A blast from the past, Ten Little introduces Retro Suede sneakers that parents are bound to love as much as their kiddos. Older generations may recognize the bold color-blocking design and gummy rubber outsole popular of the '80s, while little ones will like the comfy fit for their first steps.
Parenting and textiles experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute frequently evaluate kids' apparel and accessories. When testing kids' walking shoes, we poll parents for their experiences with popular brands and pair kid testers with sneakers to try out on the playground, at school and the like.
While we haven't tested the new Retro Suede sneakers yet, we have tested multiple Ten Little sneakers over the years, including the Everyday Original and the First Walkers — the latter of which received a GH Parenting Award. The brand stands out for its elevated design that not only looks cool but also helps support young walkers.
The new Retro Suede sneaker combines a vintage silhouette with seemingly toddler-friendly design features. A wide toe box provides enough space for their toes, per the brand, while a zero-drop sole helps keep their feet flat. (Fun fact: Flat feet are normal for babies and toddlers.) The no-tie laces mean they can put on and take off their shoes solo, and our parenting experts appreciate the adjustable velcro strap for a more secure fit.
The shoe is designed to support healthy foot development and even earned the APMA Seal of Approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Sizing Tip: Ten Little notes that its shoes can run small, but the brand's printable fit finder makes it easy (and fun!) to determine the best size for your little one. When the shoes arrive, remove the insoles and check that your kids' longest toe is within the colored line.
How we test kids' shoes
When our experts evaluate kids' shoes, we comb through data from the Textiles Lab and the Parenting and Toys Lab at the GH Institute. This includes survey feedback from our annual Parenting Awards as well as testing data from Lab evaluations of the adult-size versions of the same shoe brand. For this particular story, we incorporated feedback from previous testing of Ten Little shoes.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Elizabeth Berry joined the GH Institute in 2023 as an updates editor. She routinely collaborates with analysts across our Labs to ensure our shopping guides reflect the most up-to-date information. Elizabeth has researched and reported on a variety of shoe categories, including slip-on shoes and men's sandals. Although she was wearing kids' shoes a long time ago, she has a feeling she would have begged her mom for a pair of these retro sneaks.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
