Ugg Boots for Kids: Are They Good for Kids’ Feet?
Last updated: October 15, 2026 · By Juan Valenzuela, Certified Children’s Shoe Fitter
Parents often ask me whether Ugg boots are OK for kids, and how long they should wear them. As a certified children’s shoe fitter, my answer is yes, as long as they’re worn the right way. Uggs are cozy and warm, but they don’t give much support. Here’s how long kids should wear them, whether they work in the snow, and the Ugg styles I recommend.
Are Ugg Boots Bad for Kids’ Feet?
Not when they’re worn occasionally. Uggs are soft and roomy, which is why kids love them, but they have very little arch or ankle support. That’s fine for a few hours, but not for a full day of school, running, and playing.
My advice is to treat Uggs as a cozy, “sometimes” boot, and make a supportive sneaker your child’s everyday shoe.
How Long Should Kids Wear Ugg Boots?
I recommend about 4 hours a day. Keep them for cold mornings, short outings, and dressing up, and switch to supportive shoes for school and active play. If your child complains of tired or sore feet, switch sooner.
Can You Add an Insole to Uggs?
Most Uggs don’t have a removable insole, but roomy styles have space for a thin, low-profile insole on top. That adds some arch support, so your child can wear the boots a little longer. See my guide to insoles for kids, and bring the insole when you try the boots on.
Can Kids Wear Uggs in the Snow?
Waterproof Uggs can handle light snow, slush, and rain. Classic Uggs that aren’t waterproof will soak through and stain, so keep those for dry days.
Even waterproof Uggs don’t grip like real snow boots. If your child will be playing in the snow for hours, sledding, or building snowmen, choose a snow boot instead. See my guides to winter boots for kids and snow boots for toddlers.
Can You Make Uggs Waterproof?
You can make them more water-resistant, but not fully waterproof. Use a suede protector spray, like the one in Ugg’s care kit. Clean and dry the boots first, spray them evenly, and let them dry completely before your child wears them outside.
Should Kids Wear Socks with Uggs?
Yes, always. The soft lining holds onto sweat, and bare feet in warm boots get damp quickly. Socks absorb the moisture, prevent rubbing, and help keep the boots from smelling. Thin, breathable socks work best, since Uggs are already warm.
The Best Ugg Boots for Kids
These are the Ugg styles I recommend most for kids. Waterproof styles are marked, so you can pick the right one for your weather.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Classic Short II Waterproof by Ugg
The classic Ugg, with a waterproof suede upper and a soft sheepskin lining for cold, wet days.
- Ideal for light snow, slush, and rain
- Order in brown, black, or pink on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof, with seam-sealed construction
- Suede upper with a sheepskin lining
- Lightweight Treadlite by Ugg sole
- Sizing tip: order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Classic Tall II by Ugg
A tall, plush boot with a roomy interior, so there’s space for a thin insole.
- Ideal for cold, dry days and kids who need room for an insole
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede upper with a sheepskin lining
- Pretreated to repel stains and water, but not waterproof
- Rubber sole with good traction
- Sizing tip: order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Ashton Chelsea by Ugg
A sturdier, waterproof boot with a side zipper and elastic panels, so it’s easy to get on and off.
- Ideal for wet weather and kids who are rough on their boots
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Side zipper, elastic panels, and a back pull tab
- Lightweight Treadlite by Ugg sole
- Sizing tip: order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Keelan by Ugg
A soft suede boot with hook-and-loop straps and a cozy wool insole.
- Ideal for younger kids who want to put on their own boots
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede upper
- Hook-and-loop straps
- Wool insole
- Not waterproof, so best for dry days
- Sizing tip: order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Mini Bailey Bow by Ugg
A classic Ugg with satin bows on the back, for dressing up.
- Ideal for dressing up and special occasions
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Dyed sheepskin
- Pretreated to repel stains and water, but not waterproof
- Satin bows on the back
- Sizing tip: order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
How to Get the Right Size
Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size. That leaves room for socks and growth, and lets the boots last the whole winter.
Uggs come in whole sizes only, so if your child is between sizes, round up. For example:
- If your child wears a size 5, order a 6.
- If your child wears a size 5½, order a 7.
New Uggs should feel snug but not tight. The lining softens and molds to the foot over the first couple of weeks.
My guide to measuring your kid’s feet shows you how to find your child’s size, check whether they have narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet, and see whether they have a high instep, at home in two simple steps.
How to Keep Uggs from Smelling
- Always wear socks. They absorb sweat before it reaches the lining.
- Let the boots dry out between wears, away from direct heat.
- Clean them regularly with a suede cleaner, like the one in Ugg’s care kit.
A Tip to Save Money on Uggs
If you wear a women’s size 7½ or smaller, you may fit in a big kids’ Ugg, which usually costs less than the women’s version. See my women’s and kids’ shoe size conversion chart.
Need a Specific Recommendation?
If you’re not sure which Ugg style or size will work for your child, email me, and I’ll suggest the styles most likely to fit.
More Boot Guides
Toddlers: Ugg boots for toddlers
Ugg alternative: Emu boots for kids
AFOs: Ugg boots for kids who wear AFOs
FAQ
Not when they’re worn occasionally. They don’t give much support, so keep them for short wear and choose a supportive sneaker for school and play.
I recommend about 4 hours a day.
Waterproof Uggs can handle light snow and slush, but they don’t grip like snow boots. For long play in the snow, choose a snow boot.
Some are. The Classic Short II Waterproof and the Ashton Chelsea are waterproof. Other styles are only water-resistant and best for dry days.
A whole size larger than your child’s current foot size. Uggs only come in whole sizes, so round up if your child is between sizes.
Yes. Socks absorb sweat, prevent rubbing, and help keep the boots from smelling.
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!