Spring and Summer Shoes for New Walkers (and beyond): A Pediatric Physical Therapist’s Guide
With the weather warming up and outside play upon us, finding shoes for this next season is probably on your to-do-list. Support and shoe shape is key to keep in mind for spring and summer shoe for new walkers! I have the do’s and don’ts to look for when picking our your little one’s next footwear!
If you’re new here, hiiiii! I’m Kailee—Pediatric Physical Therapist & Mama of 3 babies earthside and 2 in heaven. I’m the founder of The Movement Mama community and I’m so so glad you’re here :)
For more resources like this, check out these other Movement Mama posts:
Summer Baby + Toddler Favorites
Shoes for Chunky Toddler Feet: A Pediatric Physical Therapist’s Guide
Shoes for New Walkers: A Pediatric Physical Therapist's Guide
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i like to find a spring and summer shoe for new walkers that have:
Pull loop (side or back): Let's start simple. Just trust me when I say this will make your life 10,000x easier getting those chubby little feet into their shoes.
Velcro straps: Baby feet come in all shapes and sizes. And as toddlers grow, they lose the fatty tissue on their feet at times when their foot length may not actually change. Velcro straps not only allow for easy adjustability for their comfort but they also encourage independence at a younger age when they're able to get shoes on/off themselves. You may not want to teach this if you don't want every car ride to end in them kicking their shoes off, or you may just learn to not put shoes on until you reach your destination :) I'll let you decide. If you’re struggling to fit babe’s chunky feet in shoes, check out this reel. I also wanted to let you know that Ten Little now offers strap extenders + removable insoles which are PERFECT for chubby feet or orthotics!
Slight to no toe rise: Learning to walk is hard. Falling isn't fun, but it's a necessary part of learning. I love finding a shoe that has just a slight rise in the toe for a new walker. Excessive toe rise isn't necessary, but giving our new walkers a bit of an advantage against tripping over their toes is helpful and encourages them to continue trying to walk throughout more of their day. After they’re a confident walker, we want that toe box to lay flat, like our feet do :)
Wide toe box: Below is an amazing visual from My Foot Function that demonstrates WHY a wide toe box is so crucial in spring and summer shoes for new walkers. Sure you may be able to slide your toddler's feet perfectly into a shoe in sitting, but when they stand, their foot and toes splay out. It's no wonder so many kids complain about shoe-wearing at first. They're used to letting their piggies free.
Protective, flexible sole: The biggest indicator that a child needs to switch from a soft soled moccasin to a shoe with an actual footplate is when they begin walking in the community. Meaning they may encounter rocks, sticks, mulch, heat/cold, sharp objects, etc and we need to protect their feet. And while we want the sole to be thick enough to prevent penetration of sharp objects, we also want it to be flexible enough for your little one to feel surface changes beneath their feet. This not only helps them be more balanced by giving them lots of feedback about where their body is in space + how to adjust their walking accordingly, but it also helps to strengthen the tiny muscles of the foot and ankle that are necessary for developing the arches of the foot, as well as the stability required for higher level motor skills.
Minimal points of entry for rocks/mulch/sand etc: this one is pretty self explanatory but trust me I’ve learned the hard way! Spring and summer shoes for new walkers with a closed-toe will also help too to protect from scuffing on sidewalks!
Waterproof or Quick-drying: Spring & Summer call for lots of fun splashing in puddles or splash pads! The last thing you want is a shoe that rubs blisters when wet or makes them uncomfortable!
I find that unless it’s a shoe only for school/dressy occasions like church, having a waterproof or
water-friendly option is ideal!
You can see here WHY having a wide, foot-shaped toe box is so important for growing feet!
my top recommendations for spring and summer shoes for new walkers
Most of these come in numerous colors, I just chose ones I thought were pretty and springy :) Links are in order from top left (neon green + navy) going clockwise
1: These are a community-favorite and what we chose for Redding this year!
2: I’ve heard rave reviews about these for older kiddos! While they’re ultra-breathable for warmer days, I don’t believe they’re made for water submersion.
3: My all-time favorite toddler tennis shoe. They wash well, are water-resistant (not waterproof), and are just overall an amazing minimalist shoe!
4: I love a good BUDGET option! Way to go, Walmart!
5: If you’re looking to make an investment in a high quality shoe, this one is it! This brand is consistently at the top of all the barefoot/minimalist shoe recommendation lists & for good reason! Use code MARCH20 for 20% off in March 2024.
6: A community-favorite rainboot! I’ve heard these fit big so you may be able to size down! We grabbed these for Redding this year and he loves them but pro tip: let them air out outside for a day before wear to reduce the scent of the plastic.
7: Target rain boots for the win! These have a bit more rigid sole than I prefer but overall are a good option! These also come in a fun rocket-ship style.
8: My absolute faves—super flexible! But if where you live has a shorter rainy season, I wouldn’t probably invest this much in a rain boot. This brand also has adorable Mary Janes.
9: Aren’t these little Mary Janes so cute?! Ada has these currently. I love the closed-toe and minimal points of entry for easy post-church playground play!
10: These are a true minimalist Mary Jane! This brand also has great options for boys!
11: Should I mention that these come in iridescent rainbow colors for girls, too?! Love the extra toe bumper to prevent scraped piggies. They also have this tennis shoe option that’s water-friendly! Update June 2024: These are a good, but not GREAT option. The sole is more rigid than I had anticipated.
12: Another amazing brand that is consistently featured on all the “best of” minimalist shoe lists. Find them here.
If you’re a diehard Crocs or Natives-lover but looking for something more foot-healthy, you’ve got to check these out! They came out after I released this list and I am in LOVE! They check all the boxes + are made with a naturally nontoxic & quick-drying material that’s perfect for all kinds of summer fun! You can see why I don’t like Natives here.
My oldest recently outgrew a lot of my favorite brands and we have been on the hunt for companies who offer big kid sizes in barefoot-style summer sandals. We are OBSESSED with these from Feelgrounds! While they are pricier, at this age, kids are able to wear shoes longer so I factor that into my shoe-buying decision!
not seeing any you love? here are some tried and true barefoot shoe brands to check out!
Ten little
little love bug
splay (code movement for 10% off)
merrell bare steps
saguaro (code movementmama for 10% off)
vivo
seekairun
FEELGROUNDS
You can find many of these in my Amazon storefront, too. I’m also certain there’s other brands that fit within my suggested guidelines, so let me know if you find some great ones below!
I’d love to hear from you if you snag a pair of these :) tag me on IG @themovementmama and let me know what you think! This helps other parents SO much to see the experiences of real-life families using these!
