Is your baby getting ready to take their first steps? Do you already have a bonafide cruiser on your hands? If that’s the case, you’re probably wondering what exactly they should be wearing to protect their adorably chubby little feet. Finding the best walking shoes for your baby’s feet is essential to their health and development, so we consulted the experts to get the lowdown on what parents should be looking for before they invest in a pair of adorable kicks.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
There aren’t a ton of guidelines parents need to follow when looking for their baby’s first pair of walking shoes. Dr. Leann Poston, a pediatrician at Invigor Medical in Kennewick, Washington, says, “The most important thing parents should look for is walking shoes that are well-fitting and flexible.” Alas, if your baby has adorable baby Jordan sneakers like my kids had, their stiffness would, unfortunately, eliminate them from this category.
Poston also advises, “Baby walking shoes should not change the way the child walks and should only protect their feet from getting hurt. They should have a large enough toe box for their toes to move.” In other words, don’t opt for anything too restrictive.
Thanks to Dr. Poston’s helpful insight, we found the best baby walking shoes available for your little one right now. We considered fit, style, quality, and, of course, budgets of all sorts — all of which will have your baby walking in style in no time. On your mark, get set: Go, baby, go!
Apart from being just about the softest baby walking shoes on the planet, these were awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association — and that’s a huge deal. My kids loved See Kai Run and they stayed strapped on so efficiently, they only lost them occasionally.
They are also machine-washable, which is super helpful when your child decides that mud is the best walking surface.
These are quite possibly the cutest shoes of all time. They squeak with every step, but don’t worry, you can turn that off. It’s really just designed to delight and encourage your baby to walk.
It’s also great in a crowd or at the park, because you’re not going to lose track of your little one. They have a wide opening that makes them easy to take on and off, and honestly? These baby walking shoes are just a huge hit with kids.