Best Kids Shoe Stores in NYC (Plus Smart Online Buying Tips)

Why Kids Shoe Shopping in NYC Is Its Own Adventure

Kids' feet don't wait for a convenient moment to grow. One week your toddler fits perfectly into a size 8, and three weeks later you're squeezing their toes into something that should've been retired a month ago. In New York City, the good news is that you have access to some genuinely excellent kids shoe stores — places where trained staff will actually measure your child's feet and help you find something that fits. The bad news is that not every shoe store in the city is worth your time (or your stroller maneuvering).

This guide covers our favorite neighborhood spots for kids shoe shopping across Manhattan and Brooklyn, plus practical strategies for buying online without ending up with a pile of returns.

UWS: The Best Neighborhood for Kids Shoe Shopping in Manhattan

If you're on the Upper West Side or willing to make the trip, you'll find two standout options within a few blocks of each other — both near the American Museum of Natural History.

Tip Top Kids

Tip Top Kids is the children's counterpart to the beloved Tip Top Shoes, located just two doors away from the adult store on the UWS. Staff here are used to working with wiggly toddlers and opinionated preschoolers, and they'll do a proper measurement before pulling anything off the shelf. The selection skews toward quality brands that hold up — think Stride Rite, Keen, and similar. It's not a budget shop, but for back-to-school or a new pair of sneakers that actually fits, it's hard to beat the service.

Good for: Babies through tweens. Great for first walkers and kids who are between sizes.

Greenstones

Greenstones on Columbus Avenue is a neighborhood institution for kids' gear, and their shoe selection is a real highlight. Like Tip Top Kids, the staff are attentive and know how to fit shoes properly — which matters a lot more than most parents realize until they've dealt with a kid complaining about sore feet. The store carries a thoughtful mix of everyday sneakers and more durable outdoor styles.

Good for: Families already shopping for kids' clothing who want to grab shoes in the same trip. Stroller-friendly layout.

Manhattan Beyond the UWS

Ibiza Kidz

Ibiza Kidz is worth knowing about if you're in a different part of Manhattan and need a reliable, service-oriented shoe shopping experience. The staff take fitting seriously, and the brand mix tends toward the stylish-but-practical range that NYC parents gravitate toward — brands like See Kai Run alongside more familiar names.

DSW Union Square

If you need something more budget-friendly or want a wider selection to browse, DSW at Union Square is significantly better stocked than most other NYC DSW locations. It's a self-service format, so you won't get the hands-on fitting help you'd get at a dedicated kids shoe store — but for older kids who can communicate whether something feels right, it's a solid option. Bring a tape measure or use the foot-measuring devices in-store before grabbing boxes.

Good for: School-age kids and teens. Budget-conscious back-to-school shopping.

Kids Foot Locker

Kids Foot Locker is a reliable chain option if you're specifically after athletic sneakers and sports shoes. Staff can help with sizing, and the selection covers Nike, Adidas, and other major athletic brands. It's not the place for sandals or dress shoes, but for kids who only want sneakers anyway, this works well.

Fabco Shoes

Fabco Shoes is a lesser-known but genuinely useful option — a local chain that tends to carry practical, everyday kids shoes at reasonable prices. Worth checking if you're nearby and need something without a major detour.

Brooklyn: Runnin' Wild Kids

Runnin' Wild Kids is the Brooklyn option that parents keep coming back to. It's a dedicated kids shoe store with staff who understand that a proper fit isn't optional — especially for kids who are walking a lot on New York City sidewalks and playgrounds. The selection emphasizes durable, active styles, and they're comfortable working with kids who need a little extra time to warm up to the process.

Good for: Brooklyn families who don't want to trek to the UWS. Great for active kids who go through shoes fast.

East Village: Jane's Exchange for Consignment

Kids' shoes are expensive, and kids outgrow them in what feels like weeks. Jane's Exchange in the East Village is a children's consignment shop where you can find gently used shoes at a fraction of the original price. The quality varies by visit, but patient shoppers — especially those with kids in the more common sizes — often score excellent finds. It's also a great place to bring outgrown pairs to recoup a little money.

Good for: Budget-conscious families, parents of kids who outgrow shoes before wearing them out, second-time-around toddler shoes.

Smart Strategies for Buying Kids Shoes Online

Not every errand can be a dedicated shoe shopping trip, and sometimes online shopping just makes more sense. Here's how to do it without ending up with a pile of ill-fitting returns.

Measure First, Buy Online Second

The most reliable approach: stop into one of the stores above to get your child's feet properly measured, then use that measurement to order online. Kids' feet are measured in both length and width, and knowing both numbers makes a huge difference — especially for kids with narrow or wide feet. Most quality kids shoe retailers use standard sizing, so a measurement you got at Tip Top Kids will translate accurately to what you order from an online retailer.

Ten Little for Younger Kids

Ten Little is a popular online-only kids shoe brand that includes a reusable foot-measuring size chart with every order. For parents of babies and toddlers who are exhausted by the in-store fitting process, this is genuinely useful. The brand focuses on soft-soled and early-walker styles, and the size chart makes repeat ordering much more confident.

Order from Nordstrom for Easy Returns

If you're buying online and uncertain about fit, Nordstrom is worth the slight price premium for the return experience. Their in-store returns policy means you can order online and return to a physical location without the hassle of repacking and shipping — which makes experimenting with sizing much lower stakes.

Stock Up Strategically During Sales

For parents who've figured out how fast their child's feet grow, buying one size up during end-of-season sales can be a smart move. This works best for everyday sneakers and sandals in predictable styles — not for dress shoes or anything very specific to a season's fit needs. Keep the receipt or order from somewhere with a generous return window just in case.

Brands Worth Buying Online vs. In Person

Some brands are reliable enough in sizing that ordering online feels low-risk once you know your child's size. These include:

• Crocs: Sizing is very consistent and the fit is forgiving. Easy to order online.
• Nike: Good size consistency for older kids. Younger kids may need more fitting attention.
• Keen: Sizing can vary by style; worth trying in-person first, then ordering the same style online in the next size when it's time to replace.
• Stride Rite: Known for width options, which makes in-person fitting especially valuable the first time.
• See Kai Run: Popular with NYC parents for style and durability; sizing is generally reliable once you know your child's number.
• Saguaro: Minimalist barefoot-style shoes with a dedicated following among parents focused on foot development. Worth consulting the brand's own size guide carefully.

What to Skip

Target kids shoes come up often as a disappointment — they tend not to hold up well to the pace of NYC life, where kids are walking significantly more than in car-dependent areas. They're fine for a Halloween costume or a spare pair, but we wouldn't rely on them for everyday wear.

A Few Logistics Notes for NYC Shoe Shopping

• Strollers: Tip Top Kids, Greenstones, and Runnin' Wild Kids are all generally navigable with strollers, though smaller NYC retail spaces can get tight during busy weekend hours. Weekday mornings are almost always easier.
• Timing: The back-to-school rush (late July through early September) makes wait times at fitting-focused stores significantly longer. If your child needs new shoes before September, try to go in June or early July.
• Bring socks: Sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget. Bring the type of sock your child will actually wear with the shoes — athletic socks for sneakers, thin socks or no socks for sandals.
• Let them walk: Any good fitting includes watching your child walk in the shoe. If a store isn't giving you space to do that, that's a sign to look elsewhere.