Tips on Travelling to NYC With a Toddler

During our trip to NYC, I learned that NYC is truly the most non-kids friendly city in the US:

While meeting up with our friends for a brunch who also have a little girl, we had to wait longer because we needed two high chairs, hence more space requiredObviously most places are not designed for strollers easy access. You have to go up and down the stairs a lot. You're lucky if you can find subways with elevatorsWe barely stayed at home and already got a complaint from the neighbor below us because my son was running around the apartment

Here are a few tips on how to survive traveling to NYC with a toddler especially if you are from a small town like me:

1. Bring Umbrella Stroller
Umbrella stroller is the best because it's so light-weighted and easy to maneuver. You can easily carry the umbrella stroller (with your child in it) and go up and down the subway. If you're travelling with a baby, chance is you are better off with a sling or baby carrier. I didn't see anybody going around with a bulky travel system. Don't even think putting your baby in a car seat and strap him in a taxi cab as people might laugh at you. Most New Yorkers use Bugaboo Stroller, again because of its lightweight and maneuverability. But if you're just visiting, why spending hundreds of dollars if you don't need it in your hometown? You might as well wait until your baby is old enough to be put in an umbrella stroller or carry him in a sling or baby carrier. For umbrella stroller, Maclaren brand is pretty common for New Yorkers as it's lightweight, easy to maneuver, and has storage basket underneath.

2. Bring Stroller Weather Shield Everywhere
It's basically a plastic that covers your stroller. As an Ohioan, of course I'm used to go everywhere by car. Here in New York, we walked a lot and went everywhere either by bus or subway. Parking was a hassle and traffic is just a waste of time. Having said that I really didn't prepare for bad weather. This Stroller Weather Shield is great to prevent rain, wind, and cold temperature. You can get it at any drug stores for less than $15.00.

3. Need a Nanny? Go to Sittercity.com
My husband and I had a ticket to see David Letterman show. Obviously kids are not allowed, so we were struggling to find a sitter for our son since our cousin had a class at that time. I naively thought I could find a place like Mangos Place, which is an hourly daycare center. Turns out most New Yorkers use nannies as space is very scarce and opening up a daycare center can cost lots of money. Luckily our friends, who live in Queens, agreed to watch our son for the day. So it took us two hours from Harlem to Queens to drop off our son and headed back to Manhattan to watch the show. It was well worth it though, but in case you need a sitter, you'd better find it at sittercity.com.

4. Public Restroom is a Challenge
I also learned that not all public places in NYC offer public restrooms. You have a better chance to find one at Starbucks, big stores and hotels. Just act like you're staying there or pretend you want to buy something, but change your mind and walk away. Besides, New Yorkers are too busy to pay attention anyway.

5. Emergency Door at Subways
Your stroller will not fit in the revolving door no matter how tiny it is. Sometimes you can ask the ticket officer to let you in through the emergency gate. However when they are not around or you're in a hurry to catch the train, just push the emergency door yourself. The alarm will make a loud noise but trust me, nobody cares!

6. Avoid The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Any Non-kids Friendly Places
You are not allowed to touch anything at the Mets, and good luck telling your toddler not to touch those interesting pieces of artworks! There are so many places that are kids friendly such as the Children's Museum, Central Park, FAO Schwarz, etc. The Mets, or Metropolitan Museum of Art is definitely not one of them! There were also a few instances where we got stared a lot while eating out since our son was being too loud. Honestly I just pretend nothing happened.

Keep in mind, don't let the Big Apple intimidates you! You can still have a good time in NYC as long as you are flexible, don't expect too much from your toddler, and learn how to live like New Yorkers.

I'm a mother, wife, full time accountant, and part time blogger. I write about parenting, family, career and fashion. You can find my blog at http://www.mommylicious.net/.

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