The Best Kids’ Sneakers – Learn About the Best Shoes for Children Ages 3 Through 10
Are you having a hard time finding the correct pair of shoes for your child? There is a myriad of options to choose from when it comes to children’s shoes, but there are only a limited number of styles that are good for their unique foot shape. Children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and the shoes that you provide for your child need to be capable of providing good support to their feet while fitting their foot shape correctly. I am going to show you a list of the best kids’ sneakers based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of the best kids’ sneakers.
There are certain kids’ shoes that provide good support, stability, and are lightweight and flexible at the same time. When parents go shoe shopping they usually find themselves staring at a wall of shoes that look very similar and very different at the same time.
Be aware that the type of shoe you decide to get for your child can have a positive or negative effect on the health of your child’s feet. Improperly fitted shoes can negatively affect balance and alignment, and it can also lead to long-lasting health problems such as foot, knee, and back pain.
Determine the Precise Length and Shape of Your Child’s Feet
Before I show you a selection of the best kids’ sneakers, I want to first make sure that you are 100% sure of your child’s foot size. If you don’t know your child’s exact foot size you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. The article below explains 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.
What Are My Favorite Shoe Brands for Everyday Sneakers?
There are 2 shoe brands that make supportive, lightweight, flexible, and durable sneakers for kids at an affordable price. These shoe brands also offer shoes in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). The shoe brands I am referring to are New Balance and Saucony. However, this doesn’t mean that all shoes from these 2 brands are good, only certain styles.
I only review shoes that I have fitted before since that is the only way for me to tell how well-made and supportive they are, and how they fit.
I have made things easy for you and selected the best-fitting shoes made by these 2 shoe brands. 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. This allows us to create free content and resources for many families around the world.
The Best Sneakers for Kids
First Choice: New Balance
The New Balance shoes that I recommend below are extremely well-made, provide the correct amount of support and flexibility, and can fit different foot shapes such as medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for toddlers
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for toddlers
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990v6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990v4 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 527 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 527 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Suede/mesh upper
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 2022 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 860v13 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
The Best Sneakers for Kids
Second Choice: Saucony
Who said that shoes need to be expensive to be made from high-quality, supportive materials? At a very affordable price, the Saucony shoes I recommend below are the perfect combination of soft, flexible, and durable: All in one shoe!
The Saucony shoes that I recommend below can fit a child with narrow, medium, or wide feet.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Parents’ favorite style
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Parents’ favorite style
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz Lite 2.0 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz Lite 2.0 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper for breathability
- Velcro closure for easy on/off and adjustability
- Machine washable
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz Hook by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Cushy lightweight EVA midsole for comfort
- APMA approved
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Flash A/C 3.0 by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Cushy lightweight EVA midsole for comfort
- APMA approved
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Wind Shield by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wind Shield by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Velocer A/C by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Cushioned footbed
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kinvara 14 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wind FSTr by Saucony
- Fits medium feet
- Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Axon by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wind 2.0 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cohesion 14 LTT by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz Court by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Leather and mesh upper for durability & breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kinvara 14 LTT by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
- Form2u memory foam provides exceptional comfort
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kinvara 14 LTT by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
- Form2u memory foam provides exceptional comfort
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
These are the best-fitting and supportive shoes for children available right now. I am sure you notice there is a price difference between all of these shoes, but in all honesty, they are all great supportive shoes and you can’t go wrong with any of them. The next step is to make sure you provide your child with the right shoe size!
Don’t Forget About the Fit – It all Starts with a Good Fit!
There is a certain amount of growing room that you can leave inside your kids’ shoes for them to grow into them. As a standard rule of thumb, I recommend 3/8 of an inch between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes. Your child’s longest toe doesn’t necessarily have to be the big toe, it can be the second or even the third toe.
Parents need to be careful and not leave too much growing room since they might end up compromising their child’s stability. Fitting shoes too long can lead to a lack of stability, foot pain, and blisters, among other foot problems.
Always conduct frequent checks on the inside and outside of your children’s shoes. Excessive wear around the side or heel of the shoe, scuffed or ripped linings are all signs that your child might be ready for a new pair of shoes.
I shared with you what I believe to be the best quality shoes for kids in the market now, and I hope you take advantage of them and take care of your kids’ feet by providing them with the most durable, most supportive, and most recommended shoes for them!
Start taking care of your kids’ feet! Avoid foot problems, injuries, and discomfort!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My email address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Please comment below and let us know about your favorite kids’ shoes, or if there is a particular shoe style we should avoid, that way we can all benefit from your experiences.
where can I find the shoe called Geox? My grand son (3yrs old) has weak ankles and falls a lot
Hello Lillie,
There might be several reasons why your child keeps falling. Please make sure that the shoes that he is wearing are not too short or too narrow. If you can’t see the recommendations please refresh the webpage.
My son loves Nike blue shoes (color is important :)). He is 10 size 6.
Do you have any recommendations. He wants lace up. Thanks!!!
Hello Anne,
There is a style called Revolution that is really good in terms of flexibility and support. I have fitted that shoe style before at the shoe store that I work for, just remember that Nike shoes are not the most supportive type of shoes. You can find that shoe here:
Nike Shoes for Boys
I hope this helps!
Is there any reccomendation from Nike Brand shoes or Adidas? I bought my son new balance and because of the brand name, kids nowadays care about that, he won’t wear it.
Hello Dayanis,
Did you buy him New Balance because he has wide or extra wide feet? What shoe width does your son wear? If you get back at me telling me his shoe size and his age I can help you find good Nike or Adidas sneakers.
My 3 year old daughter LOVES Sketchers Litebeams. The only problem is she goes through one pair every 2 months. They are light, flexible and I think offer decent support, but they are SO cheap, she blows through them, mostly ripping up the toe area using them as a break when she rides scooters. She INSISTS on light up shoes. I’ve looked at Stride Rite and they don’t seem to have anything comperable to the Litebeams. Most of our local shoe stores don’t carry kids (at least not the shoe stores where you get knowledgable people to help you). I need a good shoe, light up variety that will last her more than 1-2 months.
Thank you!
Dear Amanda,
Most light up shoes are on the “fun side” and not as functional as parents want them to be. Children should always outgrow their sneaker before they destroy them, so you might want to start transitioning her into a more durable shor brand. If she is going to be riding her scooter and being rough on the shoes, there is a shoe brand called Geox which offers good supportive, well-made shoes. Be aware that they might not look as cool as the Skechers she is used to wearing. Here is an example of how they look like:
Geox Girl Light Up Sneakers: Option 1
Geox Girl Light Up Sneakers: Option 2
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Are there any Skechers for toddler boys that are supportive?
Hello Sarah,
Some models are more supportive than others, but it depends on your son’s foot shape and whether you are looking for velcro or lace-up closure.
Thank you for the article. Year after year we have problems before school begins finding shoes, not sneakers, that will fit properly. I used to be able to find Mary Janes that would fit my girls. They have a narrow heel and a normal toe area, just like me. It’s so hard they have to wear sneakers until I “happen upon” a pair of shoes. This school year, both girls are in women’s sizes. I can’t find anything! And any shoe that has any kind of comfort, is a hundred dollars! I really don’t know what to do. They will have to wear sneakers everywhere, since school requires them to have their toes and heels covered. Please give more information on the brands of shoes to try that are NOT sneakers. Thank you!
Hello Bee,
I understand your frustration. First of all let me clarify that a girl’s shoe size 7 (which is the largest girl shoe size) equals to a women’s shoe size 8 1/2. Keep in mind that your girls are in women sizes once they reach a women’s shoe size 9 or up… I just want to make sure your girls are in actual women sizes.
The reason why I mention this is that you will save a lot of money purchasing the kids version of the shoes instead of the women’s.
You might want to look at this post for clarification:
Women And Kids Shoe Size Conversion Chart – Save Big Buying Kids Shoes!
If you can get back at me and clarify your girl’s actual shoe size it will be a great start. But here goes some advice:
The BEST shoe brand for a child that has a wide toed-box but a narrow heel is called “NATURINO”. Have you tried this shoe brand for your girls before? The other shoe brand you should give a try is called “NINA”.
I hope this helps! If you can get back at me with more details, I can probably be a little more specific.
I knew it!! I love New Balance. I have a 4 year old son, and I will probably purchase KV888VI by New Balance that you recommended. Are there any other type of shoes that you recommend by New Balance?
Right now, my son has NIKE, and Ninja Turtles Light Up sneakers. I often choose Nike shoes for my son as well. I wonder if there is any issues for those shoes. He really loves the Ninja Turtles shoes specifically for the characters and the lights. Recently, it is hard for me to make him wear the shoes that I like. You know, children start trying to assert their independence, around this age.
Also, I’m interested in Geox. I have never heard about the brand. I wonder why shoe companies stopped making Velcro strap. Is it because of price, inconvenience, or taking time and effort?
Thank you so much for the information. I will come back and find out which shoes I will get for my son.
Hello Ryubi,
I recommend the 990v5 or 680V6 because it comes in all sort of different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide. Below you can find some of the best sneakers made by New Balance:
Boy New Balance: Option 1
Boy New Balance: Option 2
While we don’t have the Ninja Turtle style at the shoe store I work for, I have seen children wearing them. It is an ok shoe, but much less flexible than other styles. If your child is active, I would advise you to look for a different style.
Geox makes top of the line shoes, great support, very breathable, a shoe that your child can wear every day!
Recently, I began buying my daughter Asics shoes since she was diagnosed with onset Scoliosis. Up until then she preferred a very cheap brand of shoes and I could not get her to use the better brands.
Since getting the better shoes, she complains that they hurt her knees, but her doctor says the Scoliosis is nearly detectable. We are working on the knee pains as a possible symptom of being used to shoes that were not supporting her gait.
I will be looking into the Geox brand to see if we can purchase them locally. I like the look of those shoes and will hopefully keep working to find a good quality pair that my daughter likes too.
You gave a very good review of each shoe and I have more information that I did not consider prior to reading your information. Thank you for bringing all to light for me.
Rita,
Aiscs is top of the line when it comes to support and structure. Make sure she is stretching enough since that will help relieve some of the pain. Geox is also a great brand, just keep trying until you find a pair that works!
Wow! I have been looking for information like this all over the place. We used to have a local shoe store in our area but it closed, so we don’t know where to take our children to have their feet measured. We went to the mall and the salesperson at Stride Rite didn’t know what he was doing.
I ordered from your recommendations the pair of Asics for my son who has the narrowest feet and it fits him perfectly. My daughter has a high instep so we went for the Saucony pair. I bookmarked your page, you have pretty amazing info!
Darren,
I am glad you found the website informative. Any time you have any specific question do not hesitate in contacting me. I know how hard it can be to find shoes without a local shoe store, and someone who can guide you throught the process of finding the right pair of shoes for your kids’.
It was only after my children needed shoes that I realized how important it is to have the best possible fit. When I was a child my shoes were handed down from friends and relations. Is it bad for a child’s feet to wear hand me down shoes? Is foot health of primary importance when buying kids shoes? Also do is it always expensive shoes that are the best or are some of the cheaper brands just as good?
Margaret,
Hand-me-down shoes must be avoided. The only time I feel they are appropriate is when we are passing down a pair of rain boots or a pair of snow boots. I understand that we are all trying to save money, but hand-me-down shoes will end up costing you a lot more money in the long run. You should read one of my posts I wrote about hand-me-down shoes: Second Hand Shoes For Kids – Stop Hurting Your Child’s Feet
To answer your next question, in order to have healthy feet, we must provide our children with the right type of shoes. The shoes that we all wear play a key role in keeping our feet, legs, and back healthy.
When it comes to shoes, you don’t need to invest more money in order to get more support and structure out of the shoe. Here is another post that you will find useful since it describes the best shoes for kids’ and how price is irrelevant: The Best Kids Sneakers – Learn About The Best Shoes For Children Ages 3 Through 10
I’ve never considered buying these type of shoes for my daughters though I always spend good money on their footwear. Both my daughters have large feet and grow at unbelievably fast rates so go through shoes quickly. I’ll have to bookmark your site and come back to check it when buying shoes next time.
Leone,
There is a certain amount of growing room we can leave for kids’ to grow into their shoes, if we decide to leave a little bit of extra space for the shoes to last longer, we can end up compromising our kids’ stability. Come back anytime and please let me know if you have any questions.