10 Best Baby Walking Shoes, According to Parenting Experts (2024)

The Soft Motion collection from Stride Rite has everything you need for baby's first shoes: rounded soles for balance, flexibility to promote foot development, slip resistance on the bottom, a comfy foam footbed and a wide opening so it's easy to slide over fussy feet. Our experts liked how this shoe offered good balance during those beginner walking days when little ones are so unsteady. They also noted that it was easy to slip on and off baby feet and the traction on the sole was deep enough to prevent slipping.

The assortment is mostly sneakers, but there are other styles to pick from like dress shoes, sandals and boots. As your baby gets more steady, the brand's SRTech styles offer more support.

Baby walking shoes are often made with real leather and natural fabrics, which can get expensive. Carter's uses synthetic materials for a lower cost while still providing supportive features for baby feet.

These shoes are lightweight and flexible so baby can easily move around, plus the soles have grooves to help provide traction. On top of that, this style is versatile so it can go with any outfit. Babies' feet grow fast, so it's best to have fewer shoes since you'll be replacing them often.

Pediped makes shoes that are adorable yet still check off all the boxes for a good early walker shoe. These Mary Janes are part of the Originals collection, which are designed for up to 24 months and have flexible leather all around, including the sole. Our pros liked that they didn't have to sacrifice function over fashion with these adorable shoes when using them with their own toddlers.

As your little one gets older, the Grip 'n' Go variation has a rubber sole that's more grippy and sturdy, yet still flexible and spacious for toddler feet.

The styles in this Robeez collection are designed to look like shoes parents would wear, but they're built to promote the development of baby feet. Unlike most others, there's a split sole so babies get the skid resistance of a rubber bottom with the flexibility of a soft shoe.

There's also padded cushioning inside for comfort and high-quality leather so you know they'll hold up. The brand makes lots of fashionable styles so there's something for every occasion. Robeez is one of the brands Dr. Parthasarathy personally recommends.

Merrell is best known for its hiking boots for adults, but its baby walking shoes are just as functional. Not only do they have sturdy rubber outsoles for traction and flexible grooves so toddlers can easily move around, but they also have lots of wiggle room for even the widest baby feet. While we haven't tested these exact shoes, our experts have experience with the brand, and love how their kids shoes offer great support while helping them navigate the outdoors.

Just as great are the Bare Steps Sandals, which also have a wide toe box, a flexible yet grippy outsole and easy-to-adjust openings. If you're a family that loves being outdoors, this is the brand for you.

These shoes are entirely made of soft leather (no rubber soles) so they're similar to the feeling of walking barefoot, which helps babies grip their toes on the ground. They're also lightweight and roomy on the inside. Our pros and their toddlers have tried a few different moccasins, and these were their favorites since they stayed on so well and held up nicely.

The elastic goes all around the ankle so they'll stay put on wiggly feet, and there are variations in color and style so they're perfect to use as crib shoes even before baby starts walking. You'll notice the shoes don't have a specific right or left; as your baby wears them, their feet will make imprints on the sole.

The Everyday Original from Ten Little is just what it says — the perfect everyday shoe. Made from faux leather with 100% cotton lining and rubber soles, they're both breathable and lightweight. The flexible soles are perfect for growing baby feet and the wide toe-box means no pinching for developing toes.

Our reviewers loved how versatile these shoes are, their non-constricting fit and the adorable stickers each Ten Little pair comes with to let kids personalize their shoes to their liking! One of our pros also noted that while they had trouble finding shoes that weren't too tight or constricting for their little one, this pair fit perfectly. Ten Little is also one of the brands Dr. Parthasarathy personally recommends.

These stretchy slip-on sneakers have a sock-like fit on the top, so they're breathable and lightweight. Even better: they're machine washable so you don't have to worry about keeping them clean.

There's also a crib shoe version of these shoes for infants up to 12 months that still have the knit upper and rubber sole, so baby can start taking their first steps wearing them. The brand is so popular, there's even a rubber, waterproof version.

For little ones who are learning to walk during the colder months, Ten Little's Furry High Tops are great for keeping tiny feet warm and supported. The high-top style covers baby's ankles for additional support, and the furry lining will keep them toasty even on the chilliest of days.

When testing, we found sliding these shoes on and off takes seconds and is way easier than many winter boot alternatives we've tried. Plus, it offers the same wide fit and flexible soles that Ten Little is best known for.

Our team at the Good Housekeeping Institute reviews baby and toddler gear of all kinds. We've tested dozens of baby walking shoes over the past six years to bring you our favorites, and we base our recommendations on extensive research of the market, assessing brands and materials, reviewing styles in real life, speaking with registered doctors and considering the following factors:

✔️Fit: We make sure that each pick is wide enough for baby's feet and won't cause any discomfort or rubbing. We try these styles on real kid's feet to make sure there's ample room and no constriction.

✔️Traction: We look at slip resistance to avoid unnecessary falls for first walkers. For instance, with rubber soles, we check that there are deep treads for traction.

✔️Materials: We've considered whether leather, rubber, synthetic materials or other fabrics and elements are best for tiny feet. Dr. Parthasarathy recommends natural materials like leathers and suedes.

✔️Versatility: Since babies outgrow shoes so fast, we feel it’s good to have ones they can wear every day instead of just on special occasions.

✔️Materials: Dr. Parthasarathy recommends sticking to more natural materials like leathers and suedes since they are naturally very flexible and breathable.

✔️Fit: We know that squeezing a doughy baby foot into a shoe can be difficult, but it's important to make sure your baby's first walking shoes are wide enough so that they don't cause any rubbing or blisters. All first walking shoes should be closed-toed, and Dr. Parthasarathy also recommends shoes with velcro straps to keep those tiny sneakers in place.

✔️Ease of use: Babies love pulling their shoes off and wiggling their little feet around to make it as difficult as possible to strap them in. The mouth should open wide enough so you don't have to struggle to put them on.

✔️Extra features: Luckily, Dr. Parthasarathy says that baby shoes don't need any special features to make them good for your little ones. Special arches and other things are not necessary for the first walker age group.

✔️Feel: Lightweight and flexible shoes are best for new walkers says Dr. Parthasarathy, and a nonslip sole will help keep baby from taking any unnecessary tumbles.

It's important to make sure your baby's first walking shoes fit properly, which can be difficult when they seem to grow out of them in the blink of an eye. In general, Dr. Parthasarathy notes that "babies' feet are usually wide and chubby, so you want to go with a wider fit," but to make sure everything is fitting properly, she recommends doing the following:

• Pinch the front of the shoe, you'll want to feel some extra room at the end, especially when baby is standing.
• Touch their feet through the fabric, you should be able to easily feel their toes through the shoe to ensure that it is flexible, soft and lightweight.
• Lift their heel out of the shoe itself to make sure it's snug at the back and there isn't any extra gapping.
• Check their feet once you take their shoes off. "You'll want to make sure there are no rub marks, blisters or anything like that, especially on the outsides of both feet because that's where it would show if the shoe was too narrow."