9 best kids’ slippers for keeping little feet warm this winter

With cooler temperatures setting in, you’ve probably – like us – been dreaming about slipper season for a while. However, they’re not just reserved for the chilly months of December and beyond – slippers are something of a year-round necessity, especially where children are concerned.

Not only do the right slippers have the power to put a snug spin on lazy Sunday mornings spent playing in the living room or pottering around in the garden, but warm feet will also help to keep your child’s temperature stable, warding off colds, viruses and other nasties.

Socks seem an obvious choice to keep feet cosy but they’re also particularly slippery, especially if your home has wooden floors rather than carpet. Slippers – or slipper socks with soles or grips – will enable kids to run around safely and stay warm while doing so.

But with so many fluffy footwear options out there, how do you choose the perfect pair? Firstly, the right slippers should be lightweight, warm, and comfortable to wear. They also need to be durable: determine where and how often your child will be wearing them, and work out whether hard or soft soles are best suited to your little one’s feet.

For smaller kids and toddlers, you might want to choose a slipper style that offers ankle support – though slippers of any kind aren’t designed to offer foot support over long distances, an adjustable strap can help keep them in place and prevent trips and falls.

And, of course, you’ll want them to look great. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of prints, styles, and colours out there right now, so there’s sure to be something that will appeal to every child.

How we tested

As temperatures began to dip, we called in a range of testers, aged between eight months and eight years, and asked them to wear the slippers as much as they wanted to over the course of three weeks. For some, that was first thing in the morning, for others, last thing in the evening before bed. While some even wore them to play in the garden on drier days.

Both parents and children fed back to our writer on comfort and softness, how much support the slippers offered, value for money, and how easy they were to keep clean.

The best kids’ slippers for 2022 are:

• Best overall – Clarks fluffy snug toddler slippers: £18, Clarks.co.uk

• Best sheepskin slippers – Celtic & Co sheepskin slippers: £35, Celticandco.com

• Best for older children – Marks and Spencer suede moccasin slippers: From £15, Marksandspencer.com

• Best for babies – En Fant leather slippers: £25, Childrensalon.com

• Best statement slippers – Moshulu spotty mule slippers: £25, Moshulu.co.uk

• Best slipper socks – JoJo Maman Bébé koala moccasin slipper socks: £12, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk

• Best for softness – The White Company bunny slippers: £24, Thewhitecompany.com

• Best for supporting little feet – Giesswein wool slippers: £48, Childrensalon.com

• Best felt slippers – Joules felt mules with appliqué: £16.95, Joules.com

Clarks fluffy snug toddler slippers

Founded in 1825, it’s fair to say Clarks knows a thing or two about our children’s feet. These slippers came out on top for us not just because of their excellent value but because they proved to be warm and comfortable, with soft, padded lining inside and out, and a long-lasting sole that enables little ones to walk over just about anything without it being too hard.

The fabric is soft yet structured, with adjustable Velcro fastenings to ensure the perfect fit and support around the ankle. There’s plenty of grip underneath – great for those just beginning to walk and those with slippery surfaces at home. You can pick these up in a variety of styles, too. We loved this rainbow print, but you’ll find a range of colourful designs, including dinosaurs and farm animals.

Buy now £18.00, Clarks.co.uk

Celtic & Co sheepskin slippers

Generously lined with breathable natural sheepskin, these “bootee” style slippers may have a rigid rubber sole for slip-free practicality, but the inside is like walking on a cloud. They’re also rather beautiful to look at, striking that perfect balance between modernity and tradition in terms of design, and they come in a range of unisex colours (though we loved the timelessness of this “spice” hue).

The cuff at the top is flexible, which means you can wear it up or down, depending on your child’s preference. And if you find yourself getting serious slipper FOMO, there are adult versions to kit out the whole family with, too.

Buy now £35.00, Celticandco.com

Marks and Spencer suede moccasin slippers

We thought these perfectly timeless slippers were a great purchase from M&S. Boasting a classic suede outer lined with cosy fleece, these feel extra durable as well as supremely comfortable and flexible, with excellent grip on the soles. Essentially, they feel like they’re made to last, which makes them excellent value. They’re available in a wide range of sizes, from toddler feet to older kids, and what our eight-year-old tester’s parents particularly loved was the “sensible width” – so many children’s slippers don’t offer the right support and can be overly wide, but these have a snug fit.

Buy now £15.00, Marksandspencer.com

En Fant leather slippers

For the smallest of feet, these high-quality slippers by Danish brand En Fant are perfect. Made from butter-soft leather and lined with a soft towelling material, they’re toasty and snug without making tiny toes sweaty, clammy, or smelly in the slightest.

Our 14-month-old tester padded about at home on her wooden floors with ease, thanks to the light suede soles, and though the leather is super supple and offers wonderful flexibility on the foot, the stretchy elasticated backs ensure the slippers fit snuggly around the ankle, so there’s no chance of them slipping off. These also make excellent pre-walker shoes.

Buy now £25.00, Childrensalon.com

Moshulu spotty mule slippers

With their cosy faux-fur lining, colourful felt appliqué detail and extra-thick sole, these handmade slippers provide supreme comfort as well as being fun. If your child prefers a mule-style shoe, these are a great option, with a super-soft elasticated ankle strap to keep them in place and extra leather cushioning on the heel to ensure they’re comfortable underfoot. We also think these are great for pottering about in the garden on drier days.

We loved the indigo colourway, but if your child isn’t bowled over, there are six other colours to choose from, including violet, cobalt blue and pink.

Buy now £25.00, Moshulu.co.uk

JoJo Maman Bébé koala moccasin slipper socks

The thing about slipper socks is it’s incredibly difficult to find a pair that stay up. However, our three-year-old tester had no problems with these soft cotton-knit ones from high-street retailer JoJo Maman Bébé. With the flexibility of a sock, these also have a moccasin-style sole that keeps the foot supported, with a good grip underneath that won’t cause them to slip and slide on wooden floors.

They might be a little difficult for younger children to pull on and off on their own (in comparison with normal socks) but they’re sure to love the cute koala print. They’re pretty cosy, too!

Buy now £12.00, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk

The White Company bunny slippers

Sometimes only the softest of soles will do, and this mink-coloured bunny design from The White Company was without doubt the fluffiest we tested. As well as being creamily soft inside, the faux-suede sole underneath is finished with anti-slip grips, and they have some bounce to them, so they were extremely comfortable for our four-year-old tester to walk in. Not only will they keep small feet nice and toasty, the novel design makes them a great gift idea, too.

Buy now £24.00, Thewhitecompany.com

Giesswein wool slippers

Austrian label Giesswein only uses pure merino wool for its products (including its collection of baby slippers). This type of wool has long been known for its temperature-regulating properties. It’s also naturally antibacterial and moisture-wicking, which means these slippers won’t smell on little feet.

The slippers are easy to put on and light to wear. The Velcro strap offers a secure fit and complete support for the ankle, while the substantial, non-slip rubber sole ensures grip on even the smoothest of floors. We love the adorable racing-car motif on the front, too – perfect for mini F1 fans.

Buy now £48.00, Childrensalon.com

Joules felt mules with appliqué

With their felt upper and fun unicorn character detailing on the front, these closed-style mule slippers are ridiculously warm on the inside, thanks to the cosiest faux-fur lining. The puff-print soles are soft, too, but you won’t have to worry about trips and slips, thanks to the printed pink horseshoes on the bottom.

Our six-year-old tester fell in love with these slippers – they were easy enough for her to slip on and off and she would wear them the whole time she was in the house. Look out for Joules’s range of fun appliquéd designs this season, from rockets and tigers to giraffes, cats and more.

Buy now £16.95, Joules.com

The verdict: Kids’ slippers

Clarks’ toddler slippers came out as our winner – we loved the soft yet structured style and the warm and cosy padded interior. For £18, they’re also a brilliant mid-priced option. However, we must also shout out Marks and Spencer’s classic suede moccasins and their wide range of sizes. The brand has showcased a popular design classic here that’s accessibly priced and readily available.

Why not pair new slippers with one of the best dressing gowns for kids – they’re as cosy as they are cute