Beach Sandals and Water Shoes For Toddlers and Kids

Protecting your children’s sensitive feet from hot sand, jagged rocks, and slime is crucial when spending time by the ocean. While walking barefoot is really beneficial for children, wearing beach shoes for toddlers and bigger kids is highly recommended to avoid injuries. To get an idea of what is the best footwear for wet environments, here we picked up some aqua socks and sandals we love the most!

KEEN Unisex Newport Water Sandal for Kids

For great support against a rocky bottom, these Unisex Newport Beach Sandals from KEEN are an excellent choice. These sturdy closed toe kids beach shoes offer terrific drainage and are made from water-repelling fabric. The bottoms are built to clear away dirt in spaces where the water or sea bottom is particularly slimy.

The lacing mechanism is easy to adjust so your child can easily get into and out of these shoes on their own. Finally, the sole of these kids water shoes has extra support in the arch offering more stability for your child. Available in a wide variety of colors, this Keen Sandal is perfect for girls and boys from toddlers to bigger kids.

Crocs Kids Water Sandals

Probably there is no person on earth doesn’t know Crocs. Considered as therapeutic shoes, Crocs are light, airy, provide relief from foot pain and can be worn for all types of activities from around the house to work, and are extremely comfy for the beach. When your kids are big enough to wade in the water, a Crocs Water Sandal offers a nice stable base so they can play and splash without facing a tumble risk.

Toddlers and bigger kids love this open toe beach sandal. It is super comfortable, lightweight so won’t weigh the little feet down as well as easy to get on and off thanks to the hook-and-loop closure system. The 100% Croslite construction makes it a good choice for even the hottest summer days because the straps will not rub against the skin. Although, if your toddler has chubby feet, the Classic Kids Clog might offer more comfort.

L-RUN Baby Water Shoes

Of all the things that kids need at the beach, a flexible and soft pair of baby water shoes is something that you should never leave at home! For smaller kids, the L-RUN Infant Aqua Sock Swim Shoes are an excellent choice that will protect the little feet from being hurt by rocks and sharp objects.

These shoes are quite soft and flexible on the bottom but offer a lot of grip and very good water and sand clearance. The upper part is made of a 92% polyester and 8% spandex material upper part make them breathable and quick-drying. For the beach or pool, these baby water shoes offer decent quality for a cheap price!

Isbasic Infant Summer Beach Sandals

If you are in the market for first walker crib shoes that can be used as beach sandals too, the Isbasic Anti-slip Soft Sole Shoes are a terrific choice. These baby sandals offer lots of adjustments, from a wrapping band to snug down the top of the sandal and a Velcro closure that ensure fine adjustments to support natural foot movement.

The sole of these is pretty smooth, yet lightweight anti-slip rubber, making these shoes perfect for new walkers that won’t weigh down the little legs, while the closed to design will prevent the toes from kicking. This super cute baby footwear is available in sizes from 3-6 months to 12-18 months and a variety of colors so no matter you have a boy or girl, it will be easy to choose a color your little nugget will like!

Speedo Kids Water Shoes Surfwalker Pro

The Speedo Surfwalker Pro is considered by one of the best beach shoes for toddlers and bigger by parents since the little ones can get on and off themselves. Sturdy loop at the back and a stretchy upper make these water shoes easy to slip on so your children can put them on or remove without the help of adults.

The hearty rubber bottom and an angled ledge ensure grip on the rocks and comfortable walking on hot sand making any beach trip a lot more enjoyable. These aqua socks for kids dry out quickly and easily thanks to the neoprene material and air mesh insert panels. If looking for practical, good quality kids beach footwear, the Speedo Surfwalker might be one of the best options!

tombik Toddler Boys & Girls Kids Beach Sandals

When looking for what to take to the beach when planning a trip with toddlers, this adorable beach sandal that comes with shark, dinosaur, unicorn designs must be on your packing list. Offering a nice hearty rubber base with great grip, the tombik footbed sandals provide high-level comfort for active children supporting the arch.

The cushioned top closure has a wide Velcro patch that will hang on well, while the back strap is elastic making it easy for your child to put these on before they get to the water’s edge. These beach sandals for kids will dry quickly and be ready to go whether you are headed to the water or running errands.

HOBIBEAR Boys Girls Aquatic Water Shoes

When looking for beach shoes for kids that will get a lot of use, the HOBIBEAR Aquatic Shoes may be the best choice for toddlers and young children. This footwear has a bottom designed to shed water and sand and a curved toe cap to protect your little one from stubbing their toe on a bigger rock.

Made of breathable and fast-drying fabric, these shoes provide comfort for kids while offering great traction for any surface. Hook-and-loop Velcro closure makes them easy-to-adjust and suitable for various foot types. Claimed extremely durable by many mommies, this HOBIBEAR footwear is recommended for heavy usage too!

UBFEN Water Shoes for Boys and Girls

If you want cool-looking, bright beach shoes for bigger kids who find classical toddler water sandals too childish, check out what these UBFREN models offer! These rubber-bottomed, brightly colored, breathable, quick-drying shoes are ideal for any water-related activity such as boating, kayaking, surf and even for snorkeling!

There is a sizable Velcro closure to keep these shoes fitting snugly, so if your little one loves to wade along the shore, you can be sure that these shoes will stick close and provide great traction. Upgraded rubber soles with soft, thickening Insole will protect the little feet from getting hurt by sharp objects and rocks so your kiddos can enjoy a safe playtime by the ocean!

Some Questions About Beach Sandals For Kids

Why Do Kids Need Beach Shoes?

Making your kids wear fitting swim shoes contributes to their safety and ensures comfort. Specially designed protective water footwear allows little ones to walk comfortably and safely in an environment that has many potential dangers like sharp objects, stinging creatures, and slippery surfaces.

If the current is strong, the child will have better traction while wearing aqua sandals. If the bottom is rocky or pebbled, the child will be able to avoid injury in the water. Beach shoes can also protect your kids’ sensitive feet from burns on the hot sand, and they will have much more protection from beach debris.

In many areas that offer fresh water lake access, there is a risk of mollusks attached to rocks on the bottom. These shells can be extremely sharp, so don’t focus on taking beach shoes only to the sea. Your child will need them whenever they swim in the wild and even in the local pool to prevent slipping.

What Type of Kids Water Shoes Are Available?

Water footwear comes in various designs so depending on the beach’s characteristic and the activity your kids do, so everyone can find the best fitting models. Basically, there are three main types of footwear designed to use in wet environments: aqua socks, water shoes, and beach sandals.

Aqua socks are thin and lightweight, made of neoprene, and used mainly while watersports such as canoeing or snorkeling to cover the foot and keep it warm. However, if the purpose is just protecting your kids’ feet from hot sand at a beach where there are no rocks that can cause injuries, easy-to-slip-on quick-drying water socks are a great choice.

Water shoes with thick sole offer better protection against sharp objects and underwater obstacles as well as provide grip on slippery surfaces. Closed-toe beach shoes keep out the sand and protect the toes ensuring a comfortable and safe wearing experience.

Water sandals feature an open-toe design, adjustable straps, and usually rubber soles. Such models offer less protection for the toes but keep the little feet cool during the hottest summer months by allowing better air circulation. Also, sandals dry quicker than closed beach shoes.

How to Choose Beach Shoes for Kids?

When choosing beach shoes for toddlers and babies, the main features should be comfort and protection. Look for models that provide breathability on the top and a durable sole on the bottom.

Plastic shoes might seem to be a good choice since they dry immediately but tend to rub against the skin, therefore it is better to choose water shoes made from neoprene upper and rubber bottom shoes that provide protection and reduce resistance to the shoes.

Consider what activities your son or daughter will be doing in the shoes and how long he/she will be wearing them. If the purpose is just to protect their feet from hot sand, basic aqua socks will be perfect, but if you are visiting beaches where there are slippery rocks and sharp shells, get full-protection beach shoes with sturdy rubber soles.

If you need footwear that is the most comfortable for swimming, the best to choose water sandals that are easy to put on and take off as well as allow the water to flow through the toes easily.

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