The 8 best swim shoes for babies and toddlers

A selection of baby swim shoes on a blue gradient background

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

Whether you're planning a holiday overseas or days out at the local lido, a pair of the best baby swim shoes should be on your list of summer must-haves for infants and toddlers, along with their adorable baby swimwear. They are becoming as essential as a toddler wetsuit and baby swim towel in your changing bag.

Swimming shoes will keep your little one's feet secure around slippery surfaces and cushion them from sharp objects, such as stones, shells, and loose pool tiles. Swim shoes are also great for protecting infants' and toddlers' feet on hot surfaces. Sand can become blisteringly hot during the peak of a summer's day. Swim sandals will help protect little feet as they go from splashing around in the sea to building sandcastles on the beach.

The best baby swim shoes at a glance:

Best swim shoes with UV protection: Playshoes Beach Footwear – £16.99

Best swim shoe for its cute design: Baby Water Shoe - £4.09
Best lightweight swim shoes: Mabove Kids Swim Water Shoes – £16.99
Best swim shoes made with recycled materials: Adidas Water Sandals – £23.00

It doesn't matter if you're choosing swimming shoes or sandals - you will want to make sure any shoes that you pick for your bubba are well fitted to their feet. You will need to ensure they won't slip off while also having room for growth. With all of this in mind, we have selected the best baby swim shoes for infants and toddlers that will keep their little feet cool and comfortable.

The best baby swim shoes

Best slip-on shoes

These slip-on Swimbubs Water Shoes fit like socks and are easy to slip on and off little feet. They are fast-drying water shoes made from stretchable spandex and polyester with a rubber anti-slip sole. Ideal for allowing little feet to breathe in hot weather, they come with a heel pull loop, making it easy to put on and take off on sweaty or wet bare feet.

Review: "I cannot express how essential this item is when going to the swimming pool or the beach. They keep those little toes safe. They are easy to put on. Easy to wash. Love the price too. Very good quality. All mums out there, I can't recommend those enough! They are a must-have." These swim booties are ideal for protecting tiny toes from hot and slippery surfaces. They have a Velcro fastening, so you can get them on and off your little one's feet with ease."

Pros

  • Breathable for hot weather
  • Easy to pull on and off

Cons

  • Have a small fit
Material: 100% polyester neoprene
Outer Material:Polyester
Sole:Rubber
Heel height:0.5cm
  • Rubber Gum Sole
  • Quick drying
  • Breathable
  • Anti-slip sole

Best swim shoe with back stay tabs

Peach Textured Aqua Shoes are functional, beautifully designed and well made. They are great for keeping your tots safe around the swimming pool or keeping toes from those hot sandy beach days. With a selection its stunning design, these aqua shoes are reasonably priced and fit comfortably on little feet.

Review: "These are lovely, bright pool shoes with good Velcro fastening, which are easy to take off and put on. They were nice for holiday wear, and i highly recommend."

Pros

  • Scuba feel fabric
  • Hook and loop tape fastening
  • Textured upper
  • Backstay tabs
  • Lightly gripped outer sole

Cons

  • Recommended wipe clean only
Material:  Oeko Tex Standard 100
  • Non-slip sole
  • Recommended hand-wash only
  • UPF 50+ protection
  • Lightweight
  • Fast drying

Best swim shoes with UV protection

Did you know that these Playshoes Beach Footwear have UV protection? The soles are made from non-slip thermoplastic rubber for safety and protection. Made with a quick-drying material, they're ideal for your summer holidays in the sun. The Velcro strap ensures these water shoes stay secure on your child's feet, while the tab at the heel will allow you to take them on and off with ease.

Review: "I ordered these in 2 sizes as my daughter is 22 months old and a size 5, so I wasn't sure which would fit her. The size 4 fitted perfectly but no room to grow for the summer, the size 6 was too big, but they are the ones I am keeping as I can pull the velcro tighter for while they are too big. It's a pity they don't do a size 5. Pretty little shoes and look comfortable, they were just for in the garden in the summer months and for in and out of the pool."

Pros

  • UV protection 50+
  • Anti-slip TPR sole

Cons

  • Size range limiting
Outer material:Fabric
Sole:Rubber
Heel height:Flat
UV protection: Yes
  • Non-slip TPR sole
  • Velcro closure for quick putting on and taking off
  • Quick-drying material

Best lightweight swim shoes

Available in 15 different designs, your little one is sure to find a design of these Mabove Kids Swim Water Shoes that suit them. Very light in weight, these baby swim shoes will be easy to pack for a day at the local lido or beach or fit easily into your suitcase when packing. They come with extra fabric around the toes for additional comfort and protection.

Review: "Good size, plenty of grip in the wet. Flat rubber-style sole with the upper stitched to it. Our little one has hardly taken them off since getting them. They have been using them for running around the garden as well as in the paddling pool. They've worked great to stop the moans when stepping on hidden stones in the grass, too - bonus all round."

Pros

  • 15 different designs
  • Extra durable on the toes

Cons

  • Don't wash well
Outer material:Polyester + Spandex
Sole:Rubber
Heel height:0.2cm
  • Removable Insole
  • Lightweight & Flexible
  • Non-slip

Best stylish and comfortable swim shoes

The Adidas Closed-Toe Water Sandals offer both style and comfort. They're finished in the typical Adidas style, with the classic three stripes down the side. It has a cushioned footbed, and the closed-toe design of these baby swim shoes provides extra coverage for when your child is splashing around, and the design allows your toddler's toes to breathe and dry quickly. Made with a special grippy anti-slip sole, these shoes will prevent falling on slippy surfaces and protect feet from hot sands and sharp shells too. They're designed to give your little one a barefoot feeling, so they shouldn't have any problems keeping them on all day.

Review: "Bought these for my granddaughter for her holidays, they are great for around the pool, on the beach, in the sea or as an everyday summer sandal."

Pros

  • Cushioned for extra comfort
  • Dry quickly

Cons

  • Runs small
Material:Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
Outer material:91% polyamide, 9% elastane
Sole:87% PVC, 13% cotton
  • Hook-and-loop adjustable bandage wings
  • Cushioned midsole
  • Textile lining
  • Closed toe with quick-dry openings

Best easy-to-wash and dry swim shoes

The DigiHero water shoes are made from a smooth, stretch material, allowing your child to move their feet easily as they would if in bare feet. Available in 7 designs, they have quick-dry ability, so your little ones can avoid having soggy feet when wearing them out of the water. You can also remove the insole for easy washing.

Review: "Love the design. They fit great and are just what I wanted for my daughter to wear when we go swimming, as I didn't want her walking around barefoot just in case she picks up germs or a verruca etc. My daughter normally hates keeping any sort of shoe on, but she loves these and wants to wear them all the time."

Pros

  • Good grip underfoot
  • Very comfortable
  • Wash well

Cons

  • Fit comes up a bit small
Outer material:Fine stretch fabric
Sole:Rubber
Heel height: 0.5cm
  • Anti-slip sole
  • Breathable and quick-drying upper
  • Lightweight and stretchy

Best swim shoes for a cute design

Comfortable, breathable and soft and making swimming days for your little one a breeze. They feature a textured outsole that provides additional traction, which is made from thickened rubber for comfort. They'll stay secure to your baby's feet thanks to the handy lightweight material.

Pros

  • Flexible
  • Non-slip
  • Comes in two colours: Blue and Pink

Cons

  • Hand wash only
Outer material:Scuba knit fabric
Sole:Rubber
Closure: Hook and Loop
  • Adjustable velcro closure
  • Breathable material
  • Quick drying

Best swim shoes made with soft cushioning

Be the coolest kid at the pool in these Adidas Infant Sandals. With its soft EVA footbed, your little one's feet will be comfortably cushioned while wearing these swim sandals. If you're an environmentally conscious parent, you will be pleased to know these swim shoes are partly made with recycled materials.

Review: "My 3-year-old twin boys love them. Super comfortable. They even wear them out of the water and around the garden."

Pros

  • Sustainable
  • Breathable
  • Mesh upper

Cons

  • Doesn't dry quickly
Outer material:Breathable mesh
Comfort: Soft EVA footbed
Sustainability: 25% of the components used to make the upper are made with a minimum of 50% recycled content
  • Breathable mesh upper
  • Large instep with hook-and-loop closure
  • Rubber outsole with protective toe

How to choose baby swim shoes

Material – Different materials have different properties. For example, if you want something breathable, then you might not want to go for a scuba fabric, as these are likely to keep their toes warm. If you want something that dries quickly, you might want to go for a lighter-weight fabric. Be sure to check the specifications and material properties before you buy.

Use – It's also essential to consider where you'll be using the swim shoes. If it's in the sea, then you might want to opt for shoes that are very durable on the bottom to protect their sensitive feet from any sharp shells or rocks. If they'll only be wearing them in a pool, then something more lightweight might be better suited.

Sole – If your child is running everywhere (they'll walk instead of run soon, we promise), then you'll want to go for an anti-slip sole to avoid any nasty falls. Also, if it's the hot surfaces of pool tiles or sand you want to protect them from, a thicker sole may be better suited.

Types – Some swim shoes come with fastenings, others simply pull on and off, while some are built with holes in to keep your child's feet breathing in the hot weather so things don't get soggy and uncomfortable for them.

Do babies need swim shoes?

If your baby isn't yet walking, then baby swim shoes are not a necessity for them just yet, just dry their feet with baby swim towel. If they are toddling about or confidently running into the sea, then baby swim shoes are a very good idea to help protect their feet from sharp objects, hot sand and shells.

What should baby wear when swimming?

While we might be happy in minimal clothing while swimming, babies and toddlers need more protection, they can't regulate their temperature like we can, so you will want to make sure your little one is wearing swimwear or a wetsuit or baby swimming vest that will keep them warm. A swim nappy is also essential for your baby to wear while swimming.

How we test and choose recommended products

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.

For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Rosie Floyd is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, working across a number of brands including Yours, Mother&Baby and What’s The Best.

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