Best baby socks to buy in 2022

Go into any shop or browse online for baby socks, and you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice, with everything from frilly little ankle socks through to luxury cashmere knee highs all vying for your attention and your credit card. But above all, you’ll want socks that are comfy to wear, easy to slip on and unlikely to fall off. An easy task, no? Not according to the Mumsnet forums, where there are plenty of questions from parents struggling with the ‘staying on’ part.

We’ve rounded up a selection of tried-and-tested recommendations for socks that’ll keep your baby’s feet warm and cosy, no matter your budget.

Here are the best baby socks to buy in 2022.

1. Best overall baby socks: JoJo Maman Bebe 3-Pack White Baby Socks

Price: £4 | Buy now from JoJo Maman Bebe

“Jojo Mamam Bebe were the only ones we found which stay on. Never had a sock falling off incident with them” - Squinty bumcheek

JoJo Maman Bebe is a pro when it comes to baby clothes and accessories, so it’s no surprise its baby socks are well regarded by parents. You can never have too many socks for a newborn, and white is always a failsafe colour - especially if you are buying in advance! These socks wash well and remain soft, as well as achieving the Holy Grail of baby socks - actually staying on.

Key specs

• Material: 90% cotton, 9% polyamide, 1% elastane

• Sizes: Newborn through to 0-6 months

2. Best budget baby socks: WB Socks Roll Top 5-Pack

Price: £6.50 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re looking to stock up on baby basics you can't go wrong with this multipack of plain roll-top baby socks from WB Socks. They're great value for money, super soft and machine washable. And parents consistently rate them highly for comfort, price and quality. Available from newborn through to 24 months, they are well worth adding to your Amazon basket to keep your little one’s sock drawer replenished.

Key Specs

• Material: 76% Cotton, 22% Polyamide, 2% Elastane

• Sizes: Newborn to 24 months

3. Best bamboo baby socks: Boody Baby Bamboo Sock 3 Pack

Price: £13 | Buy now from Amazon

So why bamboo, you may ask? Well, not only is it super-soft on the skin, it is also excellent at absorbing moisture, so no more sweaty little baby feet! This three-pack from Boody is beautifully packaged and would make a lovely present. Each pair has a non-slip sole, and the snug fit means no sagging or falling off.

Key specs

• Material: 95% bamboo*, 5% spandex (*rayon made from bamboo)

• Sizes: 0-3 months

4. Best non-slip stay-on sock: Little Sock Co Stay On Socks

Price: £10.50 | Buy now from The Little Sock Co.

“The Little Sock Co are wonderful! The sizes do run big, but they manage to stay on without being too tight. They are very good quality as well which makes up for the price. My son is now one and we still use them” - Campurp 

The Little Sock Company was founded to solve the eternal problem of finding socks that stay on babies’ feet, and its products consistently come up trumps with parents. True, they might be a little pricier than some baby socks on the market, but if you’re looking for good quality fabric and a sock that does what it says on the tin/pack, then you can’t go wrong. There’s a vast product range so you’ll be able to find a sock for every occasion and there are socks for toddlers too as the size range goes up to 24-26 (7-8 UK shoe size).

Key specs

• Material: Cotton-rich yarns and silicone grip throughout range

• Sizes: Newborn to Euro shoe size 24-26 (UK 7-8)

5. Best stay-on sock accessory: Sock Ons

Price: £4 | Buy now from Amazon

“I swore by Sock Ons when mine were little. You slip them over normal socks to hold them in place” - MKmummy123

These are such a clever idea - and a great buy to keep in your changing bag or baby’s wardrobe ‘just in case’. Sock Ons slip over the top of your baby’s socks and gently hold them in place, meaning no more lost socks, and no more chilly toes. They come in a huge range of colours so you can coordinate them with the socks your baby is wearing, and they run from newborn up to 12-18 months. These nifty little accessories have won awards for innovation, and have sold more than a million pairs worldwide, saving a lot of lost socks in the process.

Key specs

• Material: 82% nylon, 18% elastane

• Sizes: Newborn to 12-18 months

6. Best multipack of baby socks: John Lewis Cotton Rich Baby Socks

Price: £6 | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners 

For a practical pack of machine washable, grippy-bottomed roll-top socks in lots of colour options, you can’t go wrong with this multi-pack from John Lewis. With five-star reviews lauding their softness, bright colours, price and fit, they are sure to be a good addition to your little one’s wardrobe. Parents also love the non-slip pads on the bottom for babies that are just starting to walk.

Key specs

• Material: 78% cotton, 20% polyamide, 3% elastane

• Sizes: 0-3 months through to 2-3 years

7. Best seamless baby socks: Sensory Smart Comfort Sock

Price: £7 | Buy now from Sensory Smart

“Sensory Smart do toddler and children's sizes. Not the cheapest, but we've always been pleased with them.”

Sensory Smart’s sock range is completely free of seams and made from a super-soft, hi-tech fabric with a ‘no binding’ top, so there is absolutely no grip or sensation on the skin. Perfect for children with sensory issues or delicate skin or just for those who cannot stand the feel of regular socks and constantly pull them off. They are an investment buy, but parents swear by them for children who simply cannot wear a seamed sock. There are lots of colour options and pack sizes from toddlers upwards.

Key specs

• Material: Synthetic moisture-wicking fabric with lycra

• Sizes: Toddler through to older kids

8. Best organic cotton baby socks: Pure Organic Cotton Baby Socks

Price: £8 | Buy now from Amazon

These organic cotton socks are made with hand-linked toe seams across the top, so they feel seamless on baby’s feet, and pose no danger from loose threads getting tangled in toes. The organic cotton is undyed, making the socks completely chemical free. They come only in the natural colours that the cotton grows in (red, brown and green), and reviewers applaud their washability, longevity and softness. Given how quickly children get through socks, they could be a pricey option but in terms of quality and product integrity, you’re getting what you pay for with this brand.

Key specs

• Material: 80% Cotton (organic), 18% Polyamide, 2% Elastane

• Sizes: Baby through to older children

9. Best warm baby socks: LA Active Cosy Warm Grip Socks

Price: £8 | Buy now from Amazon

These anti-skid socks from LA Active are highly rated by parents for their value for money and durability, as well as for their non-slip properties for cruisers and new walkers. They’re made from a soft cotton blend and have terry towelling reinforcements at the heels and toes for added comfort and warmth. Available in lots of different size and colour options, these are a great buy. They get bonus points for having the size stitched into the cuff of each sock too – great for multi-children households with many socks of the same colour.

Key specs

• Material: 80% cotton, 17% polyester, 3% spandex

• Sizes: Newborn through to 7 years

Are baby socks necessary?

It is of course a personal choice as to whether to put your little one in socks, and much will depend on their age, the weather and the outfit they’re wearing. If you have footless babygros, or your baby is just wearing a bodysuit, socks will help keep their feet warm, so it’s a good idea to have a pile to hand even if you don’t plan on always adding them to an outfit. And once they are toddling, socks with grippy pads on the bottom will prove invaluable on slippery wood and tiled floors.

How to choose the best baby socks

There are lots of uber-cute frilly and character baby socks out there and every shop and supermarket has myriad choices, but think about what you want the socks for before choosing - to pretty up an outfit? To keep toes warm on winter days? To protect sensitive skin from the sun or irritants? It’s worth looking at what’s currently in your little one’s wardrobe to figure out what kind of colours will work with most outfits. There are baby socks out there to suit every budget so you should find something that suits your needs.

What are the best baby socks to buy?

We rate the JoJo Maman Baby Socks - a great buy from a trusted baby-centric brand. This multi-pack would make a cute and practical baby gift.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which baby socks our discerning Mumsnet users had bought. We compiled a list of the socks they recommended for being comfy, warm, good value and for staying on.

We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which socks had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customer reviews said about them.

Having collated all that information, we picked the baby socks we thought would make the best buys.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.