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The Best Baby Shoes for Healthy Foot Development
The Best Baby Shoes for Healthy Foot Development

The Best Baby Shoes for Healthy Foot Development

Here's how to find shoes that keep little feet comfy and stylish—plus, how to measure baby's shoe size.

author-Amylia Ryan
By Amylia Ryan
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Published Sep 17, 2024|Updated On Sep 17, 2024
Published Sep 17, 2024Updated On Sep 17, 2024
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In This Article

When do babies start wearing shoes?
How to choose baby shoes
Soft-soled shoes vs. hard-soled shoes
How to measure baby's shoe size

There’s no shortage of baby shoes out there. From booties and dress shoes to sandals and sneakers, there’s a shoe style that’ll look cute on any kiddo. While you may be tempted to get those teeny tiny Adidas sneakers that match yours, experts recommend waiting to put shoes on your baby until they're learning to walk—and then once you do buy baby shoes, it's important that you're picking ones that are appropriate for their stage of foot development.

But how do you even make sure your little one is wearing the correct shoes for their foot size and developmental stage? Getting an accurate measurement can be tricky with a wiggly baby or antsy toddler, so to make up for that, we’ve gathered expert sources to guide you to the right baby shoes. We’ve also created a printable chart to help you measure their shoe size at home (especially if you’re ordering shoes online).

Disclaimer: The recommendations in this article are for babies and toddlers without physical developmental delays or mobility aids. If your child requires special recommendations for shoes due to physical differences, please consult their pediatrician.

When do babies start wearing shoes?

Babies only need shoes once they’ve started walking (usually right around their first birthday). Shoes aren’t necessary for learning to walk, though. In fact, “the best way for a baby to learn to walk is barefoot,” says pediatrician Dr. Tracey Agnese, AKA BabyDocMama. “The only reason for shoes while learning to walk is to protect their feet from harm when outside.”

So the general advice is to only put shoes on your baby when they absolutely need them, since constant shoe-wearing can negatively affect their foot development. “For foot development, bare feet or socks is best,” Dr. Agnese says. “So as baby’s feet are growing and developing, it’s best to not confine them in shoes.”

And as cute as they are, baby shoes aren’t really necessary if they aren’t walking yet. We totally understand if you want to put some cute little shoes on your baby for photo shoots, but be sure to limit it to just that. If you're looking for something to put on your baby's feet before they're ready for shoes, a better option is to find socks that look like shoes—like these, which are still cute but won't mess with baby's foot development:

If you’re worried about their feet being cold, booties are a great option both for younger babies who aren't mobile and for toddlers who are learning to walk. They’re basically really thick socks, and they're flexible enough to ensure baby’s feet still develop naturally even with daily wear.

Just remember to only put booties on your baby if they really need them, because it's better for babies to barefoot as much as possible. Even in really cold climates, booties with extra socks underneath should be all you put on a younger baby’s feet. These are some of our favorite baby booties:

Once your baby is ready to take those first tentative steps, it's time to start thinking about real shoes. As Dr. Agnese said, it's best for babies to learn to walk barefoot, but for any outdoor adventures where their feet will need to be protected from things like hot or cold concrete, rough gravel or prickly grass, it's fine for them to wear shoes for a bit.

These shoes below make great first kicks for new walkers, since they have all the most important features shoes need to make sure baby's feet develop correctly.

The Best Baby and Toddler Shoes

Ten Little Everyday Original.

Ten Little 
Everyday Original

Buy
tenlittle.com$44.00
JAN & JUL Machine Washable Knit Shoes.

JAN & JUL 
Machine Washable Knit Shoes

Buy
amazon.com$29.69
Pediped Originals Lavender.

Pediped 
Originals Lavender

Buy
pediped.com$26.00
See Kai Run Stevie (First Walker) Navy Canvas.

See Kai Run 
Stevie (First Walker) Navy Canvas

Buy
seekairun.com$50.00
SOFMUO Baby Girls Mary Janes.

SOFMUO 
Baby Girls Mary Janes

Buy
amazon.com$11.99
NIKE Baby Air Force 1 Sneaker.

NIKE 
Baby Air Force 1 Sneaker

Buy
nordstrom.com$45.00
New Balance Kid's New-B V1 Hook and Loop Sneaker.

New Balance 
Kid's New-B V1 Hook and Loop Sneaker

Buy
amazon.com$26.99
Ten Little Furry High Top.

Ten Little 
Furry High Top

Buy
tenlittle.com$46.00
Pediped Originals Dani Navy.

Pediped 
Originals Dani Navy

Buy
pediped.com$45.00
LAFEGEN Non Slip Soft Sole Infant Toddler Slipper.

LAFEGEN 
Non Slip Soft Sole Infant Toddler Slipper

Buy
amazon.com$12.99
Feet City Slip On First Walking Shoes.

Feet City 
Slip On First Walking Shoes

Buy
amazon.com$16.99
Little Mae's Boutique Mary Jane Squeaky Shoes for Toddlers.

Little Mae's Boutique 
Mary Jane Squeaky Shoes for Toddlers

Buy
amazon.com$34.99

How to choose baby shoes

According to pediatric development experts, the best shoes for babies who've just started walking will have:

  • The correct size to ensure they're comfortable

  • A soft, flexible sole (You should be able to bend the shoe in half, touching toe to heel, but the sole should still be thick enough to protect against rocks and sharp objects.)

  • A nonskid rubber sole

  • Velcro straps

  • A firm yet flexible heel cup

  • A wide toe box

  • A slight rise in the toes

  • A pull loop at the back

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the two most important things when buying baby and toddler shoes are comfort (we’ll tell you how to ensure a good fit in a moment) and nonskid rubber soles (to prevent slips and falls).

They also advise not spending too much money on baby and toddler shoes, since they’ll likely outgrow them within just a couple of months. Your kiddo’s feet will grow fast up through age two, and even then they won’t slow down by much.

Remember that barefoot is best, but “if you can't let your walking baby go barefoot, choose a soft, flexible-soled shoe to provide protection while still giving many of the benefits of being barefoot, like being able to move and bend the foot easily,” Dr. Agnese says.

Additionally, pediatric physical therapist Kailee Noland (AKA The Movement Mama) says that the best toddler shoes should have velcro straps for adjustability (and for helping with your toddler’s independence), a firm yet flexible heel cup, a wide toe box with a slight lift to it and a pull loop at the back for helping your toddler get their feet in.

Soft-soled shoes vs. hard-soled shoes

Soft-soled shoes are lightweight and flexible, making them better for new walkers as they get used to balancing and positioning their feet on the ground. These aren’t to be confused with soft-soled moccasins or booties; soft-soled shoes that are appropriate for walking babies and younger toddlers have a firm heel cup and soles that are thick enough to protect little feet from sharp or rough objects.

Hard-soled shoes are heavier, rigid and typically have thicker soles. They should be avoided for new walkers because the rigidity can impair foot development and make it harder to learn to walk. Hard-soled shoes are better for providing more stability once your toddler has started running, jumping and climbing, Noland says.

How to measure baby's shoe size

Getting a proper fit is the most important thing when choosing baby and toddler shoes (or any kind of shoes, for that matter). Here’s how to make sure your child is wearing the right size:

  1. Print out a baby shoe size chart. Fold the chart under at the heel line.

  2. Place the chart on the ground on a flat, solid surface (not plush carpet or rugs, grass or other textured surfaces) and up against a flat wall—the heel line should be right up against the wall. Have your child stand barefoot on the chart, with their heel right up against the wall and aligned with the heel marker at the bottom. Make sure their toes are relaxed, not curled under.

  3. Using a pen or pencil, mark horizontally where your child’s longest toe lands. Mark all the way to the inches ruler on the side; since shoe sizes can vary across different brands, it’s more accurate to check your child’s shoe size according to inches and compare that to each brand’s size guide. Note: Be sure to measure both feet in case there’s a size difference. If one foot is larger than the other, buy shoes to fit the larger size.

  4. Once your kiddo has shoes to try on, check how they fit. Have your child stand while wearing the shoes, then use your finger to push down on top of the shoe’s toe box. The AAP recommends about a finger-width or half-inch gap between the tip of the big toe and the front of the insole (inside the shoe). For shoes with more rigid tops, it may be tough to use your finger to get an accurate measurement of your child’s toes. In that case, “trust your gut,” Noland says, and “observe how they look [when] standing.” If your little one seems to be in pain or has their feet scrunched, or if the way they walk in the shoes seems different from how they would normally walk, then the shoes are likely the wrong size.

And since baby and toddler feet grow so quickly, the AAP recommends checking how shoes fit once every month.

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