Shoe Picks for New Walkers - by a Pediatric Physical Therapist

As a mom, and pediatric physical therapist I know there’s a million toddler shoes out there being marketed to parents. Parents are unsure which are best for their wobbly walkers, which is why I’m here to break it down for you!

First, let’s talk about when your baby is ready for shoes. There’s a reason that we try to mimic shoes to be “barefoot-like".” Barefoot is actually best for your baby until they are independently walking in the community and have to have shoes on for safety and navigating rough terrain. The more you can keep them barefoot, especially while indoors, the better. Barefoot play on grass is still encouraged because it helps them with sensory processing and challenges their balance.

When your little one is walking in the community and shoes become necessary, there are several things I’m looking for in a shoe. First, I am looking for something lightweight with a flexible non-slip sole. We want a wide toe box with a supportive heel cup, breathable materials, and adjustable straps (thank goodness for Velcro).

Basically, we want to mimic barefoot walking as much as possible. Some of my favorites are linked below.

STQ Kids - tons of color options and well priced

Stride Rite - one of my personal favorite tennis shoes, but love a lot from this brand

Ten Little

I hope this eliminates some of the confusion with all of the shoe choices out there. Of course, in this post I am mainly highlighting the shoes I would pick as a “first” shoe for my little one. I will get into bigger kid options, summer sandals, etc. at a later date! Thanks for reading!