When my 4-year-old developed a series of blisters on the base of her big toe while wearing a pair of beloved Crocs, I went down a rabbit hole on Reddit to figure out whether every kid’s favorite summer shoe was actually the best. Bad. What I discovered: Crocs-style shoes aren’t just ugly. (I said it.) They can cause real harm to our children’s delicate piglets, developing gaits, and more—at least according to the internet.
To dig a little deeper, I contacted a real-life pediatric podiatrist…and promptly pried the tiny pink Crocs off my one-year-old’s adorable little feet. Here’s why.
What makes Crocs-style shoes potentially problematic?
Every time a doctor like Priya Parthasarathy, DPM, spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association and American Foot and Ankle Specialists Partners in Silver Spring, MD, tells you that something is OK.”ModerateIt turns out that Crocs shoes are “good for short-term pool/beach wear,” but “don’t provide enough arch support or adequate heel stability for kids,” says Dr. Parthasarathy.
Unlike sneakers, sandals, and water shoes with laces, Velcro, or buckles, Crocs are unique in their material (foam), coupled with a roomy fit, lack of arch support, and lack of stability. What’s more, the backstrap doesn’t do much to hold the shoe in place – which is why my poor son has a Band-Aid on each toe.
“The combination of the plastic construction and lack of heel support may have required him to grip the inside of the shoe with his toes while walking, leading to blisters,” Parthasarathy told me. “Crocs are also waterproof but not moisture-wicking, so if his feet sweat in Crocs, it could cause friction blisters.” Ike.
At this point, you may be thinking, “But my kid is wearing Crocs socks!” However, it’s worth noting that in some cases, socks can only help protect feet from Crocs blisters because they can either Absorbs sweat, improves fit, and provides another layer of foot protection…or traps moisture and further causes friction blisters. What do they mean by good intentions?
Even less cool: “The full impact we may not know [wearing Crocs as regular shoes] for years to come,” said Parthasarathy, noting that long-term consequences such as hammer toes and pain in the balls of the feet may occur. *gulp* This is the basis for Sever’s disease (swelling and irritation of the growth plate in the heel) and all the other impending injuries that can occur when children’s shoes accidentally fall off their feet while playing.
But Crocs aren’t all bad, right?
Any adult with multiple kids or limited patience for strapping shoes to little ones’ feet knows that Crocs-style shoes allow toddlers to practice independence while away from home, and that’s not a big deal. “My 3-year-old can wear Crocs on his own, which is a godsend when I’m trying to get three little boys, including a one-year-old, out the door quickly,” says Parthasarathy. She also gives Crocs a thumbs up for kids with wide feet because they keep the toes splayed and prohibit hammertoes.
In 2019, another podiatrist, Dr. Emily Splichal, also brought Crocs-style shoes to the table in an interview with Romper (conditional) gave a thumbs up and said: “Actually, I don’t object to children wearing Crocs, as long as they walk mechanically in the correct way and lift their feet with every step. If the child can control the mobility of the feet, then wear Crocs There is no negative impact.
Of course, those shoes that fashion has forgotten about get bonus points for being easy to clean, lightweight, breathable, and cushioned. During the brief spell outdoors, there’s no doubt they’ll be playing barefoot — at least according to this mom who stepped on a bee on the beach last summer and still cringes at the memory.
How important is “appropriate” shoes for children?
Recently, after 72 rounds of trying to convince my one-year-old to wear Vans sneakers instead of “DEESE SHOES!” (her pink Crocs), I gave up. (Sorry, Dr. Parthasarathy!) Then I was wracked with guilt—my daughter had only been walking for about six months, and for two of those months she had been wearing nothing but Crocs, and she couldn’t be happier. She doesn’t fall or complain about sore feet; she’s always drawn to the shoes. How much harm have we done here?
“The right shoes are so “This is important, especially for young children,” Parthasarathy reiterated as I slumped in my seat. “Children who don’t have shoes that fit their feet often come into my office with heel pain, complaining of foot fatigue or arch pain,” she warns.
Fortunately, my daughter has not made any verbal complaints so far. (To be fair, she probably doesn’t have the words to express that.) But Parthasarathy insists it’s an especially bad choice for young children who haven’t yet mastered the whole art of walking. “With the lack of a Velcro or lace-up closure, they have to work harder to keep the Crocs in place, which can lead to trips and falls, especially for wide feet.”
While there’s no gold standard for the best shoes for every child, the best shoes for your child are ones that are wide enough to accommodate their feet, have a sturdy heel counter (i.e. the back won’t collapse), and are suitable for activities – no Football lesson sandals, obvi.
So, what shoes does Parthasarathy recommend?
Sneakers aren’t always an option. In fact, they’re terrible anywhere your feet get wet.
“My one year old wears water shoes because they stay on his feet and provide a protective layer on the hot pool deck/sand, and my three year old wears Crocs because he can put them on and off by himself, Also to give him some protection at the pool/beach/yard, my 8 year old wears Birkenstock’s EVA waterproof sandals that he can slip on and off, which give him more arch support and a deeper heel cup To ensure stability,” revealed Parthasarathy. She also likes the ORA Recovery Slide 3 Youth Sandal | HOKA® if you’re really ready to leave fashion behind.
Sometimes? “You just have to walk the alligator route to get out of the house,” she said. “As long as you limit the time your child wears them and choose the appropriate wearing environment, they’ll be fine.”
In other words, keep your family’s Crocs in rotation for pool and beach use or short-term errands—no “ifs,” “ands” or “buts” and absolutely no playgrounds.
Scary Mommy reached out to Crocs for comment but had not received a response as of press time.
