Finding the Right Fit: A Parent’s Guide to Toddler and Big Kid Shoes
From first steps to full-on sprints, finding the right pair of shoes for your child can feel overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll break it down by stage—covering the best shoes for early walkers, experienced toddlers, warm-weather sandals, and even options that work well with orthotics. Whether your little one is just finding their balance or already running circles around you, you’ll find practical, therapist-approved tips to support their growing feet.
What to Look for when buying toddler shoes:
A wide toe box
Breathability
Flexibility
A velcro strap or laces
Soles with a consistent low-level grip pattern
A sturdy heel cup to assist with stability
What to avoid when buying toddler shoes:
Slip-on shoes
Flip-flops
Elastic straps that don't tighten
Shoes without backs
Plastic shoes that don't breathe
Unsupportive heels or extremely flat shoes
Chunky or grippy shoes for early walkers
Sneakers For Our Littlest Walkers
Stride Rite 360 Sprout- This sneaker has a wide toe box, a supportive heel cup, and a consistent one-level grip throughout the sole. The Stride Rite 360 Sprout also comes in a size 3, for our littlest walkers! The Sprout is made of a more flexible pattern to keep it comfortable for all play activities and transitions.
Stride Rite 360 Kennedy- This shoe is very similar to the Sprout, has a great toe box, the identical grip along the bottom, but is a more stiff and therefore supportive shoe.
See Kai Run- This sneaker also has a wide toe box, though not as wide as the Stride Rite 360. The grip throughout the bottom is consistnet and easy to navigate! It starts at a size 4, still pretty little!
Carters Every Step First Walker- This sneaker is very similar to the See Kai Run, easy to put on and take off, comfortable with a solid heel cup, and a great consistent grip on the bottom, and a little less expensive. It also starts in a size 4!
Target Jaid Court Sneaker- This sneaker has a wide toe-box and consistent flat grip, but can be a little heavy for our little walkers. It starts at a size 5, which makes sense!
Sneakers With A Little More Support
These sneakers are helpful for toddlers with flat feet who need some extra ankle and foot support.
This image shows a toddler with significant flat feet and ankle weakness. This toddler is walking with their feet turned out to gain some stability and balance. He found comfort and stability in SMO braces and Stride Rite Zayn high top shoes.
Carters First Walker High Tops- Carters comes in the smallest of sizes, a size 2 for our littlest walkers and teeny tiny feet. This is a great first shoe, wide toe box, consistent grip pattern on the bottom, light-weight, and supportive heel cup.
Stride Rite Zayn- This is basically the Stride Rite 360 sneaker but in a supportive high top. The ankle strap helps to keep the child’s heel in the supportive heel cup when walking.
Adidas Hoops High Tops- These Adidas Hoops are cute and trendy while being very supportive. They also come with all velcro straps for being easy to put on and off. However, these are a little more difficult to get on and off and would be best for a big kid who still needs extra ankle and arch support.
Nike Court High Tops- These Nike Court High Tops are athletic and cute with a great high ankle supportive strap to keep their heel in the supportive heel cup.
Sandals For Our Littlest Walkers
OshKosh Carters Casual- This sandal is a great, cute option that comes in many colors and patterns. The velcro straps are supportive and make it easy to adjust for every foot. The sole of this sandal has a consistent heel grip but is a little thicker than the Stride Rite sandal, which could be a tripping hazard for some of the littlest ones.
Stride Rite Whitney- This little girls sandal is beyond cute with the white bow on top! While being cute and trendy, it’s also a great supportive sandal option for our littlest walkers!
Carters First Walker Sandal- This supportive sandals has the same grip pattern as the First Walker sneaker and has a great heel strap to keep your childs heel where it should be. Carters comes in the littlest sizes, starting at a size 2!
Merrell Kahuna Web- This sandal is for our big kid experienced walkers. It is lightweight but supportive and easy to put on and off with a great high heel strap.
Sandals With A Little More Support
These sandals are helpful for toddlers with flat feet who need a little extra ankle and foot support. These also include a few closed-toe options!
Stride Rite 360 Amos 3.0- This supportive sandal has the same consistent grip pattern as the Stride Rite 360 sneaker, has a closed toe box, and a supportive heel strap! This may not be supportive enough for our little ones with flat feet, but would be a great option if your toddler was already used to the Stride Rite 360 sneaker.
Stride Rite 360 Mallory- This sandal has a closed toe box and a thick cushioned supportive heel cup. This sandal also has a velco ankle strap to help support keeping the heel in place. It starts in a size 3 for our littlest walkers!
KEEN Kids Seacamp II CNX- KEEN sandals are generally for our bigger kids and not our newest toddler walkers. They are a great compromise between a sneaker and a sandal, with a toe cover for safety when hiking or walking.
KEEN Toddler Moxie- The toddler moxie is a great compromise between a sneaker and a sandal. KEEN sandals have a more serious grip pattern for our kids who need more ankle and foot support. The closed toe box is a good option for some and make up for the challenge of putting these on and off.
Sneakers for Our Experienced Toddler Walkers
Stride Rite Ian- This is the shoe I chose for my big kid and he has continued to wear it for years, buying the next size up when needed. He calls these his “lightning bolt” shoes because of the design on the side. This shoe has a low profile but a consistent grip pattern with a wide toe box for comfort for all play activities.
Saucony Ride Jr- This shoe is more of the style of a running shoe. It’s a great mix for a kid who has a naturally higher arch. It also still has a velcro ankle strap to keep their heel in place.
Nike Court Legacy- This shoe isn’t just cute and trendy, the consistent grip pattern on the bottom and wide toe box make it an option for all kid play! The only downside is the grip could be slippery, it may not be the best all-weather sneaker!
Plae- This shoe is a little more expensive but checks all the boxes of a great sneaker for our big kids!
Sneakers to Use with AFO, SMO Braces or an Orthotic Insert
What to look for in a shoe that needs to accomodate an ankle-foot orthosis or orthoric insert:
Supportive shoe and heel cup
Wide toe box
Wide shoe and half-sizes
Able to open wide for easy on and off
Billy Shoes: These high-top shoes are a common choice for children with AFO, SMO or orthotic inserts, and there’s a good reason! They have a wide toe box, a solid heel cup that will hold a brace, a flat consistent grip pattern on the bottom, and the top zips all the way open! They even start in a size toddler 5.
Nike Fly Ease: These flexible sneakers can fit a shoe insert and possibly an SMO brace, but the heel cup may not be supportive enough for a full AFO brace.
