Once upon a time, not so long ago, my husband and I got around on bicycles and buses. Six months with a baby in tow convinced us to buy a car. Somehow it only took four months with baby #2 to bring vehicle #2 into the family (friends smile smugly when I say 'vehicle' - it's a, um, minivan). Of course, there were still other sustainable choices we could make. I was proud that disposable diapers didn't touch Aya's tush for many months. But then we only used disposables when we were out, then overnight too...and that's still the rule...unless we're behind on diaper laundry...

"What have I become?" I'm most likely to ask myself after barking absurd commands at increasing volumes ("Get your toes out of that spaghetti!"). But sometimes I wonder the same thing on this slippery slope of parental consumerism.

Thankfully, there is at least one way my family's gotten greener as it's grown - it's pretty easy to reuse and recycle kids' clothing, and to support the local economy doing it. Consigning, thrift shopping, and buying local are some of my favorite ways to soothe my conscience. One of the biggest and best kids' consignment stores is in Ballard; I've found others on Phinney Ridge and a couple more nearby that are worth checking out.

Me 'n Mom's, at 2821 Market St., is a one-stop-shop for babies and kids. They carry everything from toys to cribs to diaper creams and jewelry, and of course, lots of clothes. Consign, by appointment, for 50% in-store credit or 40% of retail in a check. They're choosy, and strict about the season for which they're accepting, but the flip side of this is that it's usually worth the trouble to look through their overfull clothing racks.

Labels and Rising Stars (7212 and 7404 Phinney Ave., respectively) are smaller and only partly dedicated to kids' clothing consignment. Labels has mostly women's clothes with a small children's room in the back. But I relish the possibility of finding myself a treasure when I'm ostensibly shopping for kids' clothes! Labels consigns for 50% of selling price, and is more lenient than most about accepting clothes late in the season they're to be sold. Rising Stars expanded last year, adding a consignment clothing room to their new toys and clothing shop. Their policy is the same as Me 'n Mom's - 50% credit, 40% check.

Two shops a bit further out warrant mention for their variations on this theme. Kids on 45th in Wallingford consigns much like the rest, but with a bonus - if you use your consignment credit they take 20% off any purchase of new stuff. Then, up on 5th Avenue NE near Northgate is a store I avoided for quite a while because I couldn't stomach the name. Then I learned that Kym's Kiddie Corner buys clothes outright rather than consigning them, although just for store credit. Kym's pays about 50% of retail for clothes but it always seems like less, probably because their prices are lower than some of the other shops. They do consign toys and equipment, and carry some nice new things as well. I must admit that I always make a Kym's appointment after my other ones - they take things the smaller consignment shops won't.

Consignment shops are not the only conscience-soothing retail options, either. One can go both higher and lower brow right here in Ballard, and still work toward lightening a minivan-saddled karma.

Ballard Avenue is looking as tony as Madison Park these days, and the children's store Clover is one of the reasons why. Clover is really a toy store, but they manage to carry a nice selection of infant and toddler wear from independent designers. Or you can keep it really local by visiting the new Mimi Rose shop on Phinney Avenue at 60th. Long a wholesaler of sturdy, adorable kids' clothes, owner/designer Margaret Rose now plans to gear (local!) production toward her retail store.

And as for lower brow, I'm a connoisseur of thrift stores and the new Goodwill in Ballard (8th Avenue at 65th) is one of the best, especially when it comes to children's clothes. But you out there, dropping off vintage hand-smocked dresses and Mimi Rose sweaters at the Goodwill loading dock - never mind what I said about consignment shops, don't change, your karma's fine.

Do you have a parenting question or comment for Alouise? Send an email to bnteditor@robinsonnews.com with parenting in the subject line.