The importance of a yard is vastly exaggerated

Having nested on both sides of the Hudson, we do not pretend to be neutral on the topic of raising kids in the city vs suburbs. So we feel compelled to bring this UrbanBaby discussion to the attention of apartment-dwelling parents already starting to get squirrelly with the onset of a long, claustrophobic NYC winter:  You wouldn't be happy for long in the suburbs, at least not if you're counting on a yard to make the difference, say some UrbanBaby folks. Deer ticks and itinerant landscaping crews aside, "remember toys get smaller as they get older and the yard in the middle of nowhere is not as great as you think it will be!"   Says another: "I also grew up in the suburbs - the yard works only in good weather and only until DC is 8 or 9 (if you are lucky and the yard is large enough)."   

Consider also the transportation drawbacks in addition to the long commute:   "My Mom spent most of her time behind the wheel of a car, driving us places," says an UrbanBabyite. "Bicycles also only work in good weather and in daylight (only lunatics ride bicycles after dark - too much risk of being hit by a car), which means that teenagers are still dependent on their parents for transportation. My 15 year old babysitter is capable of getting herself all over NYC on public transportation and I'm happy to let her take DD places - I'd never let a 17 y/o drive my DD around."

Need some more reasons to stick around? How about a doorman who puts your Fresh Direct perishables in your fridge? (UrbanBaby.com)