What Are the Best Shoes for Kids Learning to Walk?

Baby’s first step isn’t just adorable, it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey. One moment they’re wobbling around like penguins, the next they’re sprinting towards the dog bowl. What’s a parent to do? It might be time to lace up their first pair of shoes. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know—and explain why barefoot-style shoes might just be the best fit for your budding explorer.

But we also know that new parents are busy, so if you want the TLDR, here’s our list right out of the (baby) gate:

• The Tepastelu: Lightweight and water-resistant. Great for everyday adventures.

• The Viikari: Burlier tread and reflective details for rainy day escapades.

• The Hyppi: A boot-style shoe that’s perfect for fall, with mid-high ankles.

The Astelu: Our best-selling kids’ shoe, honored by the prestigious APMA.

Buying Their First Pair of Shoes: Why Barefoot is Important

When kids are taking their first steps, connections are being made (and strengthened) between their body and their brains. And so many muscles are involved. Core muscles stabilize the trunk and pelvis. Hip flexors and extensors initiate leg movement. Quads and hamstrings control knee motion. And calf muscles and foot flexors manage push-off and balance. 

Here’s the secret—they’ve already been working on these connections through tummy time, crawling, and pulling themselves up to stand. Humans evolved to walk on two legs, and we’ve got a tried and true method to get there, perfected through millions of years of evolution, most of those without shoes.

Once your child learns to stand, another system joins the party: the vestibular system. Part of the inner ear, this system uses proprioceptors in the body’s joints and muscles to regulate balance. You can think of proprioceptors as tiny sensors that act as your body’s internal GPS. They’re constantly updating the brain on the location of your limbs—without you having to look. They’re the reason you can walk in the dark or balance on one foot without falling over.

So when your kid takes their first steps without tipping over, you can thank proprioceptors. Every time they toddle about barefoot, they’re receiving important feedback from the ground—which we also call ground feel. 

If you want to continue to strengthen that connection between foot and mind, it’s important to retain the connection between the foot and the ground. But as much as parents would love to keep their kids safe and sound at home (and possibly barefoot), sooner or later, they’re going to have to step outside.

That’s where barefoot toddler shoes come in handy.

Barefoot Shoes for Toddlers

At Reima, we design shoes—and clothing—exclusively for children. That means no scaled-down adult models here. Our barefoot shoes start from the ground up, with custom-built lasts (the form that shapes the shoe) made specifically for growing feet. Every detail is intentional, built around three core principles: zero-drop heels for natural posture, wide toe boxes for balance and toe splay, and lightweight, flexible soles that move with your child, not against them. These features aren’t just technical specs, they’re tools that support your little one’s journey from first wobbles to confident steps. Let’s explore how barefoot shoes can help them walk strong, steady, and naturally.

Zero Drop Heels

A heel with no drop means that the heel and toe in a shoe are level, just like when you’re barefoot. This zero-drop design promotes a more balanced gait by allowing young walkers to engage the full range of foot and lower leg muscles. As they build stronger arches and improve ankle mobility, children naturally develop better coordination and postural alignment. Mimicking the foot’s natural movement, zero-drop shoes encourage midfoot or forefoot striking, which helps distribute impact forces more evenly and supports the development of lifelong, healthy movement patterns.

Wide Toe Box

A wide toe box allows for splayed toes, or the natural spreading of the toes when the foot bears down. This toe spread is essential as kids begin to toddle and find their balance, helping stabilize their stance and activate key muscles in the feet and lower legs. With proper space to engage, toes can grip, adjust, and respond to uneven surfaces, enhancing postural alignment and sensory feedback (that proprioceptive “ground feel” we touched on earlier). Beyond balance, a roomy toe box supports natural foot development and reduces the risk of long-term issues like bunions or hammertoes as their bodies grow and adapt.

Lightweight, Flexible Soles

Reima builds toddler shoes with thin-yet-durable soles, giving young walkers an intimate relationship with the ground they tread. Soft soles allow toddlers to flex, grip, and stretch their feet just as they would while barefoot. This ground feel allows kids to adjust their steps accordingly, improving coordination and balance. But don’t worry, these soles are still thick enough to defend against life’s grittier surfaces, like stray gravel, sticky sidewalk spills, or rocks and roots.

 Now that you know more about the benefits of barefoot shoes for toddlers learning how to walk, you might be interested in trying some out. Need help choosing a pair? We’ve got plenty of options, but we’ll point you in the right direction with a few of our favorites for each season.

The Tepastelu is lightweight and water-resistant, making it a great option for everyday adventures. It features removable insoles and hook-and-loop closures that even toddlers will be able to practice putting on and taking off themselves. 

When the weather turns, but you still want to take advantage of barefoot technology, we’ve got the Viikari, with burlier tread for rain-slicked playgrounds and reflective details for family walks on shorter fall and winter days. But don’t worry, the soles are still flexible for enhancing valuable ground feel for young walkers. Looking for a boot style for crunching autumn leaves? We recommend the Hyppi, which comes with mid-high ankles, reflective detailing, and one easy-on hook-and-loop closure. 

And if you came for the toddler shoes, why not stay for the Astelu, our best-selling kids’ barefoot shoes? They’ve been honored by the prestigious American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, which is granted to products that have been rigorously reviewed and shown to provide exceptional support, comfort, and overall foot health benefits. Plus, they’re machine-washable and both the knitted upper and insole lining are made from 100% recycled materials. These are shoes you—and your child—can feel good wearing.