6 Best Baby Walking Shoes For New Walkers (According To Parents)

As a mom of two very active boys, I can tell you that once they started walking, life got a whole lot busier. One day they’re cruising around the coffee table, the next they’re toddling confidently across the living room—and suddenly you’re chasing them everywhere. Life after those first steps are equal parts exciting and exhausting.

The good news? Baby doesn’t need special shoes right away. In fact, experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend letting babies practice barefoot indoors as they learn to stand and walk. “Barefoot activity helps with strengthening, balance, proprioception and sensory development,” says Dr. Mitzi Williams, DPM, a pediatric foot and ankle specialist at the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute. “These are good developmental factors.”

Of course once your little one is taking independent steps and ready to explore beyond your home, it’s time to look for baby walking shoes. “Children benefit from a lightweight, easy to apply, and appropriate fitting shoe with great treads for grip strength,” Williams says. The best first walker shoes protect tiny feet from rough or slippery surfaces while still allowing them to bend, flex and move more naturally. To help you find the right pair, we combined feedback from 350 parents in The Bump community with expert guidance and hands-on research to round up the best baby walking shoes for every need.

How We Chose the Best Baby Walking Shoes

We took the following steps to select the best shoes for your little rambler:

• We reached out to non-editorial staff at TKWW, asking a wide range of parents about their experiences buying baby walking shoes for their kids.
• We surveyed 350 members of The Bump community, asking parents about the baby walking shoes they used, asking them to rate brands based on their experience.
• We interviewed a pediatric foot and ankle specialist to learn when babies need walking shoes, which features support healthy foot development and how parents can ensure a proper fit.
• To make sure we’re highlighting infant footwear that’s safe and effective, we followed guidelines from the AAP and looked for seals of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
• Lastly, to understand how these baby walking shoes have worked for a variety of children nationwide, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring forums and message boards and reading user reviews.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.

Best Baby Walking Shoes, According to Parents

What to Look for in Baby Walking Shoes

The best pairs of baby walking shoes all have a few key features in common. According to Williams, new walkers benefit from lightweight shoes that are easy to put on and have good traction. But there are still a few features that vary shoe-by-shoe—as you shop, keep the following factors in mind:

• Flexible soles. Baby walking shoes should bend easily at the forefoot. Flexible soles allow your child’s feet to move naturally and help them develop balance and coordination.
• Lightweight design. Heavy shoes can make it harder for new walkers to lift their feet and maintain their balance. Look for options that are lightweight and comfortable.
• Wide toe box. A roomy toe box gives little toes space to spread out, which helps with stability and prevents rubbing or pinching.
• Secure, adjustable fit. Shoes should stay comfortable in place without feeling tight. Velcro straps, elastic laces and other adjustable closures can help create a snug fit and make shoes much easier to put on and take off.
• Good traction. Non-slip soles with grippy treads can help reduce slips on smooth or uneven surfaces.
• Breathable materials. Soft leather, mesh and other breathable fabrics help keep little feet cool and comfortable and they’re also less likely to cause irritation.

How to Fit Baby Walking Shoes

The first baby walking shoes you buy should protect your little one’s developing toes with comfort and flexibility. Babies have lots of fatty padding on the bottoms of their feet that makes them relatively flat-footed, so unlike soft slip-on baby shoes, walking shoes should be tested for fit before purchase. Williams says the biggest mistake parents make is choosing shoes that are the wrong width or length.

We recommend spending some time shopping at an actual shoe store to get assistance from trained staff who will take measurements for the right fit. However, here are two tests you can try yourself:

• Thumb test. Once you get the shoe on your little one’s foot, press your thumb sideways at the very tip of the shoe. There should be roughly half an inch—or a thumb’s width—of space between the tip of the shoe and your child’s longest toe.
• Heel test. A comfortable but snug fit is what you should be looking for. The heel should fit perfectly against the back of the shoe. If the heel pinches, it means the shoe is too small, while a heel that easily slides out means the shoe may be a size too big. You can confirm the right fit for the best baby walking shoes by inserting your pinkie into the heel; it should just squeeze in when baby’s toes are pushed to the front of the shoe.

First Walker Shoes: Dos and Don’ts

The best walking shoes for babies should be snug, meaning they won’t slip around too much, even if baby is in the beginning stages of perfecting their stride. Once you take the shoe off, keep an eye out for any red marks—these mean the shoe is too tight. Below, some more dos and don’ts:

• Do pick something comfortable, as this is the most important aspect of finding baby’s first walking shoes. If your child is limping or on their tippy toes, that may mean the shoe is uncomfortable. After all, a young baby can’t tell you whether their shoes are fitting correctly, so observing physical cues is your best bet.
• Don’t buy used walking shoes for babies; they’ve likely molded to the feet of their original owner. It can be harmful to the development of baby’s feet to wear hand-me-down shoes. Form and fit are critical when it comes to baby’s first walking shoes, and footwear fits every child differently.
• Do pick an ankle-cut or high-top first baby walking shoe secured with laces, snaps or Velcro. Low-cut or slip-on shoes make it easier for a rambunctious tot to kick off or remove the shoes. You want to look for good baby walking shoes that are easy to put on but hard to slip off—not only for your sanity’s sake, but for the safety of your child, who may be prone to tripping for a while.
• Don’t shop early in the morning. Try to shop later in the day when baby’s feet swell and are at their biggest. Parents have found that baby walking shoes purchased in the morning have a tighter fit later in the evening.
• Do rotate between a few pairs of shoes. Williams says alternating shoes can help minimize pressure points and help baby get “accustomed to the sensory component of textures and materials.”

When Do Babies Need Walking Shoes?

Babies typically spend their earliest walking days barefoot indoors, which can help them develop balance and coordination as they learn to stand and take their first steps. It’s only once baby starts venturing outdoors that walking shoes become an important way to protect those little feet.

According to Williams, walking shoes are typically introduced when baby begins walking not just indoors, but outside as well. At that stage, shoes serve as a protective barrier while still allowing them to explore and build confidence.

Three Signs baby is ready for walking shoes:

• They’re cruising confidently along furniture
• They’re taking independent steps
• You’re planning outdoor walks or playtime on uneven surfaces

When you do introduce walking shoes, opt for lightweight and flexible options that are properly fitted. A secure fit and good traction can help support your child as they transition from tentative first baby steps to full-on toddler adventures.

About the writer:
Christine Carpenter is a mom of two and a contributing writer, editor and product tester for The Bump. After experiencing both of her sons’ wobbly first steps, she knows how important it is to find baby walking shoes that are flexible, comfortable and easy to get on little feet. She loves researching to help parents find products that truly support their family’s needs.