728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Family Life › City vs. Suburb

City vs. Suburb

Which Is the Best Place to Raise Baby?

By Jenn Director Knudsen

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  

 

Culture Fix Versus Safety First
"Some families really don't value the arts, and so they prefer living in places with large soccer fields, for example, not to mention higher-quality schools and perhaps safer streets," says Vardin.

Jennifer Raber, 34, and her husband, Barry, 36, recently relocated from a hip, urban spot in Portland, Ore., to a suburban area about 15 minutes by highway outside the city. The couple waffled a long time about their decision. She loved being able to walk anywhere she needed to go, even if only down the block to make a last-minute purchase for someone's birthday party, she says.

But safety issues eventually helped clinch the family's decision to move to the suburbs. "I think I finally agreed that it was time to move when the neighbors next to us found drug needles in their backyard from the halfway house, which was located behind them," says Raber, mother of two sons, Jack, 3, and Cole, 5 months.

The family liked the urban area's greater diversity, but not that much diversity. "We're still close to downtown," says Raber. "So it's not a big deal to head there for 'culture.' The bigger challenge is scheduling and babysitters! I miss the spur-of-the-moment activities, like walking to the neighborhood park or riding the streetcar."

At the time of the family's move, Raber already had a solid network of mom friends on whom to lean and with whom she plans regular play dates. But many suburban parents risk feeling more isolated than their urban counterparts. "In the suburbs, parents can feel more isolated unless they have a network of people who also have babies," says Kohl.


Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.