kayla

Hi,

Would any parents out there share your experience w/ getting around Boston w/ a 15 month old toddler? Light/easy to fold umbrella stroller or a back-pack carrier? Remember, we have to carry all those essential stuffs for a toddler --all day long--most of the time beside out camera, camcorder. gt;


We (5 of us) plan to get a city pass, taking public transportation (the "T", trolley, tours, etc.). How do you manage to get around the train/subway stations? There are not always elevators/escalators at the station; are there? Peak hrs to avoid the crowd? I remember we got caught during the peak hrs couple times at subway stations in Tokyo & Hong Kong. It was quite an experience! I felt like everyone is a robot! The flow moved so smoothly, that we didn't need to walk that much to be moved! In Tokyo, once we could not move up even a few steps of a staircases when we were in the opposite direction of a flow of passengers. They somehow practiced the English way at that platform-- on the left side! For seconds, we looked at the other side; it was empty! We jumped right over. It was a relief to get out of there in one piece. gt;

Thanks,

K.

gail

For a whole day of touring, I would go with the stroller, and have someone else carry a regular backpack with stuff - that way everyone has their hands free. Disadvantages of a stroller are, however, that the lightweight ones are difficult on cobblestones, uneven pavement. Advantages are that it can be easily folded up if space is a problem (like on transit) - much more practical, though, than a big SUS (sports utility stroller)

Advantages of a backpack are you have no space isues. Disadvantages are that it gets very heavy after a while and it is difficult to get kid in and out in tight spaces. My kids always pulled my hair as well.

Almost all stations have elevators and/or escalators. However, sometimes they are broken. If escalator is not functioning, go see the guy in the booth and they may have access to handcapped elevator. Rush hour is about 7-9:30 AM and again 4-6:00 - but you may also get a bubble at time of public school departure since some kids ride MBTA to/from school.

MBTA.com is a good website for all transit info. When a train arrives, people do tend to act like they it is the last train leaving before a nuclear explosion - if you feel rushed, on the subway/trolley lines, trains arrive very frequently - so just wait. It is a good idea if everyone knows where to get off before they get on, because it is likely you will become separated within the train.

matkat

I go into Boston a lot with my 2 toddlers. I would recommend a lightweight full size stroller, such as an Graco Literider or something like that. It allows your child to sleep & relax while strolling as well as having a basket underneath to hold all of your stuff. I usually put my diaper bag across the handle and then put all of our other stuff underneath, such as the camera, etc. As long as there are at least 2 adults you can always just take him out if you get to a T stop without an elevator and one of you can carry him & one can carry the stroller up the stairs. Try to avoid rush hour (6-9 am and 4 :30-6 pm), its tough becaue you may not be offered a seat, there may not be room for the stroller, and its tough to hold a baby for a long time on a crowded train. Also, try to avoid the Gree line as well as they have trolleys rather than trains so there are several steps up to get on the trolley which is obviously tough with a stroller. The backpack is great for short outings but our kids always get fussy after an hour or so & then there is nowhere to put them if you don't have a stroller. Boston is fun with kids, have a great time!

Anonymous

Your choice should also depend on what you're doing that day. Many museums and tours will not allow strollers but will allow backpacks; others, including the Children's Museum, allow neither (or at least that was the case when mine were tiny) and have a no-security "holding pen" for those that are brought. Pavement is OK for strollers everywhere except Beacon Hill and Faneuil Hall/Quincy Marketplace. I see no advantages of a larger stroller over an umbrella stroller (with 5 adults you can get by without the luggage capacity) and the umbrella will be better in situations with crowds or where it must be carried.

The Boston CityPass is a very good value if you plan to visit most of the 6 attractions included. Plan to visit the Skywalk on your first really clear day -- the view depends a LOT on weather conditions and air quality.

The "T" is very inexpensive -- a $1.25 token for most rides -- but there are a couple of passes that might be a good value for you, including the Weekly Combo Pass, unlimited rides for $16.50. Check out your pass options at www.mbta.com.

Kehsutton

Kayla: the backpack is absolutely the best mode of transport. I can't emphasize that enough. We're urban Boston residents, having raised our 6 and 3 year old in the city. We have a lightweight stroller but almost always chose the backpack due to the following:
Old, bumpy sidewalks are horrific for strollers (unless it's some SUV-like babyjogger). Great for catapulting your kid right out, bad for 'strolls'.

Old, heavy doors and doorways are often too narrow for strollers.

Strollers take up two hands and arms for pushing and traversing the old, bumpy sidewalks.

The T is not stroller-friendly. Nearly all trains have stairs, stations are mostly underground so relying on elevators (filthy, stinky or broken) or escalators-often too narrow, again is a complete and total crapshoot.

Can you tell I have a strong opinion about this? If both parents are in decent shape and can trade off with the backpack and if your toddler is not 35 lbs. plus, I would skip the lightweight stroller. Boston's an old city and the two don't really go well together.

(besides, backpacks are safe 'restraining orders', they're up high-out of the line of exhaust and whatnot, they're comfy-kids do sleep in them and kids can see what you're seeing) If one parent carries the kidlet and the other carries the essentials, I think you can manage.

Anonymous

Since there are 4 or 5 adults, dealing with doorways and even subway stairs shouldn't be a huge issue if you do decide to use a stroller. One of my kids loved the backpack, the others hated it, so I've experienced both! One major factor for long days is whether your kidlet will nap in either the backpack or the stroller of choice.

kayla

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! We have to read it through to digest & figure out what may work best for us. The back pack would be out of a question if I tell my husband that the toddler may pull Dady's hair! gt;

We'll be flying in and plan to carry only esstential gears. A Peg Perego P3 or a Maclaren Quest? Hm...We need to plan ahead since someone mentioned some museums do not allow stroller.

K.

matkat

I don't know of any museums that don't allow strollers, except maybe some of the smaller ones, such at the Gardner Museum but even then I would be surprised. The Museum of Fine Arts, the Children's Museum & the Museum of Science definitely all allow them. Maybe they didn't used to in the past but they certainly do now. If you plan to visit things with tight quarters, i.e. the Constitution, you may want the backpack. I suggested a regular stroller over an umbrella stroller as I think its easier for a child to sleep in as it reclines unlike an umbrella stroller where your child is totally upright. It also offers sun protetcion which most umbrellas do not. Its much easier to use on the city streets (and the occassional cobblestones) as the wheels are bigger than an umbrella, and it allows you to use the snack tray for drinks & food. We find a stroller is great in a restaurant, we usually leave our 1 year old in the stroller at the table until he gets fussy & then move him to the table for a change of scenery. Also if your child is already asleep, you can have a nice peaceful meal without disturbing him. If you haven't already, I would definitely try out the backpack at home & see what your child thinks of it. My daughter hated it, my son loved it for an hour or so but then wanted out.

Kehsutton

If you do go with a stroller, the Maclaren is the best, since it's lightweight and can recline and offers sun protection. It's far and away the best city stroller we've used and the wheels don't get easily hung up on the bumps and cracks in the sidewalks here. The P3 peg perego, if memory serves, isn't nearly as lighweight or as compactible...

kayla

I kind of leaning toward to the Mac Quest, too, for the light weight & comfort. The P3 is ~5 lbs heavier but has larger basket. I guess we can carry a small back pack as diaper bag.


Just hope it doesn't get damage fr. being stacked on the airplane! We gate-checked our P3 last Sept and escaped the damages. It made 3 2" holes on our stroller bag, though! Another passenger w/ the same P3 & came from the same city on a different route was not so lucky; the frame was pretty damaged .

Thanks,

K.