Best Summer Shoes for Toddlers – All You Need to Know!

As warm days and summer roll in, your kid’s wardrobe changes along with it. The transition from snow boots to lightweight sandals, clogs, and sneakers becomes very easy when you know where and how to find the best summer shoes for toddlers.

When shopping for summer shoes, always keep safety and comfort in mind. Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry – consider our top 7 picks and go through the buying guide to get your hands on all the information you need.

Best Summer Shoes for Toddlers for 2023 Review: Key Features, Pros, and Cons

The million-dollar question is: How to choose the best summer shoes for toddlers in 2023 when there are hundreds of them available in the market? This list of the best summer shoes is the answer. The in-depth reviews below will help you make the right choice.

Image	Brand	Size	Colors	Material	Sole	Details
BEST OVERALL	Keen	1-4 years	Blue Depths/Chartreuse	Synthetic	Rubber Sole	Check price
PREMIUM PICK	Merrell	1-4 years	Olive/Camo	Synthetic	Rubber Sole	Check price
BEST VALUE	Saucony	Varying Sizes	Grey/Purple	Leather	Synthetic Sole	Check price
	Crocs	Varying Sizes	Black/Blue	Croslite	Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sole	Check price
	Stride Rite	Different Sizes	Silver	Leather & Textile	Synthetic Sole	Check price
	Native	Varying Sizes - True to Size	Crayon Yellow/Shell White	Synthetic	Rubber Sole	Check price
	Sperry	Different Sizes	Navy Saltwash	Textile	Rubber Sole	Check price

1. Keen Unisex Kid’s Newport H2 Sandal

We want the best for our kids – so do you, that is why you are here! If you are searching for a summer shoe that will fit your kid’s cute little fit feet perfectly, is comfortable, and is easy on the pocket, you will love our best overall choice, the Keen Unisex Kid’s Newport Sandals.

We loved using this high-rated shoe with excellent arch support for our kids, ensuring that they move around comfortably. Made of 100% synthetic polyester, the shoe has vented gaps for excellent air circulation.

The sandal is lightweight and has a flexible rubber midsole. The midsole cushions and supports your underfoot. The design of the shoe allows the kids to have a responsive feel as they play outdoors.

What we really like is the rugged outsole that gives exceptional control and grip on wet surfaces.

2. Merrell Unisex-Child Hydro Junior Sport Sandal

All the hard work we do, all the long hours we put in at the office are for the benefit of our family – we do all the hard work to ensure that they get the best of the best. Merrell Unisex Sport Sandal is a premium product that is worth every single penny.

They are the best water shoes for kids with wide feet, which makes them an excellent choice. The flexible and lightweight shoes are great for a day of fun at the beach or even your backyard on a hot summer’s day.

The shoe is made of textile materials and synthetic leather. It has padding not only in the footbed but around the collar as well. These amazing features ensure that your kids stay comfortable as they play outdoors.

3. Saucony Unisex-Child Baby Jazz Hook & Loop Sandal

We all know that kids grow up really fast, especially toddlers. Therefore, it makes perfect sense if you are looking for an affordable pair of summer shoes that your kid will wear for one season only before outgrowing them.

The Saucony Unisex Shoes are not only comfortable for your kids’ feet but are comfortable on your pockets as well. With an affordable price tag, these sneakers are perfect for toddlers who have wide feet.

The Velcro closure design provides a custom fit so that your kid can easily adjust the size according to their comfort level. The shoes are available in various colors and sizes and have non-marking rubber soles that give excellent grip and traction.

4. Crocs Unisex-Child Kids’ Literide Clog – Best Classic Crocs for Kids

We all have a pair or two of Crocs lying around the house – you love them, your kids will love their classic crocs as well. These comfortable slip-on clogs are available in 9 cute colors and boast a sink-in footbed that is very comfortable.

The lightweight foam adds to the comfort of the shoes. What we really like as parents is that the shoes are really easy to clean. Our kids keep exploring the outdoors and it is hard to keep cleaning their shoes all the time, and this makes these shoes an attractive choice for the parents as well.

With 100% Croslite construction and an ethylene-vinyl acetate sole, the shoes can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Combining science and aesthetics, Crocs have come up with these comfortable shoes for your kids that they are going to love wearing!

5. Stride Rite Made2Play Toddler and Little Boys Indy Athletic Sneaker – Best Active Shoes

 Childhood is a very precious time and kids love to explore every little nook and cranny with their inquisitive minds. To make sure that your kid stays comfortable while roaming around in the backyard in the summer, you have to buy the best active shoes for them, with excellent foot support.

The Stride Rite Made2Play shoes have leather and textile construction with synthetic soles. The cute little joggers come in bright colors that easily complement gym-class clothes, dresses, etc. The leather and mesh upper make the shoes durable and comfortable.

The ortholite memory foam footbed and the rubber outsole provide maximum comfort to your kid’s tiny little feet. The lightweight shoes have a hook and loop closure that makes the shoes easy to take on and off.

6. Native Shoes Unisex-Child Jefferson Junior Water Shoe – Best Rubber Shoes for Toddlers

No matter how old your kids are, they need a good pair of shoes that provide excellent value for your hard-earned money. As parents ourselves we believe that shoes should not only be comfortable, but durable and sturdy so that they can withstand a bit of wear and tear.

Therefore, we recommend the Native Shoes Junior Water Shoe, which is not only comfortable but highly durable as well. It is made of high-quality rubber that adds to its durability.

The lightweight foam at the bottom of the shoes increases their comfort level. The water-friendly design of the shoes allows kids to have fun in the swimming pool, at the beach, etc. without worrying about ruining their shoes.

The shoes have excellent grip, particularly on muddy surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about your kid falling down as a result of poor traction.

7. Sperry Halyard Hook & Loop Boat Shoe – Best Sneakers for Toddlers

The last but certainly not the least product on our list of shoes for toddlers is the Sperry Halyard shoes that are not only great for outdoor play but also look nice for a dinner with family and friends.

As parents, we can appreciate that our kids can wear these shoes everywhere and still look stylish! These sneakers come in six different colors. We actually chose the navy salt wash canvas shoes since they go with almost everything.

The shoes are easy to wear, and your kids can quickly slip them on and off, as the need arises. Want to know a secret? Even though these are summer shoes, they work great for fall and spring as well – simply get your kids to wear socks with them and they will be good to go!

Buying Guide

There are several summer shoes for toddlers available in the market. What makes one summer shoes better than the other? To know this, you have to look at features such as material, cushioning, traction, etc.

Let’s take a look at some of the factors you need to keep an eye out for in this compact yet comprehensive buying guide.

Material

One of the most important things to keep an eye out for is the material of the shoe. Whether the summer shoes will be comfortable or not, durable or not, etc. depend on the material of the shoes. Synthetic leather shoes – such as Saucony Unisex-Child Baby Jazz Hook & Loop Sandal –  are best when it comes to durability.

Moreover, they are versatile, lightweight, and waterproof to some extent. Shoes with fabric and mesh uppers – such as Stride Rite Made2Play Toddler and Little Boys Indy Athletic Sneaker – have excellent breathability but can’t withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Cushioning

The second factor that is important when it comes to summer shoes for toddlers is that the shoes should have an excellent cushioning system. The cushioning system will help with shock absorption, which is vital for keeping your kid’s feet safe.

Good shoes – such as the Saucony Unisex-Child Baby Jazz Hook & Loop Sandal– have thick EVA padding in the insole or midsole to provide ultimate cushioning.

Traction

We all know how hard it is to stop the toddlers from running around the house and backyard like crazy. If the shoes they are wearing don’t have proper grip and traction, they will keep falling down and hurting themselves.

Ensure that the outsole of the shoes has excellent grip and traction. The two most common outsole materials that are available in the market are rubber and plastic. Both work well for outdoor play.

Keen Unisex Kid’s Newport H2 Sandal has a rugged outsole which gives maximum traction and excellent grip.

Style

We all want our kids to have fun while looking picture-perfect. Look for summer shoes that come in bright, pleasing colors that will look good on your kids. Moreover, search for shoes that are versatile and can be worn on multiple occasions such as the Sperry Halyard Hook & Loop Boat Shoe.

Easy to Clean

Being parents ourselves, we know how hard it is to do laundry for a kid. Load after load after load and then some! In such a situation, cleaning the shoes is not an easy job, especially if you have to do it by hand.

Search for summer shoes that are machine washable, such as Keen Unisex Kid’s Newport H2 Sandal, to take a load off your shoulders and into the machine, folks!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are infant and toddler shoes the same?

Technically, no. Shoes for toddlers and infants are different in shape, size, and construction, The shoe sizes for kids are broken down into infant, toddler, and big kid sizes. The infant & toddler sizes range from 0 to 13, and the toddler shoes usually have a ‘T’ next to a number that indicates it is a toddler shoe.

Conclusion

We all love summers – especially kids, who love making sand castles on the beach, running around the backyard, or jumping around in the swimming pool. With the right pair of summer shoes, you can double the amount of summer they have.

With so many options available, it is easy for you to get confused. In this article, we have reviewed the best summer shoes for toddlers that are comfortable, affordable, and durable.

The in-depth reviews and the compact yet comprehensive buying guide will make the final choice a lot easier for you.

Happy Summer Holidays, Folks!