Hard Sole Shoes for Babies – Are They the Right Choice for Your First Walker?

January 5, 2023 Baby Shoes Juan Valenzuela 6 - Comments

One of the most popular questions parents ask me at the children’s shoe where I work is: Do babies who are learning how to walk need a pair of hard sole or soft sole shoes? I will answer this question shortly based on my many years of shoe fitting experience. Hard sole shoes for babies should be used when babies are already walking confidently.

Keep in mind that I don’t recommend a pair of hard sole shoes for a baby who is learning how to walk as they will make the whole process of learning how to walk a lot harder. A baby who is in the process of learning how to walk doesn’t have the strength to bend a shoe with a harder sole. Just so you know, I am not saying that soft sole shoes are better than hard sole ones. Hard soles shoes are great but are more appropriate for a baby that is already walking and putting pressure on the feet and legs.

Should You Allow Your Baby to Walk Barefoot?

Babies learn how to take their first steps by gripping their toes to the ground and I always recommend parents to allow their babies to walk barefoot at home to promote healthy foot development. But if a baby doesn’t need shoes around the house, when do shoes actually come into play? As soon as you decide to take your baby to play outside where surfaces might be uneven, hot, cold or rocky, shoes come into play and they are worn for protection purposes mostly.

Soft Sole Shoes vs Hard Sole Shoes – Choose Them Wisely!

If you ask pediatricians or physical therapists about what are the best type of shoes for your baby, they will probably tell you that there are two different opinions on which type of shoes a baby that is learning how to walk should wear.

Soft Sole Shoes for Babies: Best for Learning How to Walk

Most babies seem to react better to a shoe with a soft sole than a hard one, and I believe that for a baby who is still learning how to walk, there is such thing as a shoe with too much structure. If a baby wears a heavy shoe that comes with a built-in arch support, a heavy sole, and a firm heel counter, your baby won’t need to use his or her muscles to work to find balance and strength is diminished. The feet will rely too much on the strength of the shoe, which will hinder the development of muscles in the foot and ankle.

Hard Sole Shoes for Babies: Best If Already Walking Confidently

If your baby is already walking, a hard sole shoe will offer several benefits to your baby’s feet. The first benefit is that it will minimize the impact that your baby’s feet take every time they come in contact with the ground. The second benefit of a hard sole shoe is that it will also help prevent and treat baby’s foot problems such as flat feet, low muscle tone, or rolled ankles. A hard sole shoe will also provide more protection from harmful objects such as rocks, especially when your baby is playing outside.

In conclusion, you should provide your babies with a soft sole shoe when they are learning how to walk, and a hard sole shoe comes into play when children are already walking and putting more pressure on their feet.

A baby learning how to walk in her first pair of walking shoes.

How to Retrieve Your Baby’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.

Best Hard Sole Shoes for Babies Who Are Already Walking

Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for a baby that is already walking that are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Boys

  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
  • Hook and loop closure 
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Ride 10 J by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
  • APMA Certified
  • Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
  • EVA midsole for lightweight feel
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style SRT Winslow by Stride Rite on Amazon
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Toe cap reinforcement and bumptoe protection against stumbles
  • Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
  • Step-stabilizing design with comfy Ortholite memory foam footbeds
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run on Zappos
  • Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
  • Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
  • Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style 2510 Racer by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
  • Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Removable insoles
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • Extra wide toe box allows natural splaying of toes for better balance, comfort, and foot health
  • Long heel counter provides stability
  • Machine washable
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Jazz Lite 2.0 by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
  • Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
  • Machine washable for quick and easy clean
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
  • Rubber outsole pods designed to stand up to daily wear and tear
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
  • Rubber outsole pods designed to stand up to daily wear and tear 
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

Girls

  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
  • Hook and loop closure 
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Ride 10 J by Saucony on Zappos
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
  • APMA approved
  • Toe cap for extra durability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style 2510 Racer by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
  • Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
  • Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
  • Removable insoles
  • The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
  • Machine washable
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
  • Synthetic/mesh upper
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run on Zappos
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Canvas upper
  • Toe cap is durable for early steps
  • Double velcro straps
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • APMA approved
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Sr Thompson by Stride Rite on Amazon
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Ortholite memory foam footbeds
  • Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
  • Recycled material linings to help reduce odor
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Kya by See Kai Run on Zappos
  • Fits wide and extra wide feet
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Two adjustable hook-and-loop closures for easy on and off
  • Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
  • APMA approved
  • Toe cap for extra durability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
  • Rubber outsole pods designed to stand up to daily wear and tear 
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • No-sew overlays
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

Soft Sole Shoes for Babies – Is Your Baby Learning How to Walk?

If your baby is learning how to walk, you should go for a soft sole shoe that is going to help your baby feel the ground and balance.

Do Most Babies Have Wide Feet?

Yes, most babies have wide or extra wide feet as they might still carry some baby fat.

The Importance of Wearing Socks

Please make sure that you provide your baby with the correct type of socks as they play a key role in keeping babies’ feet healthy. Did you know that socks act as a barrier between your babies’ feet and the shoes and they prevent the formation and buildup of bacteria inside the shoe as well as the formation of blisters, calluses, and corns?

It’s important to get the correct type of socks made of the right materials to allow your babies’ toes to freely move and prevent them from overlapping each other. Babies move their toes as a way of exercising their feet, so it’s really important to not constrict this movement.

Have you ever heard of seamless socks before? They are great because they don’t constrict toe movement and they allow your babies’ toes to move freely inside the socks.

Are Any Other Baby Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your baby. My e-mail address is:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found a particular shoe that has worked well for your baby’s feet? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.