European Shoes for Kids – The Best Styles for Your Child!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on April 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of European shoes for kids.

Have you been looking for a pair of quality, well-made shoes for your children? Do you want to provide your child with an all-leather shoe that is supportive, flexible and breathable? I have put together a selection of the best European shoes for kids, and I will show you that selection shortly.

Finding a pair of good quality shoes for children is not easy, but it’s important to provide them with good shoes to keep their feet and legs healthy.

Did you know that it has been medically proven that good quality shoes will shape and mold to your kids’ feet guaranteeing proper growth and healthy foot development?

The issue is that there is only a small selection of children’s shoes that are made 100% out of leather and provide the correct amount of support. The good news is that I know exactly which shoe styles these are from having fitted them before.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We carry some of the most supportive children’s shoes and orthotics, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others.

Did you know that in Europe kids’ shoes are regarded as “health products” rather than fashion items? This is the main reason why European shoes are made to the highest quality standards imposed by European manufacturing.

Unfortunately, I have seen an increased number of shoes in the United States that are made in China or Vietnam. These shoes are made of low-quality materials, and they will provide little to non-existent support to your kids’ feet.

Keep your kids’ feet healthy by providing them with good, quality shoes that they can wear everyday and you will end up saving a lot of money since your child’s shoes will not be worn out before your kids grow out of them.

What I have noticed throughout the years is how parents tend to like how European shoes fit and how stylish they are.

For example, in the United States, most parents are familiar with shoe brands such as Robeez, Stride Rite, Saucony, New Balance, just to name a few examples. However, certain families want to make sure their kids’ shoes are made of healthy, innovative shoe construction and at the same time look stylish.

Your kids’ shoes need to be made of durable materials —most kids’ European shoes are made of eco-friendly materials— to guarantee that your children will outgrow their shoes before they wear them out.

I have had several parents ask me where they can get European shoes for their children since they believe that they are better for their kids’ feet. I do agree that European shoes tend to be better made than most children’s shoes out there, but not all European brands will provide the same quality and support for your child’s feet.

At the children’s shoe store that I work for, we carry the best European shoe brands for children, and some of them are:

✅ Naturino

✅ Primigi

✅ Geox

✅ Ricosta

✅ Star Child

✅ Ecco

✅ Cienta

✅ Froddo

Among these shoe brands, there are three that have proven to manufacture the best shoes for children and they are:

✅ Geox

✅ Primigi

✅ Naturino

European shoe manufacturers not only put your kids’ feet health always first and design shoes for active kids, but they also put a great deal of emphasis on the fashion and the design of the shoes.

Among these 3 shoe brands, certain shoe styles are better-made and provide better support than others. These are the styles I will recommend shortly.

What Makes European Shoes Better? – Let’s Find Out!

Most European children’s shoes tend to be supportive, breathable, flexible and lightweight. One of the main advantages of these shoes is how they protect and support children’s feet, without restricting toe movement or growth.  Because the shoes are made out of high-quality leathers they tend to adapt to your kids’ feet better, allowing them to grow naturally.

The quality that most European shoes are made of is excellent. The features that the European shoes I recommend provide are:

✅ They are made out of 100% leather.

✅ They offer orthopedic arch support.

✅ They come with breathable leather inner soles.

✅ They are flexible and lightweight.

✅ They are stylish.

I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best European shoes for kids. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

The Best European Shoes for Kids ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The shoes below can fit children with narrow, medium, and wide feet.

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.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

I always explain to parents how it doesn’t matter how well-made and supportive their kids’ shoes are, if they are not fitted properly, their child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.

Are You 100% Sure of Your Toddler’s Foot Size? – Get it Right!

I always recommend parents to take their toddler to their local fitting children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most fitting stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.

I created a resource that showcases the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:

The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:

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 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.

Why Do Parents Prefer European Shoes?

If you are one of those parents who understands the true value of well-made, supportive shoes for children you must know by now how the correct type of shoes will help prevent and treat foot conditions and assist children in proper posture development.

Please keep in mind that if your children have extra wide feet and a high instep, the majority of the European shoes won’t be wide enough for their feet. European shoes tend to fit narrow around the heel area (this is great to provide ankle support) and wider in the front of the shoe, which means that they fit children with wide feet, but they won’t fit children with extra wide feet.

If your child has extra wide feet, I recommend that you stay away from European shoe brands and take a look at another article I wrote where I describe the best extra wide shoes for children. Go to the link below:

Shoes for Extra Wide Feet – Stop Hurting Your Children’s Feet

Do you have a particular European shoe brand or shoe style that you prefer and want to recommend? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from them.