Children Rain Boots – More Puddle-Jumping, Please!
Parents need to understand that not all children’s rain boots are the same. Some kids’ rain boots are more lightweight and flexible than others and are also more efficient in keeping your kids’ feet dry. Did you know that most children won’t tell their parents when their feet get wet? Your kids don’t mind wearing wet socks, but this can create several foot problems.
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.
If you’re pressed for time, you can jump directly to the selection of children’s rain boots.
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.
Children’s rain boots play a key role in keeping your children’s feet healthy, so I have put together a selection of the best children’s rain boots based on my many years of shoe fitting experience. The rain boots I will describe in this article will come with oversized handles to make it easy for kids to put on and take off.
The rain boots that I recommend below will fit a child with medium, wide, or extra wide feet. The key is to find a rain boot that is made out of good quality materials, provides great traction and is not too heavy. Children’s feet and legs will tire faster if they are wearing heavy rain boots.
Some of the best shoe brands that manufacture rain boots are Kamik, Western Chief, Crocs, and Steven Joseph.
Below you can find the selection of the best children’s rain boots that I have fitted before. 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.
The Best Children’s Rain Boots
These rain boots are all waterproof, durable, provide good traction, and come with oversized handles to make it easy for kids to put on and take off.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Rubber Rain Boots by Norty
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Skipper by Bogs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Skipper Solid by Bogs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Ladybug Rainboot by Western Chief
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Happy Helper Rain Boot by Western Chief
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Handle by Crocs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 990V6 by New Balance
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Removable EVA insoles
- Slip-resistant outsole to help provide traction on slippery surfaces
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Skipper Rubber by Bogs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Handle by Crocs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rain Boot by Bogs
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% waterproof
- Pull handle sides provide a secure fit and easy on and off
- Excellent traction
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Waterproof by Reima
- 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.
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rain Boots Abstract Shapes by Bogs
- 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
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
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 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 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 a wide or an extra wide foot. 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. If the child has a wide foot, it might take some extra time to put them on, or you might need a rain boot that has a nice round (wide) toe box.
Does Your Child Have Wide or Extra Wide Feet?
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 a boot size 9. However, some rain boots tend to run really long, and depending on the style, you might have to go for a half-size smaller. If the rain boots run long and your child is measuring a size 8 1/2, then you need to get the size 8, which will still provide your child with growing room.
Does this make sense to you? Most parents are skeptical of providing their kids with a size smaller or the same size that they measure in the foot measuring scale, but if the shoes run long then you need to adjust the size that you get for your child.
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 boot. However, leaving extra growing space might compromise your child’s stability, making him/her more prone to falls and injuries.
Retrieving Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I always recommend parents take their kids to their local children’s shoe store to have their feet properly measured. That way you can guarantee that you will provide your child with the correct shoe size. If you don’t have a local kids’ shoe store in your area, take a look at an article I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot 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? – Yes!
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.
Raincoats for Kids – The Best Rain Gear for Children!
If you decide on getting your little one a raincoat, you probably want one that is perfect for any weather. These should be lightweight and made of soft outer material. Wearing the proper rain gear will make rainy days fun for your children.
You can coordinate the raincoats with matching boots and umbrellas. I provide a review of the best well-made quality raincoats and umbrellas below so your little one can play in the rain safely while having fun!
==>Click Here to See the Best Rain Coats for Children<==
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.
Does your child already own a pair of rain boots? Is there a particular rain boot style that you recommend? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below so we can all benefit from them! Let it rain, let it pour, your little ones’ feet will stay dry as long as they have a good pair of rain boots!
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.