We visited New York City with our child Emma at 7 months outdated, and it was a blast. We went throughout Manhattan, crossed the Statue of Liberty off our bucket checklist, and did plenty of different enjoyable issues.
Will she bear in mind it? Probably not. But we are going to, and we’ll be capable of inform her about it sometime and present her footage of all of the cool locations she went.
Even although we’re seasoned vacationers, we’re new mother and father and this was one in every of our very first journeys with a child, so we had been slightly bit nervous about all the pieces. New York is a big metropolis, in spite of everything.
Once you’re there, you understand it’s really simpler, safer, and extra manageable than you may assume, particularly should you go in with reasonable expectations.
Here are our ideas for visiting New York City with a child!
1. A Lightweight Stroller Is Ideal
We went nearly in every single place by strolling and utilizing the subway.
NYC may be very stroller-friendly on the road stage, however should you plan to make use of the subway, not all stations have elevators. Many have stairs solely, and even when there’s an elevator, it could be out of order.
For these circumstances, you’ll undoubtedly desire a mild and helpful stroller that’s simple to fold and carry. We used a Babyzen YOYO2 stroller and it labored nice for this.
Strollers are allowed on the subway vehicles, and we all the time had loads of room for ours, however with a cumbersome full-size one you’d undoubtedly wrestle.
Having the proper stroller will prevent lots of trouble in New York!
A light-weight stroller is finest
2. A Baby Carrier Can Be Handy Too
Baby carriers are nice for stairways or tight areas, and also you’ll undoubtedly run into a few of these in New York City.
Even although we had a stroller, we had been glad to have a child provider typically for the subway and sure different actions.
We used an Ergobaby Omni Breeze and would suggest it. It’s marketed as becoming infants from 7 to 45 kilos (~0-48 Months), and it was excellent for our 7 month outdated.
It was particularly helpful after we visited the Statue of Liberty, as a result of we wished to take a seat on the highest stage of the ferry for the very best views, and you must climb a number of stairways and navigate a crowd of different vacationers on the ferry to get there. It can be a ache to do with a stroller.
Aside from that, the provider was additionally helpful on the airplane. Our Emma traveled as a lap toddler, which is free for infants below age two, and the provider allowed us to maintain our arms free throughout the flight.
A child provider is helpful on the subway, and even on the airplane!
3. A Car Seat Is Recommended
The solely time we used a automotive in NYC was taking a taxi to and from the airport.
However, any time you utilize a automotive with a child, there’s the problem of automotive seats. State legislation in New York doesn’t require you to make use of one in a taxi, but it surely’s nonetheless a good suggestion. The driving in NYC will be wild typically, and should you get in an accident you need your child to be secure.
We all the time attempt to be very security minded and finances minded, so we introduced our automotive seat from residence. Most airways will allow you to test one without cost, and then you definitely seize it if you land. Like strollers, it’s thought of a free piece of additional baggage for fogeys.
If you don’t need to carry your personal automotive seat to NYC, there are particular taxi providers you possibly can ebook on-line that embody a seat of your alternative. Check out Kid Car, Kidmoto, Legends Limousine, or Taxi Bambino.
These are usually a bit dear, however they do have good opinions, they usually’d be extra handy than bringing your personal automotive seat in every single place.
NYC isn’t a spot you’d need to be driving round with out a automotive seat
4. NYC Has Lots Of Baby-Friendly Things To Do
We did plenty of enjoyable issues in New York City, and by no means felt like our child was misplaced or a burden to us or anybody round us.
We went to well-known websites just like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, visited New York’s finest museums, climbed a rooftop observatory, and far more. We even braved the crowds at Times Square on a number of events!
Central Park is nice if you wish to go on walks with extensive paths, shade, and playgrounds. Summit One Vanderbilt can also be enjoyable for infants. They have a mirror room and a room filled with silver balloons.
Most sights in NYC welcome households with strollers, and even the locations that aren’t tremendous stroller-friendly will be executed simply as nicely with a child provider. You don’t must restrict your self an excessive amount of right here.
Read More: 15 Fun Things To Do In NYC
Summit One Vanderbilt is enjoyable for infants
5. Pick A Hotel With A View
New York is a tremendous metropolis, and having a pleasant view out of your resort is a part of the expertise.
We stayed on the M Social Hotel in Times Square and it was one of many nice issues about our journey.
We liked watching all of the vehicles and other people, and having an up shut view of the high-rises was spectacular. At night time, the view was even higher with all the pieces lit up and flashing.
Emma liked to peek out the window of our room and watch all of the exercise under.
Soaking up these huge metropolis views
Everything else about our keep at M Social was good, and it was pretty finances pleasant for New York.
The employees had been actually candy to Emma, they usually had been in a position to present a Pack N’ Play for her to sleep in.
We booked the ‘ball drop’ room for the perfect views of Manhattan.
The resort the place we stayed — © M Social Hotel in Times Square
Views from the rooftop terrace
6. New Yorkers Are Nice To Babies
We had been slightly apprehensive about bringing our child to the massive metropolis as a result of we weren’t certain what native attitudes can be like, however that ended up being completely unsuitable.
Everyone was very pleasant and we obtained plenty of good feedback about Emma in every single place we went. People opened doorways for us, held elevators, and gave up their seats on the subway with out asking.
To be truthful, our child barely cried on your complete journey, however even when she was fussy, folks had been understanding and never judgmental. We had no points in any respect.
Fun photograph ops on the Madame Tussauds wax museum
7. Don’t Stress About Crime & Safety
For its dimension, New York City is surprisingly secure. In truth, it’s one of many most secure huge cities within the United States.
Certain information networks give it a foul rap, however you must look previous the occasional scary story and contemplate the general statistics.
It’s a metropolis with over 8 million folks.
NYC is the largest metropolis within the U.S.
Reflections at Central Park
As of 2026, the homicide charge in New York City is round 4 per 100,000 residents, whereas the U.S. charge as a complete is 5.6 per 100,000. That means NYC is safer than the U.S. on the whole. That’s very spectacular, contemplating the scale of the town.
If you slim it down to only Manhattan, the place most vacationers go, the homicide charge is barely round 1.3 per 100,000. That’s one-fourth of the U.S. nationwide charge!
In the meantime, Chicago has a homicide charge 4 occasions larger than NYC, whereas New Orleans and St. Louis every have a homicide charge nearly 14 occasions larger than NYC. That places it in perspective, I feel.
Times Square craziness
That doesn’t imply you have to be careless in New York, however should you persist with common hours and the conventional vacationer areas, you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of.
The subway is secure, and incidents there have been exaggerated, but it surely’s nonetheless smart to keep away from the sting of the tracks, and keep away from anybody performing uncommon.
If you might have a stroller, you should use the wheel brake to lock it in place.
8. Keep The Snacks Handy
It’s by no means enjoyable when your child will get fussy in public, so that you’ll need to carry snacks in every single place you go.
These can be particularly helpful anytime you must wait in line at an attraction. We had that occur a couple of occasions.
Aside from the same old meals pouches, we additionally gave our child rice rusks. She liked these they usually prevented some meltdowns.
At the Statue of Liberty with our little fox
9. Family Spaces Are Easy To Find
Wherever we went in New York, we by no means had an issue discovering a household toilet with a altering desk.
Nursing is allowed wherever, however some locations even have personal lactation pods from Mamava, they usually’re free for nursing mothers to make use of. These are situated on the airports, Liberty Island, the Museum of Modern Art, and different locations.
At eating places, we by no means had a problem bringing our stroller inside, though your expertise might range. We had been in a position to get a excessive chair when wanted, however house will be tight, so it’s finest to eat outdoors of peak hours if attainable.
New York City with a child was particular
10. Supplies Are Easy To Restock
Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are in every single place if you have to replenish on diapers, wipes, components, and child meals.
We introduced most of what we would have liked from residence, however typically you overlook issues, and it’s good to know there are simple methods to resupply.
Mirror room at Summit One Vanderbilt
More NYC Travel Tips
Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved the following pointers for visiting New York City with a child.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my different journey guides for NYC earlier than you go!
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