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Handle by Crocs on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Boot opening measures approximately 10″ around
- Waterproof
- Oversized handles make them easy for kids to take these boots on and off
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style by Western Chief on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Order this boot style Skipper Rubber by Bogs on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Cushioned footbed features maxwick performance to move sweat away from your child’s feet
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this boot style Handle by Crocs on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Oversized handles make them easy for kids to take these boots on and off, and also include a reflective heel logo for safety
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order this boot style Rain Boot by Bogs on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Excellent traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Waterproof by Reima on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Shaft circumference: 11.5 Centimeters
- Removable insoles with the Happy Fit print to help you find your little one’s correct size.
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Rain Boots Abstract Shapes by Bogs on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Cushioned footbed features maxwick performance to move sweat away from your child’s feet
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Common Problems with Rain Boots
There are two common problems that parents seem to face when getting rain boots for their kids:
- The Rain Boot Won’t Stay on My Child’s Feet!
If your child keeps tripping or walking out of rain boots, it means that they are probably too big for your child’s feet. Rain boots should be fitted a little roomy since children will not wear them that often, but they should not by any means fall off your child’s feet. I would strongly recommend exchanging them or getting a new pair that fits.
- The Rain Boot Is Not Wide Enough for My Child’s Feet!
Another issue parents seem to face is that some children with wide or extra wide feet or wide calves don’t seem to be able to fit in rain boots. Some parents feel like they are struggling and wasting too much time trying to put rain boots on their kids’ feet. There can be two reasons for this:
1- The rain boot is the wrong size (too small).
2- Your child has wide or extra wide feet. Please don’t get longer rain boots to compensate for the width. This will lead to the boots falling off your kids’ feet or compromising your children’s stability. I wrote a post where I describe the best rain boots for children who have wide or extra wide feet.
How to Figure Out Your Child’s Correct Rain Boot Size – Get it Right!
One big issue when trying to get a rain boot for your child is trying to figure out the sizing. Please keep in mind that rain boots come in whole sizes only. This means that if your child measures a foot size 8 1/2, you will round up and get the boot in a size 9.
Because rain boots are the type of footwear that your child won’t wear often —unless you live in an area where it rains a lot— we always want to leave a good amount of room for your child to grow into the rain boots. However, leaving extra growing space might compromise your child’s stability, making your child more prone to falls and injuries.
Retrieving Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
“I Can Find Them Cheaper Somewhere Else” – Don’t Compromise On Quality!
You can always find things at a cheaper price, especially when shopping online. However, cheaper normally doesn’t translate to better. Sometimes, just to save some money, you might not be providing your children with the appropriate quality footwear, which might end up costing you more in the future.
I have seen shoes from retailers that are made out of cardboard inside, that are labeled waterproof when they aren’t, and that don’t have the appropriate amount of support and structure. Rain boots are not cheap, but they are not pricey either; they are middle ground footwear when it comes to pricing. It is critical that whichever rain boot you choose to provide your child with you make sure it is waterproof and made of quality materials.
Are Light Up Rain Boots Reliable?
As long as light-up rain boots are fitted properly, your child should have no problem walking through puddles with them. Sometimes parents associate light-up footwear with “unreliable footwear”, and while sometimes this is true, it all depends on the particular style that you decide to get. When it comes to rain boots, it really doesn’t make a difference since light-up rain boots are as well made as your traditional-looking ones and will keep the water and mud out of your kids’ feet.
I am frequently asked at the store how long the lights of the rain boots will last and the fact is that your child should always outgrow the boots before the lights stop working.
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
Do not hesitate to contact me directly via email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.
We tried the crocs boots and they are not very wide at the calves for my 1.5 year old. It’s too bad because the rest of the boot is wide… just not the calves. Are there any other rain boots you would suggest?
Hello Frances,
I am sorry to hear that. What shoe size does your child wears?
Here are two styles that also fit toddlers with wide feet:
Wide Rain Boots for Toddlers: Option 1
Wide Rain Boots for Toddlers: Option 2
I hope this helps!
Hello, there,
Thank you so much for your wonderful article about children rain boots.
Finding a good type of rain boot for kids is not a puzzle so easy to solve since there are many to offer in the market and we know very little about them.
Now I won’t have problem when my nice tries to run around into puddles.
Cheers!
Caito,
I am glad that you found the website informative. If you have any further questions please do not hesistate to contact me.
I have 2 young kids and always have a hard time finding rain boots that fit well. My children both have narrow feet and I find that the boots are always too wide for them.
A few of my friends have started purchasing the combo boot for their children to get more use out of them since we have cold winters where I am. These boots can be used in cold temperatures up to -30 (celcius) but they also work well in the rain. What are your thoughts on these? They are pretty expensive but it would be nice to not have to have rain boots and winter boots.
Simone,
What is the brand name that your friend purchased? I am familiar with Bogs, who you can wear in the snow and the rain. The quality is superb, they are great for the snow and your child can also use it as a rain boot in the Spring. The price is higher, but you are getting a great quality boot that serves both purposes, so in a way, you might be saving money. Read my post where I describe several boot styles that can be used for the rain and the snow:
The Best Snow Boots for Kids – Keep Your Child’s Feet Dry and Warm!
Thanks! I will check out the best winter boots article. Yes, the brand my friend was talking about is Bogs. Maybe I will invest in some for my kids.
I wish I would have found your article when my kids were growing up! As a new parent, I realized that I did not know much about the basics of raising kids including how to pick out raingear. Having the information from your article would have spared me a few headaches by making sure my kids were ready to face mother nature.
John,
Thank you. I do care about children, and I try to provide parents with good advise so they can make the most informative decision when it comes to footwear. I am sure you will be back once your grandchildren start playing in the rain 😉
Hi Juan,
Thank you for an informative article, as a parent in the not so sunny but really wet UK, I never gave much thought to my child’s rain boots or wellies as we call them here.
Would you advise a child wear “normal” socks or thicker socks, I only ask this because that would effect the width of the boot.
Thank you again for this article.
Steve T
Steve,
When you first purchase rain boots or wellies I will advise your child to wear thicker socks since you will want to leave some extra growing room. Rain boots are the type of footwear your child will not wear often, only in rainy days, so a little bit of extra room is something that we want when we are fitting rain boots. Thank you for stopping by!
When I have children, they will definitely need rain boots. I used to love jumping in puddles and playing out in the rain. We used to collect rain water from puddles in the driveway and make ‘soup’ out of it (we never consumed it).
It’s important to have the right equipment for different situations such as being out in the rain. So, yes to rain boots!
Gina,
I never heard of children collecting water from puddles and making “soup”with it, that was too funny. I guess I was too busy splashing my sister every time there was a puddle. You are 100% correct that it is important to have the right equipment when children are playing in the rain.