10 great things about raising a city baby
What do James Broderick, Lourdes and Rocco, and Apple and Moses have in common? Well, apart from all having celebrity moms (SJP, Madonna and Gywneth Paltrow respectively) they’ve also all been raised in the city: James is a native New Yorker while the other kids call London home.
Parents often face criticism if they choose to bring up their babies in the city, with traffic, crowds and crime cited as negatives. When you have a child, you pack up and head for the hills, right? Well, it seems that’s no longer the standard, as more parents find it harder to make the leap from city slicking to surburban living due to higher commuter fares, stressful journeys to the office and the death of the work life balance. If you don’t have a choice, focus on these great advantages to raising a city baby…
1. You’re never far from a park and some cities have city farms and petting zoos.
2. Public transport is more widely available so you don’t have to pay to park while you shop or take in the sights.
3. Most cities have zoos, museums, play centers, art galleries and children’s theaters which means your child can regularly be immersed in kid culture without it having to be a special treat. Many of these attractions are free for younger children. If you reckon art galleries and museums are too sophisticated for your baby, think again. Children love looking at paintings, and at art galleries there is something different in each room. As long as they’re safely installed in a stroller and not running around, the museum will welcome them too.
4. You’re never far from anything (and this means you’re probably within convenient distance of your local hospital or birthing center – very important if you go into labor early or have a fast labor). You’re also probably a reasonable distance from friends and big city train stations or airports for convenient traveling.
5. Shopping, shopping, shopping! Cities usually have an abundance of baby stores, which means you have a choice. You’ll also find quirky little boutiques full of baby clothes and products that you can’t find anywhere else.
6. Getting your life back in shape! Gyms, parks, no reason to drive, you’ll be getting your pre-pregnancy shape back in no time being a city mom.
7. There will likely be a lot more in the way of mom-and-baby focused activities and leisure opportunities, from strollercise to baby yoga.
8. You’re never far away from other moms. Making friends when you have a baby is so much easier – you can stroll up to a group of moms in the park with your baby and be welcomed with open arms. There is no need to feel isolated in the city, or to lose that sense of community that small towns have. Simply ‘drop in’ to a mom and baby sessions at your local library and before you know it, you’ll have a full schedule of playdates!
9. Your children will become aware of different nationalities, cultures and religions from a young age, helping to forge itolerance and an appreciation for how different people live. This will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.
10. In 20 years’ time if you’re still living in the city you won’t have to cope with your child leaving home because they will probably come back to live with you… On second thoughts this may not be the best thing about living in a city!
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional