What’s the Best Shoe for Your Child? After 14 Years of Fitting Kids, Here’s My Answer

I’ve been a children’s shoe store owner for 14 years, and the question I get asked most by parents of first walkers through about age 4 or 5 is: “What’s the best shoe?”

Usually, they’re asking while staring at all the different shoes in front of them.

The truth is, I haven’t found one “best” shoe. The best shoe is the one that fits your child’s foot best. Some kids have wide feet, some narrow. Some have high insteps, chunky little feet, or very sensitive feet. Every foot is different.

Do I have my favorites? Of course I do. I see a chunky baby foot coming my way and usually already have a shoe in mind!

What am I looking for when I fit a child?

A measurement gives me a place to start, but a lot of fitting comes from actually observing your child’s foot.

How easily does their foot go into the shoe? How does it fit across the width and instep? Is the heel secure? Is there enough room for growth without the shoe being too big? And once the shoes are on, how does your child walk and move in them?

Sometimes you can tell almost immediately that a shoe just isn't right for that particular foot. That doesn't make it a bad shoe. It just isn't the right shoe for that child.

Sometimes the best shoe isn’t the one you came in for

This one can be tough.

Sometimes a parent comes in with their heart set on a particular brand, shoe, or style. We try it on…and it just isn't the best fit. Then we try something else that fits beautifully, but it isn't necessarily the shoe Mom or Dad would have chosen.

Meanwhile, the child is thrilled.

Maybe it's the hot pink sparkly high-top. Maybe it's the bright red light-up Spider-Man shoe.

After doing this for 14 years, I’ve come to think that's really such a small ask from a child. They're only going to wear that shoe for a relatively short period of time anyway. If it fits properly, is comfortable, and they're excited to put it on every morning, that's a pretty big win.

Sometimes the shoe your child loves—and that fits them well—is a better choice than the shoe we adults had pictured in our heads.

What if you can’t come into the store?

Whenever possible, it’s best to try shoes on in person. But if you can’t make it into the store, reach out to us by chat or email. Tell us a little about your child’s foot and what you’re looking for, and we’ll give you our honest opinion. After fitting thousands of kids over the years, we know a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.

We have tried and true brands and styles that have been in our store for years, but we’re always willing to give new brands and new styles a chance. If a shoe doesn’t fit well or simply doesn’t work for our customers, you probably won’t see it in our store again.

So don’t get too hung up on finding the “best” brand or the shoe everyone else says you should buy.

Find the shoe that works best for your child.

That’s the best shoe.