The Best Baby and Toddler Water Shoes, Tested and Reviewed

As a busy mom of four, versatile shoes are key for getting my little ones out the door quickly. I prefer kids’ footwear that can be worn in a variety of settings, hold up to daily wear and look stylish—just like the Native Jefferson shoe. The fully enclosed sneaker-style construction makes it a solid, reliable pick for active outdoor play where water may (or may not) be involved. These are breathable, easy-to-clean shoes that my 3-year-old can put on herself. Despite protecting my kiddo’s feet for countless outdoor activities, they also held up surprisingly well, which helps justify the price. I’ve passed down a few pairs of these through the years and have never noticed a hole, tear or fading.

In terms of comfort, my kids have never complained about wearing Native water shoes all day. They’re made from a combination of EVA and rubber, with holes on the upper to provide breathability and airflow. I think wearing any kind of water shoes all day will eventually feel kind of sweaty and sticky, but these dry fast, which helps alleviate that problem. I also love how lightweight they are. They float on water and are easy for kids to run around in. They’re more like sneakers than sandals, so that helps with support and durability for play.

Now for the downside: Sizing. Native shoes run narrow, which makes choosing the right size tricky. I’ve owned several of the Jefferson Child shoes over the years and always have to size up to accommodate my children’s wide feet. While this slightly solves the width problem, it also adds length, which may result in tripping or heel slipping. Regardless, I still recommend going up a size in Native shoes.

With the Native Jessiferson Child shoes, I think the positive features vastly outweigh the one negative. They’re so versatile in their looks and function that no other shoe really comes close. Because they’re shaped like sneakers, my kids have been able to wear them pretty much everywhere, from hiking and biking to city excursions and camps. Best of all, they’ve held up incredibly well over the years, and are a must-have when we go to the beach, pool or splash pad.

Material: Rubber/EVA | Size range: 2 to 10 (toddler); 11 to 6 (big kids) | Care instructions: Hand wash with dish soap

Our community says:

My kids definitely fall on the wide end of the foot width spectrum. Because of this, it can be so hard to find stylish shoes that won’t squish their little toes. Crocs are one of only a few brands that I trust to have a spacious toe box for my toddlers’ wide feet—and they’re practical too. In contrast to some other water shoes, the clog design offers a more secure fit and traction for play. During testing, my daughter freely ran through splash pads to the playground and across pavement and grass without slipping or tripping.

One of the best parts about Crocs is that they’re super easy to clean since they’re composed entirely of EVA foam. I hosed them down after playing in our yard, and they look good as new. They dried really fast, especially compared to other shoes that had fabric components. The holes help with drainage, breathability and airflow. One thing I don’t like is how dirt gets trapped in the textured insole, but it can easily be hosed off after wearing if you want to avoid “Croc feet.”

I think Crocs offer great value for money, even though they come at a higher price point. They’re durable and easy to use with lots of fun styles and colors. I like how they’re simple for my toddlers to slip on and off themselves—plus, all of my kids love them. In particular, my 3-year-old who tested these reached for them again and again. As an active family of six, we’re always on the go, and I like having a shoe like the Toddler Classic Clog that my kids won’t complain about wearing and that works in a variety of settings. We’ve owned several pairs of Crocs, and while they’re certainly not pristine, they’re still intact. I’ve been really happy with the durability of Crocs over the years and during my course of testing, and would highly recommend them to other parents.

Material: Croclite (EVA) | Size range: 4 to 10 (toddler); 11 to 6 (big kids) | Care instructions: Hand wash with dish soap or machine wash

Our community says:

It can be hard to justify spending a lot on a seasonal shoe for toddlers, which is why I think the Cat & Jack Austen Water Shoes from Target are a great budget buy. They have a solid foam sole—very similar to a sneaker—which I really liked. Thanks to this practical design, my daughter was able to run back and forth from the playground to the splash pad, and I didn’t worry about her stubbing a toe or sliding on rocks. She could also wear them in a store or to a day camp and be comfortable and supported. Plus, these water shoes didn't feel slippery at all when they were wet. The stretchy Velcro strap, cushy footbed and lightweight sole definitely make these well-suited for active toddlers.

The upper is made of mesh and neoprene, which don’t have much give. However, there’s an elastic hook-and-loop closure band across the top of the foot for extra security and adjustability. The netting over the toes also allows for airflow, which is a much-appreciated feature on hot days. I went with my daughter’s true size for these—her foot measurements even matched exactly with her shoe size on the size chart—but they fit snugly on her. I wish I had sized up. These also had a musty smell after just a couple of uses, which I think can be attributed to the neoprene retaining moisture. Luckily, this faded once the shoes dried completely.

All in all, I think the Austen water shoe is a solid, affordable pick if you’re looking for something with support and traction that won’t break the bank. These could be a good option for camps or those nonstop summer days where you need a shoe that will take your busy toddler from one activity to the next. After testing, I even recommended these to one of my friends who’s also a toddler parent, and she seems happy with them so far.

Material (lining, upper): 100% polyester | Material (outsole): 58% polyester/42% plastic | Size range: 5T to 12T | Care instructions: Hand wash

My youngest wants to be a part of anything her older siblings are doing, so it’s important that I have sturdy shoes that let her keep up (at her own pace). Robeez Water Shoes allowed her to do just that. We tested two pairs, but the Coral Island colorway was our favorite. The tones are really vibrant and fun, and they’re adorable for summertime. Apart from looks, these fit my one-year-old really nicely, and I appreciated the high-quality feel designed with new walkers in mind. According to our expert Daughtry, “young toddler water shoes are more flexible and with wider toe box area for ease of wear and adjustment for different sizes/foot shapes,” and that was certainly true of these. My little one had plenty of room to wiggle her toes and a nice supportive base for toddling around. She felt so grown up getting to wear water shoes like her older siblings.

“Toe protection, such as a toe cap, is also important in those learning to walk and [experiencing] frequent impacts and tripping,” Daughtry told us. With that in mind, I was happy that Robeez has a texturized rubber outsole from the toecap to the heel for extra traction and protection. Likewise, the podiatrist encourages parents of young toddlers to prioritize adjustable fastenings (“to ensure a secure fit that easily adjusts as the foot grows”) and lightweight, flexible material ("to allow for natural foot movement and walking development”). These water shoes tick both of those boxes. The hook-and-loop closure made it easy to tighten the shoe before playtime, and the neoprene-style material is soft and nicely constructed. Better yet, my one-year-old seemed perfectly stable and able to walk normally in these shoes. We never had an issue with the closure coming undone or the shoes slipping off, which, if you have a new walker, you know is a huge feat!

A few minor notes to keep in mind: My toddler’s toe tended to get caught in the side openings when putting them on, which took some extra finagling, but ultimately wasn’t a deal-breaker. Additionally, the neoprene material needed a few days to dry completely in my house; I recommend leaving them in the sun for faster drying. That said, if you’re searching for a reliable shoe that will keep your new walker stable on water-filled excursions this summer, the Robeez Water Shoes are an ideal choice.

Material: Neoprene (upper)/PVC (sole) | Size range: 5T to 10T | Care instructions: Spot clean with a mild detergent and damp cloth

If you want a do-it-all, go-anywhere summer shoe, then it doesn’t get better than Keen. This was by far the sturdiest, most substantial shoe we tried. It’s the most expensive of our picks, but the quality is notably better than many competitors. In fact, no other shoe came close to having a sole as thick, supportive and protective as the Keen Newports. With a rubber toe cap and plenty of grooves for traction, my toddler was able to climb over rocks, tackle playground climbing walls and ladders and run across pavement with no problem after water play.

The insole is surprisingly squishy and soft, and the shoe flexes more than I expected, even though the outsole is hard. I was a fan of the cut-outs for extra breathability, especially if my toddler will be wearing them all day at a summer camp or on an outdoor trip. Plus, the neoprene upper is surrounded by sturdier canvas material to protect the fabric and my toddler’s feet. I really like the outdoorsy, tactical look of these shoes too. It’s certainly a distinct aesthetic that won’t suit everyone’s taste, but it looks pretty precious on little toddler feet.

I noticed marks on my daughter’s feet after wearing the shoes for a few hours. Even adjusting to the farthest extent of the cord didn’t give her enough space. For a more comfortable fit, two sizes up would have worked better for us. The hook-and-loop closure also sat pretty high on top of her foot, which caused some rubbing. Despite our issues with fit, I think with the proper size, these all-terrain shoes are an excellent choice for active toddlers. And even though the price is steep, they’re a worthwhile buy. The quality is excellent, they’re machine-washable and I’ll definitely be passing these down to my one-year-old.

Material: Polyester (upper)/KEEN FUSION rubber (outsole) | Size range: 4 to 7 (toddler) | Care instructions: Machine wash

Our community says:

If you’re looking for a shoe that your toddler can actually swim in, I love this sock-like pair from Amazon. The Bigib Toddler Kids Swim Water Shoe had the stretchiest, softest feel of all the water shoes we tried. The snug fit allowed my daughter to run and play in the water completely uninhibited, and because the slim rubber outsole is so flexible, these shoes are the closest thing to being barefoot in the water. The best part about swim shoes is that you don’t have to worry about a young toddler scraping their feet across the bottom of the pool or burning their feet on a hot pool deck.

The sock-like style of these shoes is intended primarily for swimming, so they don’t offer the most substantial outsole or traction on land. That said, the rubber was thick enough to protect my daughter’s feet while climbing on the playground and running across the pavement. She loved putting these on, probably because they felt the most like going barefoot, just with a little bit of extra protection. These also took a few days to dry, which could be an inconvenience if you bring these on vacation and need to use them again right away. I’d recommend leaving them outside in the sun to speed up the process.

All in all, I think the Bigib Toddler Kids Swim Water Shoe would be perfect for a day when your child will be in and out of the water and walking across several different surfaces. You can count on them to keep their feet protected without having to bother taking shoes off and putting them back on multiple times. And for the reasonable price point, these met my expectations. If I needed something quick and didn't care about style or durability, I'd grab these for a last-minute water adventure.

Material: Rubber | Size range: 3 (infant); 4 to 10 (toddler); 1 to 3 (big kid) | Care instructions: Hand wash