Ugg Boots for Children – Use Your Parenting Good Judgment
Are you looking for the perfect pair of Ugg boots for your child but you heard that they don’t provide good support and might end up hurting your child’s feet? Several parents have asked me whether it’s appropriate for their children to wear Ugg boots and how many hours a day they should be allowed to wear them. I am going to show you a list of the best Ugg boots for children and how to make them more supportive.
Did you know that certain styles of Ugg boots that are better than others in terms of comfort, support, and durability? Some Ugg boots are too flimsy and end up falling apart faster than others. Before I provide you with a selection of the best Ugg boots for children, there are certain facts that I want you to learn about these boots since they have become a very controversial subject.
Ugg Boots for Children – Can They Harm Your Kids’ Feet?
Ugg boots are often criticized for hurting women’s and children’s feet. Podiatrists and chiropractors believe that Ugg boots, which are particularly popular among young teenage girls, are leading to a rise in the number of people suffering pains in their feet and knees which might lead to ankle, hip, and back problems. The plush lining also can create an ideal breeding ground for foot fungus.
Uggs and its offshoots are a very popular brand and genre of footwear worn for warmth and we tend to sell a ton of them at the store where I work. Every time we approach the winter season we start selling the classic styles, which consistently sell year after year, as well as the latest annual Ugg fashions.
The main problem with Ugg boots is that they are an unsupported piece of footwear. This is what most specialized shoe fitters and physicians who deal with injuries stemming from improper footwear believe. Based on my research and knowledge of fitting shoes, and foot-related health, I tend to agree with the opposition. Unsurprisingly, people tend to confuse supportive footwear with fashion footwear.
How Many Hours a Day Should Your Child Wear Ugg Boots?
I believe that as long as your children wear Ugg boots for a couple of hours a day (4 hours max), they will not harm your kids’ feet. Parents do raise a very valuable point: “I don’t want to spend $150 on a pair of boots that my child can only wear for such a short period of time during the day”.
I get it, I wouldn’t want to spend all that money for a piece of footwear that my child will wear occasionally and will outgrow in a couple of months. What would happen if I told you that there is a way your child can wear his/her Ugg boots for long periods of time?
As I mentioned before, we have a lot of children who come into the store who are flat-footed, are experiencing overpronation, have low muscle tone, or have some other type of foot condition. There is a pair of inserts that recently came out and have a low profile that allows them to be fitted inside Ugg boots. These insoles provide good arch and ankle support, and I will show them to you shortly.
Granted, spending between $120 to $180 for a pair of fashion boots is not in everyone’s family budget, but some families do decide to purchase them for their children.
I have seen parents provide their offspring with some options, such as waiting for a sale, asking them to start saving to pay for the boots themselves, or suggesting they might request them for their birthday. Some parents will chip in and tell the child to pay for the rest. I believe it is always best to provide the child with options instead of a plain “no.”
Inserts for Extra Arch and Heel Support Inside Your Kids’ Ugg Boots!
Parents usually explain to me how upset their kids get when they find out that they cannot wear Ugg boots because of their foot conditions. I always recommend good, supportive footwear for children who are dealing with foot issues. However, this doesn’t mean that children can’t wear the shoe that they like. For example, we started carrying a type of insert that fits inside the Ugg boots. These inserts come with a built-in arch and a heel cup that provides arch and ankle support.
Will these inserts make Ugg boots more supportive? Definitely! This means that your children will be able to wear them for longer periods of time.
Now that you know what inserts can be fitted inside your kids’ Ugg boots, you are ready to see a selection of the best Ugg boots for children. 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.
The Best Ugg Boots for Children – They Can Accommodate a Supportive Insole As Well
Many of the Ugg boots featured below come in several color options, so if you want the boots to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.
- Order the boot style Classic II by UGG on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Waterproof seam-sealed construction
- Lightweight and flexible
- Rubber outsole with good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Classic Tall II by UGG on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Rubber outsole with good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Classic II by UGG on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Twinface and suede upper with a round toe
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the boot style Neumel II by UGG on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Medial zipper for easy on and off
- Rubber outsole with good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Fixed satin bow along back shaft
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Keelan by UGG on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% suede
- Medial zipper for easy on and off
- Lightweight and flexible
- Rubber outsole with good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style Ramona by UGG on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fuss-free medial zipper closure and snap-tab side detail
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Twinface and suede upper with a round toe
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the boot style T Rennon by UGG on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double hook-and-loop closure
- Pretreated to repel stains and moisture
- Rubber outsole with good traction
- I suggest that you get this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
You should always round up when trying Ugg boots. For instance, if your child measures a foot size 5 1/2 you should get a size 6. When your children are trying on Ugg boots, make sure they don’t feel overly tight. At the same time, they should not fit too loose, since they will stretch over 1-2 weeks of wear.
How to Retrieve Your Child’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.
Do You Need a Pair of Ugg Boots for Yourself?
If you are looking for a pair of Ugg boots for yourself you should take a look at a different website as it describes the best Ugg boots for women.
A Fashion and Health Dilemma – How to Stop Uggs from Smelling
The next concern parents will deal with is the odor that will quickly rise with wear. Unless your child is a sweat-free specimen, her Uggs will get smelly, and fast. Ugg fans delight in the design of this quite frankly shoddy boot as it seems to encourage going sockless. Smelly boots are not the only problem this can create.
Skin infections like athlete’s foot and dermatitis will arise if your child is not wearing socks with the boots, since bare feet can really sweat in the fur. I strongly recommend making your child wear socks and spray the liner once a month with anti-fungal spray. There is a Ugg kit that comes with everything you need to clean them and make them look new.
Make sure if it is raining outside or snowing you should not wear your Ugg boots since they will leave small stains on your boots. You can spray them to make them water-friendly:
- Order the UGG Sheepskin and Suede Shoe Care Kit on Amazon
The Biggest Secret to Saving Big on Ugg Boots!
Did you know that if you are a women’s shoe size 8 1/2 or smaller you can purchase the kids’ version of the Ugg boots and end up saving a lot of money?
I have fitted several of the moms that come to the store looking for Ugg boots for their children, and they end up buying boots for themselves as well as other types of footwear, as long as their foot size is no longer than an 8 1/2. I wrote a different article where I describe how this shoe size conversion works in more detail.
Now you can spread the word to your family and friends!
Get a Personalized Suggestion
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a particular Ugg boot style that has worked well for your feet? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so we can all benefit from them.
Ugg are perfectly ok and even better to wear without socks I have over ten years of doing it to know. Uggs are unique among shoes because sheepskin Is antimicrobial so bacteria have a really hard time surviving on it which eliminates the chance of them smelling. Sheepskin is also temp regulating when against bare skin so they are warmer without socks but they also stop feet from getting hot and sweating up to around 80F, this is why sheep don’t overheat. Sheepskin is also very breathable so your feet are never choked of air so any kind of infection has little chance of developing. Socks also causes ware of the fur faster so they don’t last as long.
Uggs without socks are perfect for kids. They are very comfy weather they are sitting in a warm classroom or playing in the snow because they regulate temp so they never feel hot or cold in them. They are durable especially the new ones that stand up to water, they will last until your kid outgrows them. Your kid doesn’t have to worry about putting on socks and Uggs can comfortably be worn in temps from fall to spring so no worry about picking the wrong shoes to wear for a day.
Hi Emily —
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I wasn’t aware that socks could cause the fur to wear out faster. A lot of parents are going to find your information helpful!
Hello. I need your help. I’d like to buy a pair of uggs for my one year old toddler. He has 13.5 cm wide feet with high arches. I bought Bailie button uggs, but I cannot even put it on. Which model/type of ugg boots fit to the high arched foot? Thank you for your help.
Anastasiia,
It seems like your child has a high instep. Sometimes children have a very hard time wearing certain type of shoes because of their high insteps (and this usually happens when they have feet with high arches). You can read a post I wrote about children with high insteps to get a better idea: The Best Shoes For High Instep – Stop Getting The Wrong Shoe Size For Your Child!
Have you ever tried Emu boots? They tend to fit wider than Uggs. It seems like your child might have a foot that is too wide for Uggs. Emu boots provide the same comfort and are waterproof. Keep in mind that Emu and Ugg boots don’t come in half sizes so always get a half a size up of what your child measures.
Here you can find an example of what Emu boots look like: Wide Emu Boots for Toddlers
Let me know if this clarifies!
A bunch of UGG boot haters! Really? I’ve worn UGG boots to a job where I was on my feet for 10-11 hours with a 30 min break and two 15 min breaks only. They are the most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn. And the warmth of these boots is incredible. I don’t have stinky feet, never did, so no issues with stinking boots or feet from UGGS. Are they good for most children to wear all time, probably not. But I have and have always had foot issues. I cannot wear normal shoes as they cause me extreme pain especially on back of foot/heel area. So these boots are a God send for someone like me. Plus they will last a longgggg time too! Well worth the money. And now they make ALL kinds of UGG boots and shoes and some have heels and arches. AND some are NOT ugly at all either! So please do not mislead!
Donna,
Thank you for stopping by. I am not arguing whether Ugg boots are comfortable or not, I actually own a pair myself and it’s one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever worn. However, wearing them for longer period of times can end up hurting your feet and knees. While you have not experienced any pain, other people have, and while I recommend Ugg boots for children, I encourage parents to not let their kids’wear them for more than 4 to 5 hours a day.
I also wanted to clarify that I never called these shoes ugly.I created this website to inform parents about children shoes, not mislead them.
Thanks for the information. Now I am ready to purchase my first Ugg boots based on info you provided. I like the content which is very thorough and informative. I particularly like your images that speaks volumes about your content. I would love to be part of a newsletter subscription. Thanks a bunch!
I though about providing a newsletter. I am glad you found the information informative!
Very interesting! I never in my wildest dreams would of thought about the health issue concering ugg boots. I just think that they are cool and ladies like them 🙂 . But this is an eye opener.
I never knew that children wore them either. But when you say children. What age are we talking. I saw the little toddler in the picture. Wow that is young. No we don ‘t want to mess the little ones up so young. Give her the choice around 12. At that age I think she would probably choose fashion over good posture in 15 years lol. But not so young.
Some parents will put have their toddlers wear the boots.Nothing wrong with that, AS LONG AS THEY WEAR THEM FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. Everything in moderation, thank you for sharing!
This is not a brand I am familiar with, likely I am woefully uniinformed lol! If the support is not there, definitely I could see where podiatrists would have a problem with them.
My own experience is that without the support for the arches, you will inevitably have some problems down the road. I spent a lot of years in the Army, and during the early years we wore Amy boots for all of our activities.
It was only later when they discovered how much damage to the feet ocurred wearing those boots that they switched to allowing running and similar shoes to be worn.
In my case it was too late, and after 25 years I ended up with permanent damage that I am getting a break for on my pension. This break does not make up for the damage though, and I would much rather not have the medical problems…
So in fashion or mandated,, my take is that footwear manufacturers should take some responsibility for what they make for sales to clients. If the Ugg boots are not designed to address all the issues you mention, we as parents have to put our foot down (no pun intended!)….
Thanks for your review, Uggs are definitely out for my grandchildren!
Dave,
Sorry to hear about your experience. I agree with you that footwear manufacturers should take some responsibility for what they make for sales to clients, but, with this particular product, they at no point state that these boots can be worn all day. Ugg boots are not the problem, the problem is when we confuse everyday footwear with fashion boots or sneakers. As long as we are aware of the consequences of wearing these fashion boots for everyday, then it is up to the parents to decide whether they will allow their children to purchase them.
Very interesting article on Uggs boots. It explains a lot as well as confirms a lot for me. I’ve always felt that the style of these boots didn’t seem comfortable because I found them to be so awkward looking but then again, I’m not a teenager. 🙂 And the same with converse sneakers, definitely not for running, etc… I think you put it really well that these are fashion shoes only to be worn for a few hours a day!
Ali,
I am glad I was able to explain my opinion about this piece of footwear. Ugg boots are actually really comfortable, they provide a lot of comfort, what they lack is support. But like you stated in your comment, fashion shoes are eant to be worn a few hours a day only. Thank you for sharing!
Uggs stands for “UGLY” right? Personally never found them attractive, but do think they are a good thing to have for cold days.
This is a new perspective never saw before–what parents need to consider before purchasing Uggs. Good quality shoes definitely improve posture, decrease back, knee and foot pain. Yet, these have to be chosen carefully too. Since everyone’s feet have different alignment, even good shoes may be uncomfortable for some.
Makes sense that shoes like Uggs can be worn for a few hours with no problems.
Good reminder for busy parents who may unkowingly overlook how footwear will affect their child’s health in the long term.
Den,
You are correct, Ugg boots stands for “UGLY”. I have been wanting to write an article about what parents need to consider before purchasing Ugg boots for a while now, and I finally did it. Ugg boots are wonderful for the winter season, they are actually a very practical piece of footwear for the cold days, as long as it is worn for no more than a few hours a day. Thank you for sharing!