What Are the Best New Balance Shoes for Toddlers?

March 1, 2023 The Best Shoe Brands For Kids Juan Pablo Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Have you been looking for a pair of New Balance shoes for your toddler but you are unsure about what specific style to order? New Balance is one of the most popular shoe brands for children, but among this shoe brand, certain styles are a lot better than others in terms of comfort, fit, and support. One of the most common questions parents ask me at the shoe store where I work is: “What are the best New Balance shoes for toddlers?”

Whether your toddler is learning how to walk or just started walking, he/she will need a pair of shoes that provides a stable base of support, but that are lightweight and flexible at the same time. Most importantly, the shoes must fit the shape of your toddler’s feet perfectly.

Some of the most popular shoe brands for toddlers are Stride Rite, See Kai Run, and Saucony. However, New Balance has certain styles that work great especially for toddlers who have wide or extra wide feet.

I have noticed that most toddlers either have wide or extra wide feet. This doesn’t mean that their feet will remain wide for the rest of their lives, but at this stage, they tend to carry some baby fat that makes their feet wider.

If you’re pressed for time, you can jump directly to the selection of new balance shoes for toddlers.

I handle approximately one hundred shoe fittings/try ons per week, and over the years I became familiar with the best shoe brands and shoe styles among each brand. New Balance became my go-to shoe brand for toddlers who have wide or extra wide feet.

Does New Balance Make Good Toddler Shoes?

New Balance is mostly known for manufacturing shoes for children with “complicated” foot shapes such as wide or extra wide feet. When it comes to toddler shoes, they have certain styles that work extremely well, especially for toddlers with wide or extra wide feet with high insteps.

What Makes New Balance Shoes Ideal for Toddlers?

There are 3 features that the New Balance shoes I recommend provide that makes them ideal for toddlers who are learning how to walk or just started walking:

1️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible with a Stable Base of Support: Your toddler’s shoes need to be lightweight and flexible to promote healthy foot development and help them balance. In addition, some toddlers lack the step thrust to bend a harder sole, so the shoes must be flexible.

2️⃣ Rounded Toe-Boxes: This feature allows the toes to spread and encourages natural movement to improve balance. Toddlers are constantly wiggling their toes – which is nature’s way of exercising their feet for healthy foot development – so it’s really important that you don’t constrict this movement.

These shoes are the same length and width. Do you notice how the New Balance shoe (right image) has a rounded toe-box compared to the Nike shoe (left image)?

3️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature allows the foot to sit deeply inside the shoes, preventing the top part of the foot (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. If you notice red marks or indentations on the top part of your toddler’s feet (instep), it’s highly likely that his/her current shoes are not deep enough.

These shoes are the same length and width. Do you notice how the New Balance shoe (right image) is a lot deeper compared to the Stride Rite shoe (left image)?

How to Order the Correct Shoe Size for your Toddler?

Shoes that are too small hinder the proper growth of the foot, diminishing blood circulation, and causing painful blisters, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, and many other foot problems. Shoes that are too large might prevent your toddler from maintaining grip on the ground properly, compromising your toddler’s stability.

Most specialized children’s shoe stores have been closing down. COVID has accelerated this movement towards online shopping and stores closing, leaving many parents confused, as it’s very hard to shop for children’s shoes online. This is the reason why I created a free resource that helps families determine their child’s exact foot size from home.

What Are the Best New Balance Shoes for Toddlers?

Take a look at the description above each shoe to find out whether that shoe is available in your toddler’s foot shape (medium, wide, extra wide). 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.

Velcro Closure

  • Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
  • Hook and loop closure 
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
  • Hook and loop closure 
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Rave Run V2 Hook by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
  • Velcro closure
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Mesh upper for durability and comfort
  • Extra deep
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Rave Run V2 Hook by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • Velcro closure
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Mesh upper for durability and comfort
  • Extra deep
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • 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
  • Shoe style Dynasoft 545 by New Balance
  • Available in medium and wide widths
  • Velcro closure
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
  • Rubber outsole pods
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • New Balance style 990v4
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support your toddler walker’s needs
  • Extra deep
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • No-sew overlays
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style 574 by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
  • Oversized opening for easy on and off
  • No-sew overlays
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style 574 NEW-B by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
  • Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off 
  • Synthetic/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
  • New Balance style 990v6
  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • Removable insoles
  • Extra deep
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

Lace-Up Closure

  • New Balance shoe style 2022
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • Shoe style 990v6 by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
  • 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
  • Shoe style 680 V6 by New Balance
  • Available in medium, wide, and extra 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
  • New Balance shoe style 2022
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • New Balance shoe style 2022
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

Are There Any Other Shoe Recommendations?

If none of the shoes I recommend above are available in your toddler’s foot size or you need the shoes to be made of a specific color, I suggest that you contact me and I will provide you with different shoe recommendations.

You can also contact me if you are looking for a different type of shoe such as sandals, snow boots, or a pair of dress shoes.

Have you found a specific New Balance shoe that has worked well for your toddler’s feet? Let us know in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.