The Most Comfortable Kids’ Shoes – From Their First Steps to Their Teenage Years!

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

I have put together a selection of the best kids’ shoes from their first steps, to their teenage years. These are the most supportive, durable, and comfortable shoes that are available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I know which shoes are more comfortable, supportive and better made than others from actually having fitted them before. 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. Over the years I became familiar with the most comfortable shoes for kids.

If you want to keep your kids’ feet and legs healthy, you must provide them with the correct pair of shoes in the correct shoe size. Choosing the correct pair of shoes for your child will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Your kids’ shoes should be lightweight and flexible to allow the feet to move naturally with a stable base of support. They should be made of leather to allow your child’s feet to breathe properly. Materials like leather and canvas are the best choices when it comes to choosing your kids’ shoes because are sturdy, breathable, and flexible. They stretch and soften with wear, which is ideal for active, growing feet.

I will provide you with a selection of the most comfortable kids’ shoes, but to be able to get your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your foot size.

Shoes that are too small hinder the proper growth of the foot, diminishing blood circulation, causing painful blisters, ingrown toenails and in simple words, hurt your kids’ feet. Shoes that are too large can create blisters on your children’s feet as well as compromise their stability, which leads to falls and injuries.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

I always recommend parents to take their children 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.

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.

Let’s take a look at the most comfortable kids’ shoes from their first steps to their teenage years.

Shoes for Babies Who Are Learning How to Walk

Baby feet contain more cartilage than bones. Though the feet are likely to develop completely by the age of two, the bone doesn’t develop and harden entirely until your child’s 18^th birthday.

When babies are learning how to walk they need a lightweight and flexible shoe that emulates barefoot walking However, when you have your babies with you at home, leave them barefoot to allow for healthy foot development.

I always recommend that parents look out for stretchy, non-skid or skid-resistant soles for their babies’ shoes. This is because when children are learning how to walk they should wear shoes that are flexible and allow the foot to bend and move as though they were barefoot.

Soft sole shoes provide the perfect structure for a baby who is learning how to walk. These types of shoes allow children to feel the ground under their feet and better control their balance and grip on the floor. Stiff footwear can increase the occurrence of deformity, weakness, and loss of mobility in your kid’s feet. So, be prudent when choosing the first pair of walking shoes for your baby.

Certain first walker shoes come with sensory pods in the bottom to allow your babies to feel the ground underneath them. These are the type of shoes I will describe below.

Best Shoes for Babies Who Are Learning How to Walk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

These shoes are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths, so please choose your baby’s shoe width accordingly. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Babies who are only crawling don’t really need shoes. However, they do need booties or pre-walking shoes that don’t bind their feet but do allow them to explore. The shoes need to be flexible instead of providing rigid support. The only function of shoes for crawlers is to provide warmth and protection. Take a look at the following two articles:

Newborn Crochet Booties – Protect Your Baby’s Feet from the Cold!

Robeez Baby Shoes- Shoes or No Shoes?

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Shoes for Toddlers Who Started Walking

If you have a toddler who is already walking or almost fully stable when walking, you will need a pair of shoes that are still lightweight and flexible but more substantial. We still want the shoes to be lightweight and flexible, but they must also provide more lateral support since your toddlers are on their feet all the time now, putting more pressure on their feet and legs.

You will also notice your kids’ feet starting to sweat more. Did you know that kids’ feet sweat about 2 to 3 times more than the adult’s feet? This is one reason why children’s shoes wear down faster than those of adults. However, sweat is not just a concern for the durability of the shoes but also the health of your children’s feet.

Sweaty feet are more vulnerable to foot fungus, rashes and infections. This is why you must highly consider a breathable shoe to allow moisture and heat to escape from your children’s feet and allow cool air to come in.

The shoes I describe below are ideal for toddlers who are already walking or on the verge of learning how to walk.

The Best Shoes for Toddlers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always advise parents to choose shoes with rubber soles for good traction, thereby preventing slipping or sliding. Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for toddlers (2 and 3 years old) with medium or wide feet.

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Shoes for Kids Between the Ages of 4 and 9

Did you know that our children’s feet are known to withstand 3 times more stress than the average adult’s feet? This is because children take part in numerous high-impact activities.  Because children’s feet endure high stress, children must wear shoes with good shock absorption, a well-made footbed, and durable soles.

Flexibility also plays a huge role when you are choosing shoes for your kids because it helps them strengthen the muscles of the feet on their own.

So, what type of materials should shoes be made of for children between these ages? Their shoes should be made of leather, canvas or the newer mesh materials to allow sweat from the feet to evaporate after perspiration.

The Best Shoes for Kids Ages 4 to 9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The shoes below can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide feet (XW).

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The Best Shoes for Older Kids – 13 Years Old and Up

After the age of 13, children start getting involved in more competitive sports, and they increase the stress to their feet and legs on a whole new level. The insole of the shoes should be constructed out of proper absorbent material. Padded insoles are acceptable as well but most children do not require that special arch support.

At this stage, we look for shock absorption and flexibility.

Let me show you a selection of the most supportive, durable, and comfortable shoes for older children.

The Best Shoes for Older Kids ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for older kids with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide feet (XW).

Unsure About 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.

*A half a size bigger translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.

*A whole size bigger translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.

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

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It is important to wear the right shoes for different activities to prevent foot problems and injuries. I presented you with a description of reasonably-priced, good quality, best fitting shoes that are available in different widths.

Have you found a particular shoe style or shoe brand that has worked well for your child’s feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your feedback.