I don't have a car and will have to rely on public transportation (bus, taxi, subway)to transport with my new born baby due in August. What is the best gear to buy? I need to get a car seat but I am torn about the type of carriage/travel system or carrier to get for the baby. I'm not sure which one is the most convenient without sacrificing safety.
I suggest staying away from the travel system sets, specially in the NY area. They are bulky. I think an infant car seat and a snap on shell (can't remember the name) is best. they are easy to handle and provide a much roomier storage at the bottom. Once your child a older you can get an umbrella stroller.
Miriam, I love the Chicco Travel system they are very lightweight both the stroller and car seat. The stroller tri-folds to make carry it easy. I got one for my 2year-old daughter when my son was born love it so much went and got an other one for him. My daughter is now 5 and my son is 3 and I still have both strollers in the car just in case. The stroller is for newborns to 45 pounds. The best $100.00 dollars I even spent. Check out these two "CHICCO KEYFIT 30 CORTINA TRAVEL SYSTEM or CHICCO CORTINA TRAVEL SYSTEM IN MANHATTAN. Best of luck with the baby
I take the NYC subways every day. I would say your best bet will be to get a good carrier or sling to carry the baby on you. Baby bjorn's are wonderful, I used mine all the time from when my girls were new borns, and i beleive they are good up to at least 20 lbs... I know many people swear by other types like slings etc. but I never went that route as I had twins and already had 2 baby bjorns... I wouldn't bother with the travel system if I were you. Get a good baby carrier - we had the graco snugride, and a snap and go stroller for now...
Public transportation and baby gear do not work well together.
Certainly there is always a good samaritan that will help you lift the stroller up and down the stairs, but it is such a hassle. I did it with my kids and looking back on it I wish there had been all the options there are now, back then. The only gear you should look at if you will be taking public transportation are front carriers and slings. Go to www.babiesrus.com and go to the gear section, the drop window will give you your options, chose slings and front carriers so you can see all you have to choose from. I just gave the baby bjorn front carrier to a friend of mine as a shower gift. Good luck and have fun shopping.
Miriam,
We live close enough to our hospital that we ended up putting our newborn in the sling and walking home (6 blocks). We took her on the subway at 2 weeks but had the plastic rain cover over her in her stroller (for fear of people sneezing and poking her). If your new one is on the small side, a sling would be perfect. HOWEVER, if she/he is on the larger side, like my DD, then a bjorn would be a better option. Also, we felt more comfortable with the bjorn (more secure). For size estimates, we asked our moms our sizes when we were born, then did the average... that worked out great (only off by 2 ounces!).
Note: with either method, if possible, get your spouse/significant other to carry the baby home. My back was super ACHY!! It was pretty much impossible for me to wear my DD in the sling or bjorn for 2 weeks.
On the bus, they will ask you fold-up the stroller, so just be aware of that. It can be a huge pain if you get a crabby bus driver.
As for a carseat - we ended up "inheriting" one from a friend. We've only taken DD in a car twice, so for us, it didn't matter. By the time she rides in a car again, she'll probably have outgrown the inherited one. So glad I didn't register or buy one!
Good luck!
Amanda
Hi Miriam,
I live in NYC and do not have a car and have taken public transportation with my baby since week 1. He is now 4 1/2 months old. It is COMPLETELY not doable for me and many in NYC to NOT take public transportation as this is how 95% of us get around the city, the doctor, etc...etc...
First of all, I have to be a little blunt here and say that I did what I had to do and didn't really listen to "advice" because I knew what worked best for me and what I had to do... So, my hope is that I can just tell you what I did and you can take it or leave it and use what will work for you. Everyone and their mother will tell you "what you have to do", but you know best where you live in the city, what your schedule and lifestyle is like and what you need to do...
So, this is what worked for me: Friends gave us the Bugaboo Frog (the older version of what is now called the cameleon I think, or something like that)-- we have very good friends and they basically gave us everything- so I don't know what your budget is like as these things are ridiculously expensive, BUT, there is a reason that they are and there are ALWAYS postings for used ones on sale on craigslist and other neighborhood parent listserves, depending where you live. So, we were also given the Graco snap n' go infant car seat and we purchased the car seat adaptor that the car seat goes on and that snaps onto the Bugaboo frame. so, when I had to take the subway, I used this system, because it is very sturdy and the wheels are like a hand-truck, where I was able to actually pull the system up and down the stairs slowly and it is a smooth for the baby. However, yes it is true that 9 times out of 10 someone WILL offer to help you carry the stroller up and down. I also looked on the MTA website and looked at what stations were handicap/wheelchair accessible, because if I had to take the subway, I tried to coordinate it and get used to the stations that had elevators. Yes, we know that is few and far between in the city, but I tried nonetheless.... I also used the Ergo baby carrier which is designed by a woman/mother and has very good support for the baby. You would want to purchae the infant insert to go in teh carrier for the first 2-3 months until the baby is big enough and starts to support his head. http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/
I did NOT use the Baby Bjorn, because i found it to not be comfortable for me or for the baby-- it sort of cuts on the lower groin region of the baby and that's where the support is and I didn't like it that much, although at the beginning with a newborn, it's doable for sure.
Later, once our son got to be 3+ months, we actually did get a Macclaren Quest, because I needed something to take on the bus, and something that may not be as bulky as the Bugaboo that I could also take for a quick stroll, etc.. [although, in all honesty, I probably don't need the Macclaren, but as he gets older, I think it will prove to be quite convenient. ) The Bugaboo is completely NOT useful for buses, it's tough to fold up and then you have to carry the car seat etc... BUT, the car seat and Bugaboo system IS extremely useful for taking a car service, as you can put the frame in the back of the car and the baby stays in car seat in the car, etc..
Hope that helps! I wrote a lot because I know for me, this was a huge question and I didn't know what to do. I had friends who only drive around most of the time telling me that I didn't need the Bugaboo and it was SO invaluable, especially in yucky weather, etc...
all best,
Caitlin
I second getting a good carrier. If you decide you want a stroller option, the infant car seat with snap and the carseat frame that it can snap into to convert to a stroller seems to make life easiest. I avoid taxi's at any cost since they are crazy drivers but for the subway and bus a carrier is easiest by far. Also, crazy as it seems there are no carseat requirements for riding in taxi's past when they are newborns. Strollers are cumbersome and there are few subway stations with escalators.
Miriam,
I would recommend a sling carrier, like a hotsling, for when your baby is brand new and when he/she is a little older the Ergo. I feel that both are much better and cause way less back pain than the bjorn. They work great on the train and for flying as well. We got the chicco cortina travel system for the car seat and stroller and are very happy with it. The seat is safe and the stroller is easy to fold and maneuver. I know some people just get a car seat and a thing that holds it to wheel around instead of an entire travel system. Hope this helps.
Inga, mom to 9month old girl in Brooklyn.
we used (and still use) the ergo carrier - ergo stands for ergonomic and it's by far the most comfortable, easy to use of the carriers. I also have several slings and a bjorn. The ergo is great because the weight is on your hips, not your back and as the baby gets older you can switch from the front carry to either hip or back - great for hiking too. Now that I live out of the city, I use a combination of the ergo and quest stroller - very lightweight and easy to fold up. When she was tiny I used the kolkraft base with the baby snap and go. Kolkraft is easy to fold and has a HUGE bin for groceries, shopping, etc. Hope this helps. Another thing about the ergo is I sometimes wear my daughter on my back while I'm making dinner or doing dishes. She loves it and I don't have to worry about where she is.
Miriam...I had my first baby about a year and a half ago and live in the Bronx. I wanted the best most expensive stroller and carrier and everything but it turns out that it's not necessarily the easiest thing to lug around on the trains-especially by yourself. I really wish I would have gotten one of those strollers that you can just sit your car seat in and fold up. I had a Chicco car seat and loved it!! And the stroller is very nice but I think I would have preferred something lighter and easy to carry around. The baby is still comfy in the car seat and is easy to transfer between car/cab/train. Good luck.
my baby was born last summer and i took the subway with her almost from day one. The Maya wrap was my savior, because she LOVED being in a womb-like position next to me and i was able to cover her up with the fabric so no one could touch or cough on her (unlike the bjorn). Also, i don't think it's developmentally good for a baby to be in an upright position so early. i would save the bjorn for later. For what it's worth, i would "stuff" my baby into the maya wrap and she would be fast asleep while i went about my business, went out to dinner, shopping, etc. it was sooo great.
It's not a taxi solution, but we have the Ergo baby carrier and absolutely love it. We carry our 5 month old everywhere in it. Good luck!
Hi Miriam,
I rode the subways often with my newborn and the easiest thing is to carry your babe on your body, like a baby bjorn or what I used was a didymos. That left my hands free, and kept baby in a snuggled position against my chest. Newborns sleep alot in the beginning anyway, so if you are riding in the subway for an hour or so, its great!
Good Luck
Nicole
Hi Miriam,
I too love the Ergo Baby. It can hold newborn (with insert)and up to 40lbs. I carry my 3 year old in it. The Snugli type for babies are not so great for baby (a newborn dangling by the crotch, not the right support). There are groups who have sling libraries and you can try first. If you are very interested in baby wearing
for meetings and test driving you could look into
http://www.slingsinthecity.com/
A great store where you can try and buy
I had a Combi stroller for my newborn, which I thought was just not sturdy enough. I much prefer the McClaren Quest, a bit heavier, but you can still hoist it up the subway stairs on your own. I don't think it is made for newborns, since it does not lay completely flat.
Even if you are primarily a stroller person, baby wearing can be extremely useful in the city. I also swear by it when travelling.. airports, bus stations with hands free.
All the best!
Carrie
i would do baby bjorn or ergo carrier and stay away from strollers for as long as possible-a drag.
I live up in Washington Heights, so subway is a must for us. We do have a car, but found that the Graco Snug ride was the car seat for us. lots of room, comfy for the little guy, and it connects to either the snap and go or the bugaboo with a special adapter, so it was cross functional. On the subway, the stroller has been the best. There are lots of elevator stations and with the stroller I always stick to those because I have a real phobia climbing stairs with a heavy kid and a heavy stroller. However by far the easiest is the baby carrier. I have the baby bjorn, but when I have the next one I am going to get the Ergo Baby carrier. All my friends have it and say it is far superior to the bjorn. I haven't taken a taxi with my little one, but if I had to, I would put him in the carrier and buckle myself in.
Hope that helps!!
Graco seems the best to me tho I could not convince my dtr. She bought a completely not user friendly STOKKE. Heavy, big and a menace on the subway.