
There’s nothing cuter or potentially more stressful than shopping for a pair of baby shoes. Once your little one has started toddling the fun really starts and be prepared to have your world turned upside down as they find their feet and begin to explore. Many professionals still recommend that you allow baby to take those first steps barefoot or wearing nothing except their cutest baby socks, learning how to grip the floor and feeling the sensation of walking. However, it won’t be long before you want to buy them that monumental first pair of shiny new baby shoes. Not only for their protection when they head out into new environments, but also because, let’s face it, it’s a lot of fun dressing up a fashionable tot in a matching outfit with a pair of streetwise baby-sized sneakers! If you do have a child who seems to have nailed the art of balancing and coordinating putting one foot in front of the other, they’re ready to do their first baby walking shoes. Finding the best ones can be daunting and your number one priority should be to protect your precious baby’s delicate and developing bones and muscles. So we’ve put together this shoppable guide packed with our top recommendations of the best baby shoes around.
The Best Baby Shoe
1.Saucony Kids’ Baby Shoes
If you’ve got a stylish little mover and groover on your hands who’s ready to get going, exploring the world by foot, then you’re going to love the flexibility and support that these Saucony sneakers provide. They’re super cute and come in dozens of colors and various widths and sizes to fit toddlers from 1-4 years old. Featuring a hook snap closure, they’re easy for parents to fasten in place without too much wrangling and cajoling. Just like their adult counterparts, these shoes for toddlers from Saucony feature triangular lugs for traction and support and are made from non-marking rubber. The soft suede and nylon two-tone uppers are comfortable and flexible to wear and really deliver a casual and sporty vibe.
Easy hook and loop closure
Triangular lugs for traction and support
Non-marking rubber outsoles
Flexible soft suede and nylon upper
- BrandSaucony
- ModelST35410A
- Weight1 pound
2.Bird Rock Baby Shoes
These adorable moccasins from Bird Rock come in a ton of cute colors and styles, ideal for boy boys and girls. Made from only the highest quality, genuine leather, the slip-on design is easy to wear but stays comfortably in place. The soft sole bottoms deliver a pleasant and natural barefoot walking sensation but with valuable protection as your baby begins to explore new feelings and terrains. They’re manufactured to an exceptionally high standard with hand-finished stitching, gorgeous moccasin frills and are even supplied in their own equally as adorable gift bag. If you are keen to support your baby walking in a positive and natural way, then these beautiful Bird Rock soft leather moccasins are a wonderful choice. They’re also backed by a Lifetime Warranty, manufactured by a small business out of San Diego who prides themselves on customer service.
Securely stay on with elasticated band
Lightweight and flexible rubber sole mimics natural movement
100% soft and durable high-quality leather
Huge selection of beautiful colors to choose from
- BrandBirdRock Baby
- ModelBRBMOCCASINS
3.Robeez Kids Slip-On Soft Soles Crib Baby Shoes
We know! You can’t help yourself. Sometimes you can’t help being a sucker for something cute and stylish. If that’s the case, then you’ll love these slip-on, soft sole shoes from Robeez. These are the perfect baby boy shoes with options including a Dino design and a canvas tropical Liam print that are just adorable. While they have cuteness in bucket loads, they’re also amazingly comfortable too, which is why they’re such a popular choice. Robeez Kids Slip-On Soft Soles Crib Shoes are well made, constructed from high-quality materials and deliver plenty of flexibility and durability. Designed with a non-constricting suede upper, these Robeez slip on’s support growing feet while the elasticized ankle strap ensures this shoe is easy to pull on and off but also stays put. For more cool footwear for your children, check out our selection of the best light up kids shoes.
Flexible, smooth slip-on style sneaker with elasticated ankle strap
Non-slip rubber outer sole for durability and support
Ultra-soft and comfortable non constricting suede upper
Super stylish and contemporary design
- BrandRobeez
- Weight2 pounds
4.Pepiped Original Adrian Sneaker
Pepiped is a popular choice with parents because they happen to be very cute and stylish but also made from high-quality materials. This makes them an excellent and comfortable option for your baby boy or girl too. Featuring an easily adjustable velcro strap, they’re easy to take on and off and adjust to fit. These Original Adrian sneakers from their range are made from high-quality leather that’s durable, flexible and breathable. Professional podiatrists highly recommend them because they mimic closely the sensation of barefoot walking. Many kids who might ordinarily refuse to wear shoes can be coaxed into a pair of Pepiped’s because they are genuinely so comfortable. With Grip n Go rubber soles, they deliver a confident level of protection and flexibility too as they explore new surfaces and terrains.
Flexible, breathable and cushioned uppers for comfort
Crafted from non-toxic, high-quality leather
Slip-resistant diamond leather treads for superior grip
Leather soles for flexibility, durability and grip
- Brandpediped
- ModelOriginals Adrian – K
- Weight2 pounds
5.Stride Rite SRTech Elliot Bootie
Stride Rite is well recognized for producing quality baby boys shoes and also baby girls shoes. Their range is always about combining that quality with comfort and support. While they might not necessarily feature the cutest and most fashionable line up of baby walking shoes, they certainly pay a lot of attention to the physical process of supporting baby taking those first steps. This leather bootie style walking shoe from their range is our Premium Pick and it’s a solidly reliable choice. We love the fact that Stride Rite SRTech Elliot Bootie is engineered featuring sensory pods on the outsole so that baby can really feel the ground and surface beneath their feet and confidently get to grips with walking. The leather construction is moisture-wicking and breathable plus they’re a self-molding footbed, a contoured cradling heel and overall seamless construction. All those elements combine to provide a seriously supportive yet flexible baby walking shoe. We have prepared our selection of the best shoes for pregnancy for all future moms, so be sure to check them out.
100% high-quality seamless leather construction for ultimate foot contouring
Secure lace-up closure keeps shoes firmly on the foot
Bootie style with self molding footbed and a moisture-wicking lining
Sensory pods on outsoles teach kids to adapt on uneven surfaces
- BrandStride Rite
- ModelSRT Elliot
- Weight2 pounds
6.Stride Rite Soft Motion Kellen Sneaker
Sticking with Stride Rite, again, you can be sure of comfort and quality in this next best baby shoe recommendation from their range. We’ve handpicked the Kellen Sneaker, which is an excellent option for both baby boys and girls. It’s easy for a parent to get their wriggling child into this pull-on design that secures with an easy hook and loop closure. Rounded edges to the shoe help to minimize those inevitable early stumbles and falls as they’re struggling to find their feet. Inside the shoe is designed with ultimate comfort in mind, featuring a memory foam insole and a fully breathable and anti-microbial lining.
Easy hook and loop closure
Designed with rounded edges to decreases stumbles
Deeply flexed outsole grooves support natural movement
Comfortable and supportive memory foam insole
- BrandStride Rite
- ModelSM Kellen – K
- Weight2 pounds
7.Robeez Kids Soft Soles Crib Shoe
Another excellent and seriously cute choice from Robeez, these slip-on, soft sole crib shoes are beautiful baby girl shoes. They’re supportive and comfortable but ultimately flexible too, with deliberately roomy sizing to accommodate growth. Featuring an elasticated ankle strap, Robeez Kids Soft Soles Crib Shoes are easy to take on and off with minimal fuss, but they also stay in place throughout an active day of kicking, wriggling and generally exploring. They’re fully approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association which is excellent news from a health perspective but let’s face it, the reason why you’re probably buying these Robeez shoes is that they are just so darn cute! The Girly Girl Potpourri design really is fit for a little Princess and the option with a Bird Buddy motif is quite frankly making us broody. Promoting good balance, protection and flexible comfort, these are another excellent choice.
Flexible, comfortable slip-on style crib shoe with elasticated ankle strap
Non-slip rubber outer sole for durability and support
Ultra-soft and comfortable non constricting supple leather upper
Designed to promote unrestricted growth and proper balance during first steps
- BrandRobeez
- Weight0.96 ounces
8.See Kaei Run Kids Stevie II Sneaker
A bit of a sporty little number, these See Kai Stevie sneakers are available in an attractive red with blue and white trim and feature premium upper construction with comfortable padded collar and tongue. Your little one will certainly find his or her feet fast in this flexibly and fully lined sneakers and be quickly out of the starting block. Featuring a flexible rubber sole, they’re excellent for use outdoors and even feature rubber toe caps for extra protection. They feature grown-up and contemporary looking traditional style laces, but it’s really the velcro strap which secures these baby walking shoes in place. Inside the Stevie II sneaker features a removable, fully breathable sock liner, just in case today is one of those days when you’re struggling with socks!
Sneaker style design with lace-up closure and easy hook and loop system
Comfortable padded collars and tongue made from superior breathable fabrics
Fully lined for comfort and includes removable sock liner
Herringbone outsole lug pattern for ultimate traction
- BrandStride Rite
- Weight2.08 ounces
9.Stride Rite Kids Daisy T-Strap Sneaker
Baby girl shoes could arguably be the cutest and most fun to shop for and these T-Strap sandal/sneakers from popular brand Stride Rite are definitely pretty. They importantly feature a fully covered toe which prevents little digits from being stumped as they begin to explore their surroundings by foot. With an attractive daisy design and available in three colors, these girls flower sneakers should go with just about any outfit. The hoop and loop velcro style closure ensures they’re easy to take on and off while a contoured and anti-microbial insole is both comfortable and reduces unwanted foot odor. Not that you need worry too much on that score as these Stride Rite Daisy shoes can be conveniently thrown into the washing machine.
Toddler girls pretty shoe with t-strap and easy hook and loop closure
Memory foam breathable comfort footbed
Anti-odor lining
Pattered lug outsole for confident grip and stability
- BrandSee Kai Run
- Weight9.3 ounces
10.Carters Every Step Kids Casual Sneaker
If you’re looking for a reliable first pair of baby walking shoes, then you really can’t go wrong with these Every Step Park shoes from the reputable brand, Carter’s. They’re available in styles to suit both boys and girls and come at parent pleasing price point too. Fastening with Velcro, they’re easy to take on and off and have molded soles to deliver traction during those unsteady first steps. They’ve also been cleverly designed to feature sensory pods both at the heels and forefront which help your little one to balance better rather than doing their best impersonation of Bambi on ice! T Carters Every Step Kids Casual Sneaker is sturdily constructed and well made, and stay nicely in place once they’ve been secured. The self-adjusting and slightly roomier fit allow for a growing baby’s foot to naturally develop.
Suede sneaker style baby shoe with adjustable strap closure
Soft and flexible, comfortable outsoles for natural movement
Sensory insoles and outsoles for better ground connection
Seamless design for increased comfort
- BrandCarter’s
- ModelPARK-GP
Baby Shoes Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Baby Shoes
We can’t exactly ask an office full of baby’s what they like best about the shoes we’ve selected, so we defer to a couple of key criteria to assist in narrowing down our overall recommendations.
Brands - we don’t believe that you should compromise on quality, comfort, or protection when it comes to your kids' feet, especially when they are still so young and their bones and muscles are developing. So selecting well respected and reputable brands from recognized shoe manufacturers is an excellent idea as it will ensure that you are purchasing a shoe that’s backed by quality. The most important thing is to be confident that you are buying a piece of excellent workmanship, regardless of the brand name. That’s why we’ve pulled together a range of brands with an emphasis on durability, dependability, comfort and support rather than what looks good and is fashionable.
Price - kids feet grow fast and it’s a fact of life that they will quickly outgrow whatever footwear you purchase for them. However, if you are tempted to scrimp on the budget and buy something of inferior quality, it’s likely to fall apart quickly and be uncomfortable to wear too. That’s why, when we’re curating our shoppable lists of a baby shoe recommendations, we appeal to all budgets and price points. You’ll find plenty of parent pleasing prices on our list that represent excellent quality and help your kid look cool too!
Reviews - reviews are essential. The kids wearing the shoes themselves can’t, of course, give their opinion but certainly, their parents can. We rely heavily on feedback from other parents, keen to share their experiences of how their child has fared wearing a particular brand of shoes. You can glean a lot about whether a specific baby shoe represents value for money, excellent comfort and a great fit by reading on-line reviews from the real-life buying community.
Features To Look For In Baby Shoes
There are plenty of features to consider when investing in shoes for a baby boy or girl.
Fit & Form - The fit should be snug enough that their feet don’t slip around too much inside the shoes but not so tight that they leave behind telltale red signs where the fabric has pinched. Remember, very young children won’t be able to vocalize that they’re wearing ill-fitting shoes, so observation is the key.
Stability & Support - Babies will naturally be a bit unsteady on their feet starting out so elect a pair of shoes that have grooved soles or a patterned tread of some description that will assist them with traction and grip over new and challenging surfaces. If you are buying a hard-bottomed baby shoe, ensure that it’s supported by a non-skid sole with a ridge designed to assist those wobbly initial steps.
Comfort - As we already motioned, babies can’t vocalize in words yet whether they’re comfortable or not, but their behavior will probably provide a good indication of how they’re feeling! Go for shoes that are flexible and lightweight in design to provide plenty of natural movement. A more flexible shoe better mimics that natural barefoot walking motion and will give them just the right amount of support and protection as they learn to move with confidence.
Materials - Look for baby shoes that offer plenty of breathability and flexibility to keep your child’s feet comfortable and deliver plenty of airflow. Don’t go for a material that’s too stiff or inflexible as this could hinder the development and growth of their fleet. A good quality soft leather, an upper with mesh or a cloth-topped walking shoe are preferable.
New Shoes - No matter what your budget, we recommend that you only ever buy new shoes for a young child. Form and fit are critical in these formative years and trying to shoe horn their feet into the mold of another child’s foot will only cause developmental issues. Footwear fits every child uniquely.