Fall & Winter Shoes for New Walkers through big kids: A Pediatric Physical Therapist’s Guide
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 :) In recent years, I’ve become passionate about providing education surrounding foot-healthy shoes for parents or caregivers just like you! I hope after reading this you feel empowered and equipped to choose the right shoes for your little one. You’re doing great!
For more resources like this, check out these other Movement Mama posts:
Back to School Shoes for All Ages
Shoes for Chunky Toddler Feet: A Pediatric Physical Therapist’s Guide
Shoes for New Walkers & BEYOND: A Pediatric Physical Therapist's Guide
and make sure to grab my free shoe-buying guide
For a full breakdown of what I look for in a growing foot-healthy shoe, check out this post.
This image gives a great picture of WHY proper footwear is so important, especially for growing feet!
In summary I like to find a shoe that has:
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. Plus, as a pediatric therapist, I know the importance of building independence with dressing—this pull loop helps them help themselves sooner :) it’s a win-win!
Velcro straps: Little 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!
Minimal-to-no toe rise: Learning to walk is hard. Falling isn't fun, but it's a necessary part of learning. While we really want what’s called a “zero drop” sole for most kids, I love finding a shoe that has just a slight rise in the toe for very new walkers. This gives our new walkers a bit of an advantage against tripping over their toes and is helpful to encourage them to continue trying to walk throughout more of their day. After your little one has outgrown their first pair of shoes, look for a zero-drop sole meaning the heel is the same level as the toe box (pro tip: check the actual sole inside the shoe—sometimes brands look like there’s a heel externally when actually it’s just for visual effect.)
Wide, foot-shaped toe box: Here's an amazing visual from My Foot Function that demonstrates WHY a wide toe box is so crucial to supporting tiny growing feet. 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. Also a PSA: consider what YOUR shoes are doing to your feet! After my first pair of barefoot style shoes, I could never un-feel how scrunched my toes felt in traditional shoes. Stay tuned, a full post outlining some of my favorite styles is coming :) Or if you want to sign up for my newsletter, it will be delivered straight to your inbox!
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. An easy way to test this is to bend the shoe in half—if it can’t do that easily, it’s too rigid!
A disclaimer: for winter boots and shoes, you will not always be able to bend the shoe easily in half, like I would prefer with a tennis shoe or sandal! There are more weather elements at play in the winter, so the sole has to be slightly thicker for safety and traction. However, if babe is just walking around indoors, I think it’s okay to still do a soft-soled boot! Many of the boots I recommend will still have a flexible enough sole for your kiddo to adequately feel surface changes beneath them!
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as a reminder, if your little one is only walking indoors, they can get by with just a soft-soled first walker or mocassin OR a great pair of grippy socks.
first walkers + moccs I love
my top 3 grippy socks are:
Little yoga socks
bombas (someone just alerted me they have a lifetime replacement policy! amazing)
PLUS we LOVE these wool socks for winter:
now for the links :) we are going to break these down into new walker/toddler + preschool/big kid
new walker/toddler
1: My Pediatric PT heart couldn’t help but start off with an adaptive shoe—made to fit orthotics (or chunky toddler feet for easy on + off)
2: This shoe is perfection! A new walker style with full waterproof capability means your little one can join in all the snow-time fun!
3: How cute are these?!
4: Furry high-tops from Ten Little. I adore the minimalist profile of Ten Littles + I love that they also have strap-extenders for orthotics or extra wide feet! Plus, it’s a Mama-owned brand, so you can’t beat that! If you’re like me and hate to pay shipping, consider joining their membership program, where you’ll get 10% off every order + free shipping! They also have an incredible shop of play items that are expert-curated and non-toxic!
5: Absolutely obsessed with these from the BareSteps line! They come in pink & brown!
6: These are the winter boots we’ve had for the last 2 years and it amazes me how flexible they are! Helps SO much with balance in the snow & ice. Pro tip: SIZE UP. Target has a version from this same brand that appears to be a good budget option!
7: When I asked the community for awesome minimalist shoes that come in super small sizes, too, Little Love Bug was recommended the most! I adore these. They also just released a brand-new line that functions like a barefoot shoe but looks MUCH more like the classic styles we know and love. Check these out!!
8: This loafer is a great dress-shoe option for little boys.
9: Lightweight, waterproof, & warm! What more could you want?
10: I was excited on my recent Target run to see this new style from SeeKaiRun (they took some feedback/concerns about their former style, the Stryker and made improvements). It’s a much more affordable option compared to the styles on their website. When I reached out, they explained that the Target line is minimally designed, which creates less waste for the planet and provides the barefoot style at a more affordable price. To me, this may mean they don’t hold up as well for multiple children but if you’re looking for a great budget sneaker option, this is it!
11: One of my all-time fave (and yours) shoe brands has a first walker that is perfect for when your little one is in the first few months of walking or is just cruising/standing outside.
12: A high-quality, mom-owned brand that offers fashionable shoes in a barefoot style! We’ve gotten several pairs from them now and I can absolutely attest that they are priced right. Big brother will easily be passing down his pairs to little brother in our home.
13: Same company, different style :) I’m obsessed with these fuzzy booties and after constantly losing socks with our first, we’ve never bought anything other than this style to keep our babies’ toes warm! Note: It looks like these are currently sold out—here’s a great alternative to try!
14: A great budget option from an Amazon seller! I just wish they had velcro instead of the tie laces, which aren’t very realistic for a toddler.
15: SO many little girl shoes are way too narrow and pointed-toe for growing healthy feet—but not these! They’ve got a nice wide toe box and minimal sole.
16: I have been waiting for years now for the barefoot world to begin making a more classic-looking shoe. As cute as I think some of these brands above are, often you can just tell they’re different than their mainstream counterparts. But NOT THIS LINE from Little Love Bug! I snagged this pair for my 4 year old and I’m obsessed. They’re so adorable but also so great for his feet!!
17: See Kai Run makes some great first walker versions of many of the shoes I listed above!
18: I see lots of little fashionistas rocking these this winter!
19: These boots are always a top recommendation from the community for tiny feet in the snow :)
20: I’ve gotten the big girl version of these for years for our daughter and have LOVED them. Such a great budget option that is absolutely adorable and still foot-healthy!
21: These boots work great for winter + early spring for keeping little toes warm and dry! The sole looks rigid to me but SO many community members said they’re flexible!
22: These are probably my favorite new find this year! A new walker sole but a fuzzy, warm boot! Just note: these are NOT water-resistant so they’re for warmth but not snow/water play!
23: These little Ugg dupes seem like a good option!
24: I wanted to give you a water-play option for those that live in warmer climates but do get some precipitation! We absolutely adore these boots and if the temperatures drop a bit, just throw on some wool socks!
preschool + BIG KIDS
1: My Pediatric PT heart couldn’t help but start off with an adaptive shoe—made to fit orthotics or just for easy on/off
2: This brand consistently shows up on all the most popular barefoot expert lists! This is the boot I’ll be getting our oldest (7) this year! I’m also grabbing these for myself after 7 years of snow play in my freezing cold Sperry boots.
3: My kids got the non-winterized version of these this year and they are the shoes they grab over and over again this fall when we’re headed out the door! They love how easily they slip on and how they can get them muddy and they easily clean up! If I had it to do all over again I would have definitely grabbed this winter version for warmth later into the season!
4: Absolutely obsessed with these from the BareSteps line! They come in pink & brown!
5: These are the winter boots we’ve had for the last 2 years and it amazes me how flexible they are! Helps SO much with balance in the snow & ice. Pro tip: SIZE UP. Target has a version from this same brand that appears to be a good budget option!
6: Furry high-tops from Ten Little. I adore the minimalist profile of Ten Littles + I love that they also have strap-extenders for orthotics or extra wide feet! Plus, it’s a Mama-owned brand, so you can’t beat that! If you’re like me and hate to pay shipping, consider joining their membership program, where you’ll get 10% off every order + free shipping! They also have an incredible shop of play items that are expert-curated and non-toxic!
7: You’ll see SeeKaiRun ALL over every single one of my shoe guides and I’m excited to introduce you to their BRAND NEW style, the Viento! An adorably classic style that still checks most of the barefoot shoe boxes!
8: This loafer is a great dress-shoe option for little boys.
9: This is the SeeKaiRun for Target winter boot option! More cost-effective but doesn’t come up as high—so just consider that based on your level of snow play.
10: I was excited on my recent Target run to see this new style from SeeKaiRun (they took some feedback/concerns about their former style, the Stryker and made improvements). It’s a much more affordable option compared to the styles on their website. When I reached out, they explained that the Target line is minimally designed, which creates less waste for the planet and provides the barefoot style at a more affordable price. To me, this may mean they don’t hold up as well for multiple children but if you’re looking for a great budget sneaker option, this is it!
11: My favorite shoe brand has also released this Chelsea boot with a super flexible sole and wide toe box! I also love their Mary Janes! And stay tuned for another super exciting new release for my girlies!
12: Same tried and true brand as above, but now they make this stinking CUTE mid-top option! Truthfully I don’t love high tops because they can be restrictive to ankle motion at times, but the mid-rise allows for more warmth while not compromising flexibility!
13: These are the same winter boots we used last year, just a lower profile. If you don’t get a lot of snowfall where you live, these would be a great option! They’re waterproof and insulated so they could even work for the early spring months!
14: How COOL are these?! Saguaro is a fantastic mid-range price option for a solid barefoot shoe option! use code movementmama for a discount
15: We’ve ordered these for several years as dress shoes for our oldest and I’ve been very pleased!
16: I see lots of little fashionistas rocking these this winter!
17: Lightweight, waterproof, & warm! What more could you want?! Plus, my 4 year old says these look like shoes a knight would wear :)
18: I have been waiting for years now for the barefoot world to begin making a more classic-looking shoe. As cute as I think some of these brands above are, often you can just tell they’re different than their mainstream counterparts. But NOT THIS LINE from Little Love Bug! I snagged this pair for my 4 year old and I’m obsessed. They’re so adorable but also so great for his feet!!
19: This is the updated version of those pictured that we got for Ada June a couple years ago and she loved them!
20: Another great barefoot style from Saguaro but with a fuzzy insole! These look so cozy but note that they’re not for deep snow play, as they are not fully water resistant!
21: Our entire family has recently tried this budget barefoot brand and we’ve been pleased at the value for the cost. For an everyday shoe, I got my 4 year old these. While they aren’t directly comparable to higher-end brands, they’re a great budget option! I grabbed these for myself for everyday sneakers and I love them!
22: These boots work great for winter + early spring for keeping little toes warm and dry! The sole looks rigid to me but SO many community members said they’re flexible!
There are so many other great styles for kids (& some for parents too) from these
tried & true brands:
Splay (code: movement for 10% off)
WoolyBubs (great for smaller feet)
Origo (code movementmama for 10% off)
Saguaro (code movementmama for 10% off)
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
and ps: if there’s a shoe you love that doesn’t make this list, simply reference this blog post to see if it fits the ideal criteria. Do the best you can and don’t stress if it doesn’t check every single box :)
