NYC information
 

We're visiting NY in Sept. w/ a 16mo toddler. Can anyone give me restaurant ideas that are child friendly? We like pizza, Italian, Chinese, Thai...
Also, would love travel tips...subway, bus, taxi...which would you recommend w/ toddler and stroller?
We've been to NY several times before so we don't need usual tourist ideas, but any ideas for things to do w/ a small child would be great!!

THANKS!!

If you haven't gone there yet check out the Children's Museum of Manhattan at www.cmom.org- The Dora the Explorer room is fun for the little ones, full size bus to play on, arts & crafts etc.

Re: subway, bus, subway and stroller

There are some, actually a lot of, subway stations that do not have escalator nor elevator access. You'll do a lot of carrying of stroller and baby up/down subway stations. Also, subways can get very, very crowded - especially during rush hours. The subway turnstiles feels to be at least 10 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, and more humid, during those oppressive summer months.

Although buses in NYC are equipped to handle the loading of and the proper securing of strollers, I wouldn't use it if I was travelling with a child-in-a-stroller as, just like the subway, it can get crowded and the wait for one in a hot/humid (or extremely cold bus stop or a rainy one) can be punishing to the child. I don't take the buses often, but I have to admit that in all the times that I took them in Manhattan, I've somehow not seen a child in a stroller travelling in the buses.

Since you've been to NY several times, you probably have may an idea of what I'm refering to as far as using the subway and buses are concerned.

My recommendation: take a cab with the baby.

BTW, here's a list of baby-friendly restaurants in Manhattan.
Disclaimer: I do not know when this list was last updated.

http://newyork.urbanbaby.com/communi...tout_main.html

Almost any casuale restaurant is fine with kids - as long as you eat early - like 6pm or so. You don;t say where you're staying - but you will do much better in residential areas (upper west side, village etc) than in midtown - with business people rushing in all directions and not looking for strollers. (ANd your poor kid would see nothing but tons of fast-moving knees.)

As for transit - to use the buses you're best with a foldable stroller - one person holds child on lap, the other holds folded stroller in front of them. (Buses are equipped for wheelchair passsengers - and strollers can go in same area if it's not being used - but it means parents need to stand in with stroller/baby rather than sit.)

At rush hours I would use only cabs (foldable stroller in trunk) at other times subway (one parent carries child the other the stroller) - but there can be LOTS of stairs and long passageways. (I have seen couples carry opened stroller with baby in it down subway steps - I'm always afraid they'll fall - and if you block the aisle in the subway people will NOT be happy. Also - doors can close quickly - so you need to move briskly and be sure to keep any part of the stroller out of them.)

What to do -

Central Park - esp Children's zoo

Museum of Natural History (even the little ones seem to like looking at some of the animals)

Central Park has several playgrounds (check Central Park Conservancy web site for info)

Also - Battery Park City promenade - kids seem to like looking at harbor boats as well as assorted passersby

Thank you for the information and reponses. I apologize for my delay in replying. Yes, I do know what you mean about the subways and buses. And in all the times we've been to NY, I haven't seen any strollers on either. That is partly why I am asking...wondered how residents get around.
Thanks again!

You have to fold your stroller to board a bus in NYC. If your child is awake, this might be a possibility. My kids loved the bus at that age. We also took the subway all the time. I always felt like it was safer than cabbing it w/o a car seat. That said, tons of my friends take their kids in cabs, preferring that to subways.

Many restaurants are kid-friendly. In Times Square, we always like Virgil's BBQ. Any place in Chinatown will be good for kids. If you let me know where you're staying, I can try to direct you to more neighborhood joints.

Have fun - NY is really excellent for little ones.

You probably didn;t see it much as visitors to NYC because people who live here with kids tend to stay out of midtown - there's nothing there for the kids to do - and treking back and forth is a pain.

But in the residential areas of Manhattan you'll see tons of kids - including on buses and some subways. But - at rush hour cabs are really a must - since there's no room on bus or subway - for people - never mind strollers.

Actually, on this trip we will be spending most of our time w/ family in NJ and making several day trips to the city. With a young toddler who enjoys her 730pm bedtime we decided to spend the evenings w/ family instead of sitting in a hotel room. That said, any neighborhood information is appreciated since we are not starting from a specific area.
As for strollers, we love to walk and typically spend most of our time walking when we can instead of PT, but we have a med/lrg 3-wheeled stroller. If we take taxis it doesn't really matter what size, but bus or subway...would it be a problem? Should we consider getting an umbrella stroller?...or stick w/ current and far more comfy stroller? Thanks again for all your advice and information!