Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on March 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best dress sandals for kids.
Have you been looking for a supportive, comfortable, durable, and affordable pair of dress sandals for your child? Are you looking for a pair that you can dress your child up but that is supportive and durable enough for your child to be able to run around and play with?
Parents often get confused deciding which pair of sandals to provide for their children as there are a lot of different styles out there.
The sandals that I recommend are comfortable and made from high-quality materials such as leather. They also provide a substantial outsole that is lightweight and flexible and they come well-padded around the heel area to prevent blisters and other foot issues.
The fact is that to keep your children’s feet healthy during the summer, you need to find a sandal that fits your child’s foot shape perfectly. Children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and some children might have a more “complicated” foot shape such as narrow or wide feet.
Does Your Child Have a “Complicated” Foot Shape? – Narrow or Extra Wide Feet
The dress sandals that I describe in this article are capable of fitting children with medium or wide feet, but they don’t fit children with narrow or extra wide feet. If your child happens to have narrow or extra wide feet, please refer to the articles below:
The Best Dress Sandals for Kids with Narrow Feet – Stylish, Supportive, and Comfortable!
Best Dress Sandals for Kids with Extra Wide Feet – Stylish, Extra Deep, and with Rounder Toe-Boxes!
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses in helping children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I am familiar with the best children’s shoe brands and the best shoe styles among those brands from having fitted them before.
A lot of parents don’t put a lot of thought into their kids’ dress sandals as they might wear them for a couple of hours a day and once in a while, but you might want to rethink this. It only takes a couple of wears in the wrong type of shoe to develop a foot issue such as a blister.
The materials that the sandals are made of have a direct impact on the overall fit and comfort of the sandal. Like I mentioned before the dress sandals that I recommend are made out of leather, which is one of the best materials as it’s soft and molds to the shape of your child’s feet.
While I am no fashion expert, I have been told that the sandals that I recommend are very stylish.
Some of the most popular and best dress sandals shoe brands for children are:
✅ Naturino
✅ See Kai Run
✅ Frodo
✅ Livie & Luca
✅ Nina
✅ Primigi
✅ Stride Rite
Did I forget to mention a particular shoe brand that makes high-quality and supportive dress sandals?
Do you Buy Your Kids’ Sandals in the Store or Online?
I always recommend parents to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. Start by taking a look at a resource that describes the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings
For the last 5 years; I have dedicated myself to helping parents find the perfect pair of shoes for their children online. However, to be able to buy your kids’ shoes online, you must know your child’s exact foot size. I wrote an article where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home. Please go to the link below:
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot length 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.
Now that you know your child’s exact foot size, let’s take a look at a selection of the best dress sandals for kids.
I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Dress Sandals for Kids ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if your child likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Leather lining and cushioned sockliner provide comfort through breathability
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Slip-resistant traction with sensory pod technology to help feel the ground underneath
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Slip-resistant traction with sensory pod technology to help feel the ground underneath
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- High heel design provides better support and helps with lateral movements
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 100% leather
- Padded heel collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- 100% leather
- Flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- Order this sandal half a size larger than you child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 100% leather
- Memory Foam Technology (MFT) acts like a custom insole by shaping perfectly to your child’s foot and supporting it in all the right places.
- Order this sandal half a size larger than you child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Rubber outsole for great traction
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than you child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than you child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded heel collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
What Sandal Size Should you Order?
Please note that most sandals come in whole sizes only and are not be available in half sizes.
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these sandals half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the sandals.
When children don’t feel comfortable in a particular shoe, they will refuse to wear it, so make sure that the shoes are the correct size and made from comfortable, high-quality materials. Below you can learn about what features these sandals provide.
Leather Dress Sandals for Kids – Soft, Comfortable, and Durable!
✅ Support: This feature allows your child to wear sandals for most of the day. Dress sandals that provide good support minimize the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take every time they come in contact with the ground.
✅ Lightweight and Flexible: These features help prevent your children’s feet from easily getting tired. Depending on the age of your child, he/she might not have the strength to bend a harder sole.
✅ Fit: Since the sandals that I recommend are all made out of leather, they provide a better overall fit by offering better comfort to your kids’ feet.
✅ Prevent Infections: Leather sandals are easy to maintain and clean, and they help prevent infections and bacteria.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style for your child’s feet. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
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