Traveling to NYC with toddlers is a big deal. You have to keep an eye out for stroller-accessible places, avoid hot and crowded places to make sure no mid-day toddler breakdown happens, but also ensure that you wear the kids out before the day ends, or else their boredom will present itself as a whole new problem to solve.
When you are visiting a city like NYC, which never sleeps and is filled to the brim with people, it is hard to imagine casually strolling with your kid on a sidewalk without bumping into a thousand people along the way. But that’s not always the case. NYC is a great city for kids. There is a reason people from all over the US and the world come to visit it: stay for a good period of time and enjoy everything that the city has to offer, like Broadway, museums, shopping, etc.
So, if you want to survive and have fun in NYC with a toddler in tow, we have compiled a list that will make strolling around this great city easier.
Pack A Lightweight Stroller
NYC is an amazing city to move around in and exceptionally toddler-friendly. However, there is a lot of walking from your hotel to the subway and from the subway to other attractions. For this, bring a lightweight stroller, which is easy to fold and unfold, especially on the subway stairs.
A compact travel stroller will also help you move around Midtown and Times Square’s streets. You will be surprised by the number of times you might have to maneuver around people with your baby on one arm and the folded stroller on the next. Also, it will help you get on and off the taxis and buses quickly.
Potty Breaks
Toddlers are mostly potty trained, but it is rare when the nearest place with a bathroom in NYC coincides with the time your kid calls for it. Here are a few ways you can avoid any mishap.
Keep a potty with you always, and an extra pair of clothes for any accidental pee or puke, and keep a package of wet wipes with you at all times. Sometimes, travel pants are the answer to fuss-free travel to New York City with a toddler, especially on a plane or crowded subways.
Also, plan your itinerary ahead of time and keep an eye out for museums, restaurants, and other attractions in NYC that have clean public restrooms, like Central Park and Macy’s in Herald Square.
Handling The Amount Of Walking
Strollers are a way of life for toddlers in New York City, even if they have seemed strong enough to walk on their own. NYC has a whole lot of walkable neighborhoods where you will be expected to cover a great distance on foot.
So, make your toddler wear comfortable shoes, cushioned ones if you will be exploring cobblestone streets like in SoHo. Choose sneakers if the kids are going to an adventure park. Even as a parent, you should avoid wearing strappy sandals and heels that will grow uncomfortable over time and might also get stuck on uneven pavement.
Don’t Try To Cover Many Places In One Day
There are endless things to do with kids, but it is essential to plan and group them in a way that leaves some room for toilet and food breaks in between. Don’t hit too many places in one day.
Choose one neighborhood in a day and stick to it. For example, Central Park and its surrounding area are extremely safe and walkable. The Central Park Zoo, lunch and toy shop on Madison, and Museum of Natural History can be squeezed in one day without tiring the kids. Opt for less crowded spaces when planning a day in NYC with kids.
Carry A Backpack
When traveling with a toddler, you need a strategic package more than ever! Toddler bag essentials include diapers, disposable diaper bags, hand sanitizers, first aid kids, a lightweight jacket, and snacks.
Sudden rain showers can happen anytime in New York City, so make sure that you have purchased a waterproof backpack like the one from North Face or Patagonia as you make your way toward the rainy day indoor activities.
Always keep your MetroCard, phone, and cards in a waterproof wallet or bag and place them where you can easily access them while juggling with the toddlers and their backpacks.
Plan Downtime To Unwind
You must get a hotel within walking distance of the attractions in New York that you plan to see. And make sure that you are comfortable covering that distance by foot. (Pro tip: do not ask a New Yorker if the walkable distance is okay for you. They walk everywhere, which makes them not the best judges if something is just “around the corner” or not.)
Even if you cannot come back to the hotel to rest a little before heading back to dinner, there are many places scattered around the city to relax and unwind, such as the Hudson River Park and Chelsea Piers.
Getting Around The City With A Toddler
Strollers are not allowed in NYC’s buses. Bring a carrier with you if you want to skip the subway and really take that bus. If you are taking a subway with a stroller, you can plan your route via an online navigation app by selecting wheelchair-accessible subways and stations with elevators.
Toddlers in New York City might not necessarily need a car seat, but if you are can always bring your own car seat when riding in a TLC licensed vehicle.
Travel During Off-Peak Season
If you want to survive a trip to NYC with a toddler, you must plan one during off-peak season. This is during the fall months – from October to early November.
During this season, the weather is fantastic. Not too warm that the subways feel stifling, and not too cold that you will have to stick to indoor activities only. The crowds have thinned out, something that your toddler would really enjoy.
Also, the prices for many hotels and attractions drop during the off-peak season, and you can have a lot more fun within your budget.
Timings Are Everything In NYC
To avoid crowds on subways and popular attractions, you have to bypass the rush hour. For example, subway crowds peak between 10 am to 3 pm. Prefer to take a bus or taxi if you want to go somewhere during this time.
Similarly, arrive at popular attractions like the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History as soon as they open in the morning to avoid large mid-day crowds.
The Staten Island Ferry, on the other hand, is less crowded during the mid-day, which makes a calm boat ride possible with your toddlers.
Spend As Much Time Exploring Central Park As You Can
Central Park is one of the most toddler-friendly attractions in New York City. Kids love horse carriages, fallen leaves, ducks, and birds. But you need to take a guided tour or plan to explore Central Park because toddlers can get bored easily.
We recommend seeing Heckscher Playground first. Kids love open playgrounds, and this place also has an adjacent baby-friendly restroom. Then go to the Strawberry Fields, Central Park Carousel, Sheep Meadow, Tisch Children’s Zoo, Cherry Hill, etc.
Bring Your Toddler’s Toys Everywhere
We are not asking you to pack big stuffed dinos and dolphins in your bag, but small, interactive toys that will keep them busy, especially when they are anxious on crowded subways, waiting lines, and NYC’s transit.
You can keep fidget toys, soft books, or bubbles (for playgrounds) in your backpack or download some toddler-friendly apps on your phone to keep them entertained for a long time.
And if they are still restless and bored, take them to one of the interactive museums in NYC. The kids will love it so much they won’t ever wish to come back from there.
Use Technology To Get Around Easily
New York is a large city, and getting around this metropolis, which is structured like a grid, especially with a toddler, requires some help.
The good news is that there are plenty of apps that will make your life easier in a crowded NYC.
KickMap has an interactive map of subway lines, rush hours, and changes in schedule. NYC Mate will give you an up-to-date schedule of the public transport system, and Limolane is the perfect app to avoid the chaos and disruptions that come with public transport altogether and book a private vehicle instead.
