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A baby’s first steps are a milestone and you want to make sure that the best baby shoes are there to support the moment. Many experts, including those affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), suggest that allowing your child to walk barefoot initially is beneficial before finding the best first walking shoes. Their tiny feet are still developing, and practicing barefoot helps them grip the floor, improving balance and coordination with minimal support. Once your child has mastered balancing and they’re ready to take on the outdoors, the next step is shopping for their first pair of baby walking shoes.
Ensuring a safe walking experience should be a top priority for every parent. The best baby walking shoes protect against hard or unpredictable surfaces while offering support for their tiny feet, explains body and posture expert, Dr. Liza Egbogah. The best first walking shoes for babies should be flexible, lightweight, and wide, allowing their feet plenty of room to spread out for a proper splay.
“As they’re testing out their new skill, they need plenty of support and room for their little wobbly feet,” says Dr. Egbogah. “The walking shoes that they wear play a crucial role in supporting their development and ensuring a healthy transition from crawling to walking.” When initially learning to walk, slip-on sneakers from Zutano and Bombas are a great option, as they are designed to fit securely and move with the feet. Thick or wide velcro straps, as featured on New Balance and Stonz baby shoes, are also good features as they make it easier to put on a mobile child.
Shopping for the best baby shoes can be overwhelming, just like finding the best winter boots for boys and the best winter boots for girls. With recommendations from Dr. Egbogah, we gathered the best first walking shoes for babies.
Colorways: Available in five colorways
Materials: Synthetic upper and mesh lining
Sole: Gummy rubber sole
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $51.00
Colorways: navy/white and pink/white
Materials: Leather and rubber
Sole: Flexible rubber
Nordstrom Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What testers say: “This is a great shoe for kids starting to walk. The velcro straps make it so easy to get on. There’s just enough cushion on the bottom to provide some comfort but not too much so the shoes aren’t too heavy. They hold up great as we only put shoes on for outside play time.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $65.00
Colorways: Pink, red, black, navy, and more
Materials: Suede upper and rubber midsole
Sole: Non-marking rubber outsole
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $40
Colorways: Incense/ Poppy, Gray/ White, Navy/ White, Night Sky/ Gold Fusion
Materials: Synthetic mesh
Sole: Durable rubber outsole
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Nordstrom Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What testers say: “These are my son’s favorite sneaker. He’s very particular about what shoes he wears and he loves them. We’ve had them for months and they haven’t shown any wear and tear.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $54.99
Colorways: Available in 16 colorways
Materials: Leather
Sole: Sueded rubber
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What testers say: “These little shoes are perfect for toddlers learning how to walk, they have soft soles which give little ones the feel of walking barefoot unlike with hard bottom shoes. The little ones love them.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $40.00
Colorways: available in seven colors
Materials: N/A
Sole: Soft rubber
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What testers say: “I had so much trouble finding 1st walker shoes for my baby. His feet are very thick and wide. These are great and sturdy. He walks well and doesn’t mind them on his feet.
Price upon publish date of this article: $48.91
Colorways: Available in 13 colorways
Materials: Merino Wool Upper
Sole: Flexible rubber sole
What testers say: “My son LOVES these shoes! They are so easy to slip on, but do not fall off when he is running and playing.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $49.00
Colorways: Available in four colorways
Materials: Nylon and merino wool
Sole: Stay-put grips
What testers say: “Love these for my 1.5 year olds. They’re comfy, easy on and off and the kids love them. They stay nice and warm and don’t slip on the wood floors.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $18.00
Colorways: Nimbus Cloud with White; available in standard, wide, and extra-wide
Materials: Synthetic mesh
Sole: Durable rubber outsole
New Balance Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What testers say: “These shoes are a little pricier than some other toddler shoes but they are sturdy, wide toe box, easy to put on and off, durable, and worth it. They have a flexible but sturdy sole that is good for running, climbing, and playing.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $59.99
Colorways: Four colorways
Materials: Leather
Sole: Leather and soft grid rubber
What testers say: “So far my daughter seems to love them as her first real pair of shoes since she’s started walking. They’re lightweight and are just so cute — received lots of compliments! She seems to walk well in them!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $38.19
Colorways: Available in 19 colorways
Materials: Textile, Synthetic, TPR
Sole: Rubber outsole
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $47.99
Colorways: available in five colors
Materials: Polyester & Lycra
Sole: Soft rubber
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What testers say: I have these shoes for my son and love how I can feel and see the flexibility in the sole, especially around the toe box. They provide plenty of room for his toes to spread and I love how the adjustable velcro helps me secure the shoes to his feet.
Price upon publish date of this article: $54.99
What to Look for When Buying the Best Baby Shoes
The shoes that babies wear as they’re learning to walk play a crucial role in supporting their development and ensuring a healthy transition from crawling to walking. It’s important to choose baby shoes carefully, ensuring they are the right size, provide proper support, and are made from breathable and flexible materials. As babies’ feet grow quickly during the early years, regularly checking the fit of their shoes is important to support their evolving needs.
Here are crucial elements to consider when shopping for the best baby shoes:
- Foot protection: Baby shoes provide a protective barrier for a baby’s delicate feet, shielding them from potential hazards such as sharp objects, rough surfaces, or extreme temperatures. This protection is essential as babies begin to explore their surroundings and start walking on surfaces indoors and outdoors. Soft soles are often recommended for babies’ first shoes, but you’ll also want a shoe that has a rubber bottom for more rugged terrains. If opting for a rubber bottom, make sure that it is still soft and provides flexibility for baby feet.
- Lightweight: If you’ve ever seen a baby walk, they can be quite wobbly and all over the place when they start to take their first steps. Lightweight shoes allow them to move freely without being bogged down. Their shoes should be low-profile, to avoid straining their growing muscles and simplify new walking movements as much as possible.
- Sole flexibility: The soles of baby shoes should be flexible to allow for natural movement and the development of the foot muscles. This flexibility helps babies maintain balance and adapt to various surfaces as they learn to walk. Babies use their toes to grip and feel the ground as they start walking. Soft and flexible shoes with room for toe movement allow for the natural spread of the toes and help babies develop a more stable and confident walking pattern.
- Grip and traction: Babies are learning to navigate their environment and they can encounter a variety of new surfaces, including smooth, slippery, or rugged terrain. Shoes with good grip and traction help prevent slips and falls, providing stability as babies explore and move around. Baby shoes with good traction contribute to a positive walking experience, allowing babies to gain confidence in their newfound mobility.
- Size and fit: It’s important that the fit of a baby’s shoe is snug for stability, while also providing ample room for toes to breathe, explains Dr. Egbogah. “Since this is a period of fast growth, I recommend buying shoes in a slightly bigger size so that you have them ready for when they reach that size. This can happen overnight, so you don’t want to buy shoes that are exactly the right size.” If you trace a child’s foot while fully weight-bearing, the width of the shoe should be wider than this tracing. In terms of the toe box, the toe area should not be raised. “Look for shoes designed without a toe spring, also called zero-drop, and that is flat to the ground for natural foot development,” she says. A completely flat sole aids the foot to develop strong arches on its own.
- Features: The way a shoe is constructed is important and special features like velcro straps, non-slip soles, and pull loops help parents and first-time walkers alike. As baby’s feet continue to grow, velcro straps will help you adjust shoes to best fit a baby’s foot. These features also make it easier to slip the foot into the shoe, especially for restless babies.
- Material: Lightweight materials are preferable for baby shoes, as heavy shoes may impede the natural movement of a baby learning to walk. Dr. Egbogah recommends that shoes mimic natural skin as much as possible, so look for materials like soft leather and mesh. Lighter shoes allow for easier lifting of the feet and promote a more natural walking experience.
How We Selected the Best Baby Shoes
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. Learn more about us here.
To curate the best selection of baby shoes we consulted an expert in the field, Dr. Liza Egbogah for crucial insight on shoe recommendations and advice for what to consider when selecting the best baby shoes. We also compared customer reviews from parents to determine whether the shoe style was effective, supportive, and comfortable for their baby. Additionally, our author Zoë Roscoe is a mom to an infant who will soon be a first-time walker and she’s tested several of the included brands on his tiny feet.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Liza Egbogah, BSc, DC, DOMP is a celebrity fascia and posture expert and a doctor of osteopathy. She’s working who has worked with A-Listers, including George Clooney, Jennifer Lawrence, Eddie Redmayne, and more. She’s also a dedicated mom, who has first-hand insight into children’s shoes and how they affect their feet, bodies, and growth.
Meet the Author
Zoë Roscoe is a New York-based fashion and lifestyle writer. Roscoe’s work has been featured on Apartment Therapy, Living Cozy, The Spruce, and more. Roscoe has years of experience covering topics related to footwear, and she used her expertise in the industry to pen this article on the best baby shoes.
