We all know how hard it is to find quality baby socks that stay in place on your little one’s feet and don’t leave elastic marks around their precious little legs.
I have a bin stuffed full of ill-fitting and mismatched socks because half of the pair disappeared on our journeys, leaving my baby’s toes cold and exposed. I swore it would never happen again.
That’s why we moms invested many hours of our time, searching for the best baby socks on the market. We were surprised to learn how many good options were out there! If only I’d found these before wasting so much money on that bin full of duds.
But at least we can spare you the trouble! Check out our top baby sock picks, including options for preemies, newborns, babies, and toddlers. We’ll even share our favorites for cold weather, chubby legs, Christmas, and more.
Product Reviews
Here are our favorite baby socks that actually stay on.
Kakalu Non-Skid Ankle Socks
Best Baby Socks That Stay On
These knitted anti-slip socks from Kakalu are perfect for babies with active feet!
The material is a blend of cotton and nylon, making them super soft but with good elasticity to stop them from slipping down. This also makes for vast stretching potential, perfect for accommodating growing feet.
The comfort and warmth provided by the Kakalu socks make them a good winter essential. They’re also breathable, so you don’t have to worry so much about your baby overheating.
Non-skid socks are an excellent choice for a baby who is starting to stand. It doesn’t take much to topple a new walker; you don’t want it to be because of their socks.
Rative Anti-Slip Crew Socks
Best for Boys
Rative’s adorable socks for boys will add even more cuteness to your little dude’s look. Whether he’s into cars, space rockets, helicopters, or fire trucks, and with four different sizes to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect pair for your little guy. The material is mostly soft cotton, with some polyester for elasticity.
Most importantly, they have non-slip grips in various patterns and shapes on the bottom. Our little guys are always on the run and looking for new adventures. But this feature provides some peace of mind that they won’t go sliding across the floor or crashing into things.
Trumpette Baby Socks For Girls
Best for Girls
Cuteness alert! These tiny, ballerina-inspired socks from Trumpette will undoubtedly be a hit with your little princess.
The cotton-based fabric has an elastic top to keep the socks from falling down. On the bottom, the non-slip features ensure your little girl can walk, run, or dance in safety.
A little heads up if you buy the pair with bows — make sure they are attached well. It might be worth adding an extra couple of stitches to ensure they don’t fall off.
TwinkleToes Quote Socks
Best Funny Baby Socks
If you’re a mom who likes to dress your baby in something other than “just cute,” these are the ones for you! These baby socks from TwinkleToes are hilarious and full of sass.
They are neutral in color, with four pairs in the pack, each featuring a funny phrase on the sole printed in a non-slip material.
The fabric is mainly combed cotton, which gives them a soft feel. They also include a touch of spandex, so the socks will fit a variety of foot sizes.
Jefferies Non-Slip Socks
Best Non-Slip Baby Socks
If your baby is ready to crawl or stand against furniture, or if they’re beginning to walk, these non-slip socks from Jefferies Socks Store are perfect.
The main fabric in these is cotton, mixed with polyester and spandex for stretch. They are excellent for the crawling, almost-walking age, where we tend to worry about slippery floors.
However, one downside is that they tend to run smaller than average sizing, so it’s better to buy one size larger.
Tphon Non-Skid Toddler Socks
Best for Chubby Legs
It can be challenging to find a pair of socks for chubby ankles. Believe me — I’ve tried! I’ve had to shop for socks in larger sizes just to keep from getting tight elastic marks on my little one’s legs. But then the socks ended up fitting too loosely around the feet.
These socks solved this problem! They are made of stretchy material, meaning they can comfortably accommodate some extra chub while still fitting comfortably in the foot. They have a loose opening with good elasticity.
As they come in a pack of 12 pairs, you’ll have a pair to match all your baby’s outfits. And there are several fun print and color options to choose from to suit boys or girls.
Hudson Baby Knee-High Socks
Best Knee High Baby Socks
We adore these Hudson Baby knee-high socks, and our little ones beg to wear them too. They’ll keep your baby or toddler’s legs warm and look super cute at the same time.
Choose from stripes, colors, plaids, or fun prints, such as mustaches, ballet-style “shoes,” or animal designs. Your little one will be excited to get dressed up in these sweet socks, and they serve a double purpose in protecting little legs while crawling.
The material is a mix of cotton, nylon, and spandex. They stretch easily and reach just under the knee (depending on which size you get). The socks are available in three sizes, 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-24 months.
Lovful Fuzzy Animal Winter Socks
Best for Winter
These animal-inspired fuzzy winter socks from Lovful are perfect for keeping toes warm during the cold months.
They are soft and thick, made from a plush and fuzzy fleece material. At the same time, they’re also quite breathable. They can be slippery, though, so if your baby is already walking, they might not be ideal. As they are thicker than the average sock, they are meant to be worn without shoes.
The design is simple yet cute — it sure makes you wish you could get a pair for yourself. And your little one will love having these animals fitted on their toes.
Luvable Friends Newborn Socks
Best Newborn Baby Socks
These newborn socks from Luvable Friends will be a good fit for your newborn’s feet. The terry fabric combines polyester, spandex, cotton, and nylon, and they have reinforced heels and toes.
The rolled cuffs keep the socks in place without causing any discomfort. If your baby is accomplished enough to wiggle their way out of them, you can unroll the cuffs and have your little one wear them as knee socks, ensuring they stay in place.
They come in sets of six pairs, and you can choose form neutral or gender-specific colors or prints.
The artwork is knitted into the design, which means you won’t have the disappointment of seeing the plastic transfers fall off.
Touched By Nature Organic Socks
Best Organic Baby Socks
Organic baby socks can be hard to find. But we love these sweet options from Touched By Nature as they are an excellent choice of organic baby wear.
They are soft and comfy and did not disappoint at all, even after machine washing them. We love the neutral colors and the wide variety of styles.
However, we learned quickly that these tend to fit small, so if your little one has chunky legs, you’ll want to size up.
Vanberfia Unisex Baby Christmas Socks
Best for Christmas
Christmas is the best time of year, especially when you have young children. And with these Christmas-inspired socks from Vanberfia, your little one will be suitably dressed for the holidays.
The material is a high-quality combed cotton, spandex, and nylon blend. The socks are so soft and comfy — perfect for Christmas morning. The designs are well made, plus they will hug your baby’s tiny feet just right.
These also make the perfect stocking stuffers for any little Christmas angels in your life. And they come in a wide range of sizes, fitting newborns to 10-year-olds, so you can purchase matching pairs for all your kids this Christmas!
Gerber Neutral Unisex Baby Socks
Best Unisex Baby Socks
These classic Gerber unisex baby socks are soft and comfy — the best choice for keeping your little one’s tosies cozy on a cool day.
This set includes six pairs in various gray and white designs. They are made of cotton, polyester, nylon, and spandex, making a great fit for feet of all lengths and thicknesses.
The upside of having unisex socks is that you can use them for more than one child. Since babies grow out of their socks so quickly, and they stay relatively clean before little ones learn to walk, you can pass them on to another child to extend their wear.
However, these socks also tend to run a little small, so buy a size bigger to ensure your little one can wear them as long as possible.
Gerber Preemie Baby Socks
Best Premature Baby Socks
Finding socks — or any clothes — to fit your preemie can be a difficult task. However, these preemie socks from Gerber are ideal for the smallest of small feet. They measure two inches from toe to heel, but they have a lot of stretch, so they’ll fit for longer than a week or two.
The design is unisex — plain white and simple. The fabric is a blend of cotton, polyester, nylon, with a hint of rubber, so they’ll stay on your baby’s tiny tootsies.
Are Baby Socks Necessary?
Socks are a necessity for babies when the temperature drops. Babies have poor circulation at first, and their feet are often colder than ours. If you’re feeling cold, your baby is likely colder.
Can Babies Wear Socks While Sleeping?
In the colder months, your baby can wear socks or a sleeper with attached feet.
However, make sure there isn’t a risk of overheating. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature. If it’s on the warmer side, avoid using socks (1).
Product Selection Criteria
The first thing you’ll want to ensure is that your baby’s socks aren’t too tight. There’s no need for tight-fitting footwear on a baby who is not yet standing or walking.
As long as they aren’t so loose that they constantly fall off, purchasing baby socks one size up should be OK. Babies’ feet grow quickly, and they will outgrow them before you know it.
When choosing baby socks, we always look at the fabric content. You want socks that are breathable but soft and with a good amount of stretch.
Baby socks come in all different sizes and styles. Some babies do better at keeping socks on if they have rolled cuffs. We’ve found these are particularly helpful for little ones with skinny little legs and ankles. Other babies do better with a higher crew style. We found these were great for our little ones with chubby feet and legs, although we had to watch that they weren’t too tight at the top.
There are many options for colors, prints, and patterns on baby socks. Some baby socks are designed to look like little sneakers or ballet shoes, while others may have animal prints and faces and even extras like attached ears or satin bows to add to their appeal.
Some parents find it best to purchase all their baby socks in one solid color, so when the washing machine gets hungry and eats a sock or two (or ten!), at least they can make another match.
If your little one is learning to walk, or almost at that stage, look for anti-slip socks to keep them safe and provide some stability while they navigate their newfound freedom.
Baby Socks FAQs
When Should Babies Start Wearing Socks?
Babies can start wearing socks from birth to keep their feet warm. However, ensure they’re not too tight to allow for proper foot development and comfort.
Are Cotton or Polyester Socks Better?
Cotton socks are generally better as they are softer, more breathable, and less likely to irritate a baby’s sensitive skin. They also provide warmth while reducing the risk of overheating.
Do Babies Need Wool Socks?
Wool socks are great for colder climates as they provide excellent warmth. However, make sure they’re soft and non-itchy, as wool can sometimes irritate sensitive skin.
What Can I Use as a Substitute for Baby Socks?
Soft booties or footed pajamas can be good alternatives, especially if your baby often kicks off their socks. These provide warmth and are harder for babies to remove.
What Material Is Most Breathable for Baby Socks?
Cotton or a cotton blend is the most breathable material for baby socks. It wicks any moisture away from their delicate skin, helping to keep little feet dry and comfortable.
