The Best Toddler Shoes for Every Activity

Kids need a lot of clothes—but we don’t have to tell you that! Now that baby’s officially a toddler, they require a whole new assortment of attire, including footwear made to fully support their early steps. Not only do you want toddler shoes for every season and type of weather, but you’ll also want to get them a mix of casual and dressy kicks. That way, you’re covered for a variety of events and activities, from park playdates to kid-friendly weddings. Overwhelmed by the options? We’ve rounded up the best toddler shoes in every essential category: toddler boots, toddler sandals, toddler sneakers and toddler dress shoes. We’ve even thrown in some bonus categories you never knew you needed. But first, we’re sharing some expert tips for buying toddler shoes.

A Guide to Toddler Shoe Sizes

The key to buying toddler shoes? Finding the perfect fit. If you’re confused about toddler shoe sizing, you’re definitely not alone: Different brands and retailers categorize toddler shoes in different ways. Here’s what you need to know:

Younger kids’ shoe sizes (for babies and toddlers) start at 0 and go all the way up to 13.5. Then (to make things more confusing) the number scale restarts at 1 for older kids.

Typically, toddler shoes (shoes for children ages 1 to 3) range from size 4 to size 9. (Of course, this may vary based on the child, the brand and the shoe style.)

To make sure you’re buying the right size online, look for a label that mentions “walker” or “toddler.” If the shoes are labeled “youth” or “big kid,” it’s in older kids’ sizes.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of toddler shoe sizes, it’s time to find the right one for your child’s feet. To measure:

Use a ruler or Brannock sizing device to get your kid’s foot length in inches. You can also print out a handy sizing chart for your tot to step on and measure their feet that way. (Zappos has a great one that also tells you if your kid’s feet are wide.)

Use a conversion chart to find the right size for your child’s foot length. Popular retailers, like Nordstrom, usually have standardized ones on their websites. For extra accuracy, consult a size conversion chart from the exact brand you’re buying from.

Toddler feet grow pretty rapidly, so it’s smart to leave a little wiggle room: When they’re standing in the kicks, there should be a finger’s width of space between their feet and the end of their shoes. Re-measure your child’s feet every few months to ensure a proper fit.

Choosing the Best Toddler Shoes

Fit is important, but it’s only one factor in finding the best toddler shoes for your kid. You also need to consider their anatomy, which is why we highly recommend buying shoes with an American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) seal. The APMA Seal of Acceptance is only given to shoes proven to “promote good foot health” by actual foot specialists. This is super-important, especially now as your child is still developing. To view all the companies that sell APMA-approved kids’ shoes (and the specific pairs that have seals), visit the APMA’s website. (FYI, retailers like Zappos and Nordstrom also let you filter their stocks by APMA seal.) As you’ll see below, there’s a surprising amount of stylish options for tots.

Best Toddler Shoe Brands

Below find three brands offering stylish toddler shoes, many of which have earned the APMA Seal of Acceptance.

• Stride Rite Stride Rite toddler shoes truly are the best in class. A combination of superior craftsmanship and premium materials, ensure the brand’s sneakers, dress shoes and boots stand the test of time. Plus, the shoes are podiatrist approved as Stride Rite has won the APMA Seal of Approval time and again.
• See Kai Run Available at Nordstrom and other select retailers, See Kai Run is another top-rated toddler shoe brand. Every single style in the collection is APMA approved, and the brand even offers adaptive shoes for kids with additional physical or sensory needs. How great is that?
• Pediped. Pegged as the next best thing to bare feet Pediped shoes have been awarded the APMA Seal of Approval. Choose from the original soft sole shoes and the rubber grip n go soles, which work well for busy tots on the move.

Best Toddler Shoes

Read to start your search for the best toddler footwear? We’ve found fabulous pairs for toddler girls and boys. Without further ado, keep scrolling to see our top picks which include a few APMA-approved styles.

How We Chose the Best Toddler Shoes

We get it—kids require many pairs of shoes, especially as their feet seem to grow at a mile a minute! To streamline your decision-making process, our goal is to do the bulk of the research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through online retailers. We do this by considering a list of criteria when sourcing toddler shoes, including style, fit, materials and more. This way you can count on getting the best bang for your buck, while also having a dependable pair of shoes that will meet your child’s needs.

To decide which products are the best options on the market, we leverage our familiarity with leading toddler brands to make sure items are from reliable manufacturers. We read user reviews to get the low-down on how these products work for families, and typically don’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. And since many of us are also parents, we rely on our writers’ and editors’ experience using these products with their own families.

To make sure we’re highlighting products that are safe and effective, we looked for certifications and seals of approval from key organizations like the American Podiatric Medical Association

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Splashy Kids’ Water Shoes for the Beach, Pool and Park

Best Toddler Snow Boots (That Moms Will Love Too)

Splash-Worthy Toddler Rain Boots