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Carpool etiquette

It’s a way of life for many families: Carpooling is good for the environment, good for congestion, good for families’ schedules and pocketbooks. But how do you organize a carpool that runs like the well-oiled machine you’re driving? First, don’t jump into the pool with a family that doesn’t share yo

Going hybrid: Best bangs for the family buck

It’s a rarity to roam the highways and byways of Western Washington these days without noticing them: hybrids, the environmentally friendly, easier-on-the-gas automobiles that have lately become far more ubiquitous in carmakers’ inventories — and in family garages. As manufacturers line up to intro

Baby Safety 101

Before his daughter Ellice was born, Mark Bledsoe, of Federal Way, crawled through his house. He was surprised at the potential hazards he encountered from that perspective. Dangling speaker wires and connector cables that he hadn't paid attention to before now looked like strangling hazards for the

Let's go glamping! A decidedly un-rugged guide to family camping

If you’re a Northwest parent, you may have spent several uneasy years fending off the suggestion that you should be taking your kids camping. After all, easy access to spectacular camp sites is one of the best reasons to live in our area, right? But, unless you were raised by camping parents yoursel

Get Outta Town! Bargain Family Retreats in Washington State

With the recent downturn in the economy, leisure travel is changing, according to the U.S. Travel Association, a national industry group. Although it predicts only “modest” declines in overall leisure travel in 2009, the group’s forecast shows seven out of 10 families will be staying fewer nights an

Washington Travel for Kids: The Northwest Coast on Highway 101

The Washington and Oregon coasts offer a variety of experiences for weekend jaunts, from the rainforest near Forks, Washington, to the sand dunes near Bandon, Oregon. Forks is located just a few hours’ drive from the Kingston ferry dock. Recently made famous by the wildly popular “Twilight” book se

Why worry? Assessing the real risks of early childhood

For many parents, the worrying begins the minute the pregnancy is confirmed. Conscientious mothers-to-be watch their diets and forgo alcohol. Once the baby is born, the worrying cranks up a notch. Is the baby eating enough? What about SIDS? Drowning in the bath? With each stage, new worries nag. C

Creating a car 'go kit'

Last year, with my youngest son heading off to kindergarten, I traded in my minivan for a Toyota Camry. I figured that my days of hauling strollers and extra diapers were over, so I wouldn’t need all that space. And I was right — sort of. It’s true that I’m no longer hauling huge pieces of baby ge

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