How to Waterproof Shoes for Kids – Make Their Shoes and Boots Waterproof without Ruining Them!

Do you live in an area where it rains a lot so you want your child to wear waterproof shoes? Don’t you hate it when your children come home from school with their feet soaking wet? I am going to show you how to waterproof shoes for kids (so you don’t need to invest in a new pair of shoes), and a list of waterproof shoes in case your child is ready for new shoes.

Waterproof Shoes: The Importance of Keeping Your Child’s Feet Dry

Why is it such an issue for your kids to walk around in wet shoes? Fungus and bacteria love dark, wet places to grow, such as your kids’ shoes. If bacteria builds up inside your kids’ shoes and your child happens to get a cut on his feet, your child can easily get a foot infection.

It’s important to keep your kids’ feet dry to avoid all sorts of foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns. Waterproofing your kids’ shoes simply means creating a barrier between the shoe and the water to prevent the water from getting inside the shoes.

The Difference Between Waterproof and Water-Friendly Shoes

Some parents are confused about what is the difference between a waterproof and a water-friendly shoe. Let me make it simple for you, waterproof means that water will not get inside the shoe no matter how long your child leaves his foot inside a water puddle. Water-friendly means that the shoe repels water, but if your children submerge their feet inside a water puddle, the water will get inside the shoes.

Waterproofing is highly recommended especially during the winter and rainy days. Various shoe materials also require corresponding waterproofing products and I will help you choose the product which best suits each shoe material.

My preference has always been to provide children with waterproof shoes, that way parents can have the peace of mind that their kids’ feet will stay dry and warm no matter what trouble their child might be getting into.

What Are the Best Waterproof Shoes for Kids?

I created a different resource that has a list of the best waterproof sneakers for kids. The shoes that I recommend in that article are also capable of accommodating different foot shapes, in case your child has a “complicated” one such as narrow or wide.

The 3 Main Advantages of Waterproof Shoes

1️⃣ Waterproof shoes last longer than other types of shoes.

2️⃣ Wearing waterproof shoes means dry socks, dry feet, and the prevention of fungus or bacteria growing inside the shoes.

3️⃣ Waterproof shoes prevent blisters because when the feet get wet, the skin gets softer and more prone to developing blisters.

What Waterproof Products Works Best for Kids’ Shoes?

There are certain types of waterproofing products that will suit the type of shoe material to be waterproof because the wrong product can damage the shoes instead of protecting them. To avoid any confusion, the products I recommend are suitable for any type of shoe material, that way you make sure you don’t damage your kids’ shoes:

• Soft leather shoes: As a general rule, oils, creams and beeswax, are very good at waterproofing soft leather.

• Thick leather shoes: Use creams and wax products, which will provide a better layer of protection from the elements.

• Suede, fishskins, snakeskins and silks: Spray-on waterproofs are more suitable for these types of materials. 

Below you can find the best products that I have tested before to waterproof children’s shoes. 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.

How to Waterproof Shoes for Kids to Prevent Wet Feet

It is also necessary to read and understand the waterproofing product instructions to know which material the waterproofing agent suits best and also to see if it will alter the color of the shoes.

It is always better to apply these types of products to dark-colored shoes, since there always seems to be some sort of color discoloration when applying these products. If you want to waterproof light-colored suede without darkening it, spray-on products are the way to go.

What Are the Best Waterproof Hiking Boots for Kids?

If your child likes to go on hiking adventures, I wrote an article where I describe the best waterproof hiking boots for children. 

The Best Tips for Waterproofing Shoes – Get Them Right!

• Always make sure that the shoes to be waterproof are clean since this will guarantee that the product applied will be in direct contact with the shoe material and not on a layer of dirt or particles. This will allow you to get the full benefit of the product that you are using.

• If the shoes have been waterproofed before, make sure that you clean off the shoes before applying the new ones to avoid the buildup of the waterproofing product.

• Follow the instructions exactly on the product that you are about to use. This will help you understand the dos and don’ts of the product such as the type of material to be applied, when to apply it, if it induces color change, and other valuable instructions.

• If the shoes to be waterproof have embellishments, don’t forget to cover these before waterproofing because these waterproofing products might damage them.

• Canvas shoes are best waterproofed with beeswax. All you need to do is cover your canvas shoes with beeswax and then use a blow dryer to work the beeswax into the shoes when you are done; that way your kids’ shoes will be completely waterproof.

How Long Do Waterproof Shoes Last? 

Truly “waterproofing” leather means creating a barrier between the water and the shoes so water cannot get through from either direction. It is worth noting that any treatment you apply to protect your leather shoes can be cleared away depending on the quality of the product, which means that periodic renewal may be necessary to prevent water penetration. If you decide to try any of my recommendations, you will likely have to spray the shoes only once, and by the time you need to waterproof them again, your child will have probably outgrown the shoes.

Is there a specific product that worked well in waterproofing your kids’ shoes? Let us know in the comments section below.