Local kids' shops have little shoes to fill

There is nothing cuter than a baby's first pair of shoes -- so tiny and pristine, symbolic of innocence. Soon enough, though, baby grows, crawls, then walks, and as he discovers more of the world, his shoes begin to show signs of wear. The years to come will require so many trips to the shoe store that parents can be forgiven if they start to find the whole process rather tiring.

Luckily, Seattle has some great shops that specialize in shoes for kids, and many other local boutiques carry a few children's lines as well. I stopped by several of these shops on a recent outing and was thrilled with the variety I found. On your next search for shoes, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the right fit for every foot or occasion.

Mon Petit Shoe in Ballard carries a great selection of quality, everyday shoes in sizes from infant one through kids five. Prices here range from about $30 to $70.

For the smallest feet, check out the Trumpette socks, available in boxed sets of seven pairs; they come in several trompe l'oeil shoe designs, from ballet slippers to cowboy boots ($27). Once your wee one is on the crawl, Pediped shoes are a wonderful soft-soled choice, and the styles look more like traditional shoes than the popular slipper-like Robeez. Mon Petit Shoe carries these Robeez too, along with the brand's new style with soft rubber outdoor soles -- great for damp Seattle sidewalks.

Popular brands such as Geox, Striderite and See Kai Run have options for both boys and girls who are busy motoring about upright. Mon Petit Shoe was the only shop in which we saw the funny water socks for toddlers made by Bical, which come in sizes up to 8T ($27). The fanciful patterns sport everything from flowers to flames. Bigger girls will enjoy the stylish offerings from Morgan and Milo, which makes adorable patterned canvas slip-ons and Mary Janes, while employees report that boys are very excited about the lizard-bedecked Vincent sneakers.

Over by University Village, The Shoe Zoo has the largest selection of all the independent kids' shoe stores in Seattle, mostly in the $35 to $50 range. Another great spot for durable daily-wear shoes, this shop carries sizes from infant 0 to boys 7 (also known as women's 9), making them a great stop for those in need of shoes for bigger boys.

Major brands available here include Striderite, Teva, Sketchers, Vans, Timberland, New Balance and Crocs. In addition to those major players, The Shoe Zoo has some more unusual finds, such as Minibel, which makes hiking shoes for even the smallest walkers, and Frye boots for kids who love the cowboy aesthetic.

Umi, Beeko and Roxy are also represented here, along with Pediped, Robeez and many others. In addition to their shoe selection, The Shoe Zoo has a fair selection of rain boots and slippers. If you're outfitting more than one child, you'll be grateful for the playful atmosphere of this shop, which has a toy box and tons of huge stuffed animals that can keep little ones distracted while the rest of the family finds their fit. They also have a frequent buyer card -- buy 12 regular priced shoes and get the 13th free.

For beautiful European children's shoes, head to Plum in Madison Valley. The tiny shop with light green walls has a clean modern display of shoes up to size 4.

Shoes here run the gamut from everyday play shoes to special-occasion works of art, with prices starting at around $70. The vivid colors are captivating, with brands such as Pom d'Api and LelliKelly especially standing out.

The fun shoes from San Francisco's DaphDaph allow kids to snap charms on and off, and each pair comes with a bracelet of five snappy charms ($87). For parents who like finding matching sneaks for the whole family, Camper shoes come in miniature versions of the adult styles. Romagnoli shoes from Italy are sporty and sturdy, while Pepe shoes are beautiful, classic offerings for special outfits. We were particularly smitten by a pair of light brown oxfords ($144).

If the shopping takes a while, kids will be entertained by the cozy little nook that has pillows and a T.V. with a movie, though little ones may be equally entertained by the wooden push toys.

There are also several options downtown. Flora and Henri carries gorgeous old-fashioned European shoes in sizes from 3 months through 10 years, mostly from Italian companies that make designs exclusively for this Seattle-based company ($80 and up). Nordstrom carries a big variety of shoes for kids of all sizes, including brands as varied as Prada and Sugar. REI is, of course, the place to head if you're looking for serious outdoor shoes or boots from brands like Merrell, Keen, Salomon and Vasque. And if you need dress shoes for a single occasion, skip the high-end retailers and check out Payless Shoe Source, which has updated its look in recent years and has a reliable selection of neutral styles for under $20.

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