Does your child refuse to wear socks with his or her shoes? Are you looking for a pair of shoes that your child can wear without socks and won’t make your child’s feet sweat excessively or create foot issues? There are certain shoes that your child can wear without socks, as they are breathable, machine washable, and come with antibacterial insoles. That being said, I strongly recommend that children wear socks with their shoes to prevent foot issues such as blisters and the buildup of bacteria inside of the shoes.
The battle over wearing socks with shoes is one many parents struggle with, and the answer to why children refuse to wear socks depends on the individual child. Your child might have sensory issues or simply prefer to wear shoes without socks, but whatever the reason might be, I will show you a list of the best shoes that children can wear without socks.
How Do I Know Which Shoes Can Children Wear Without Socks?
I have been fitting children’s shoes for over a decade at a children’s shoe store that specializes in fitting children with foot and leg problems as well as “complicated” foot shapes, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the best shoes that children can wear without socks.
What Makes the Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Kids Who Refuse to Wear Socks?
1️⃣ Soft materials to help prevent your child’s feet from rubbing against the shoes and prevent the formation of blisters, calluses, and corns. We need to look for shoes that are made of light leathers and breathable meshes to help your kids’ feet breathe and remain dry.
2️⃣ Machine washable to help kill any bacteria inside the shoes. The shoes that I recommend are built to withstand repeated washing.
3️⃣ Deodorizing insoles to help prevent foot odors.
4️⃣ Extra cushion and padding around the heels to increase comfort and prevent friction between the feet and the shoes.
Read This Before Ordering Your Kids’ Shoes Online
I developed the most effective way to determine your child’s exact foot size from your home and will personally assist you with a custom fitting tailored to your child’s individual needs. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine:
- Correct length, width (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide), and instep height
- Identify possible foot conditions such as flat feet or misaligned heels
Here is a link to that resource: How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Why Do Some Children Refuse to Wear Socks with their Shoes?
One of the most common reasons has to do with sensory processing. Certain clothing items such as socks can be bothersome for a sensitive child, which can lead to the child throwing a temper tantrum every time he or she has to wear socks. The tantrum is the child’s way of communicating that the socks don’t feel quite right.
Finding the right sock for sensitive children may be one solution. I created several resources for children with sensory issues, and I believe you might benefit from reading this one in particular:
Seamless Socks for Kids – Stop the Struggle of Putting Socks On!
Trying out seamless socks or socks made from different materials could all be the answer to removing an aggravating sensory stimulant. Please note that there might be other reasons why your child refuses to wear socks with his or her shoes, but in my experience, this is the most common one.
Is It Safe for Kids to Wear Shoes without Socks?
Allowing children to wear shoes without socks might cause sweat and bacteria to build up inside the shoes, causing them to smell and leaving them dirty and worn out.
Wearing shoes without socks might also lead to the formation of blisters because your child’s bare feet are just rubbing up against the shoe. Your child might develop blisters on the back of the heel which can create a lot of discomfort and affect your child’s walking gait.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best shoes that children can wear without socks. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoes that Children Can Wear without Socks
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out if it can accommodate your child’s foot shape (medium, wide, extra wide), the features the shoe provides, and the size that you should order to allow for the correct amount of growing room.
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather/mesh upper
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Lightweight, water-friendly open mesh upper with rubberized overlays
- Oversized openings for easy-on
- Removable EVA sockliner with mesh overlay
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Lightweight, water-friendly open mesh upper with rubberized overlays
- Oversized openings for easy-on
- Removable EVA sockliner with mesh overlay
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible with padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible with padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Breathable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- OrthoLite® memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Heel Stabilizer – Long heel counter provides stability
- Velcro closure
- Machine washable
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Leather/mesh upper
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
Make sure that your child pulls the velcro straps of the shoes comfortably tight to secure the feet inside the shoes. Not pulling the velcro straps tightly can lead to excessive foot movement inside the shoes, and since your child won’t be wearing socks, that increases the likelihood of developing foot issues such as blisters. Please note that the slip-on shoe recommendations are not meant to be worn for everyday activities.
Can My Child Wear Sandals Instead of Sneakers?
Sandals are a good alternative to sneakers, but they don’t replace the support and structure that sneakers provide. For instance, it’s okay to allow your child to go barefoot or wear sandals at home, but when your child is participating in high-impact activities he or she will need a pair of supportive sneakers to support and protect the feet.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Keep in mind that is natural and normal for children to refuse to wear socks with their shoes. I don’t see that is something to worry about at all. Nonetheless, there will be times that it is necessary for a child to put on shoes – such as in extreme weather conditions, requirements of certain schools the child may need to attend, or when the child needs to participate in high-impact activities.
I hope to have made things a little bit easier for you by showing you a list of the best shoes that children can wear without socks but don’t forget to have your child try the shoes with different types of socks, as certain socks might be a lot more comfortable than others.
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