To take one year old to New York

[CleverQuacks]

For a minute imagine Covid isn’t an issue. I have always loved travelling and have a list of destinations I want to see as long as my arm. Covid has made me realise that life is short so i have decided I want to see one new place every year.

New York is top of the list so I am considering booking for next year. The problem is, I have a baby who will be 15 months old. I am a single mum with no dad involved so I don’t have anyone who would look after him. I think I would be fine taking him with me. It would be an adventure. But my mum and sister say I am crazy.

The reality is I don’t want to wait til he is 18 and independent before I see the world so we are going to have to get used to travelling together.

I don’t drink alcohol and not into partying. I mainly want to see the shops and various museums and landmarks. Also eat American food!

Am I crazy?

Can you manage, yes. Can you do the things you want, yes. But is it fair to have your child strapped into a pram or sling almost all day except to eat? Probs not so great when you look at the vacation from their angle, as in, whats in it for them.

@Mosschopz

It’s not the same but I took my 6 year old three years ago. We got a hotel with a pool (the Dominick in SoHo) so however boring the day was for her and it never was!) she could come back to her own fun. Massive age difference but that was what we did. She cooed WAY better with jet lag than we did too.

This is great advice. We travelled a lot with DS (and to this day we all prefer city breaks) and it is entirely possible to go anywhere and do anything as long as you look at it from their POV. A 1 year old is going to be fine for a while at the museum and they'll probably have a nap in the carrier, and then pinch a bit of your lunch. But then they'll want to do something for them, like go for a swim or toddle around the park. As long as you can plan/stay in places to facilitate that then you'll be golden.

If your heart is set on America, I'd suggest Chicago. Loads of parks with sprinklers, a great play center at Navy Pier (they call it a museum but it's not, it's basically 5 floors of play space) and lots of hands on museums.

Oh and go inter-railing! Best thing DS and I ever did.

Mine enjoyed playing at the beach and learning to walk at that age. France and Spain were just fine.

We took DDs to Boston and NY when they were 8 and 6. I’m fortunate that DDs enjoyed art and loved MoMa. Also Central Park and had the High Line been built then, they would have lived that too! Just taking DD1 at 15 months: no. Too lively, interrupted sleep and eating patterns and general disruption to routines wasn’t worth it. Nor the embarrassment of them crying etc on long haul. I never fancied being “that” parent in business! No way! We travelled extensively and widely from age 7 and 5. Just not as toddlers.

Yanbu. Life is short! 15 months is quite an annoying age for a flight (I speak from experience!) but it's worth it for the holiday.

Go for it.

Good baby carrier and plan what you'll do before hand. Plan in lots of breaks. Central park is great. Avoid Summer. I'd advise April/may/September.

It sounds like this is intended as a one-off trip - that you're planning to see somewhere different every year and so not go back to NY? If so I'd put it later in your list - I think you can have a nice time with a 15m old but you won't get the most out of New York so it seems a shame if it'll be the only time you go when it's somewhere you've always dreamed of visiting. If you are thinking of this as the first of many trips to NY over the years then that's quite different and I think you should go for it.

Sounds great OP! I went with my DD when she was 18 months old and had a great time.

I think your crazy, brave mind you, but crazy.

But maybes that because I wouldn’t do it so can’t imagine someone else?

I think it’s because your doing it alone, no one there just to have a extra pair of hands there.

If you want to though and think you would cope then do it.

We took our son when he was 1, it was important to us that he was there as we were getting married. We found it to be a very baby-friendly city.

He was great on the flight, we took a bag of new toys and books to keep him occupied. His buggy was stored by cabin crew and although we waited for the plane to empty before they brought it to us, security saw us at the back of the queue for passport control and took us along to the front where they were opening another booth and directed us to that (our son was actually sitting quietly so it wasn’t as though he was screaming the place down and they wanted us out quickly).

That then set the scene for everywhere that we went where we needed to wait, we were always ushered to the front. We found that diners were very toddler-friendly places to eat.

Well as you've got a long list I'd probably save NYC for when he's at least 5. The whole experience will be better minus a buggy.

Which other places are on your list to visit?

It’s fine. Re: flying - I flew long-haul (London-Florida) with my baby/toddler 4 times in 2019 and the flights were fine. Did it twice by myself.

It’s busy, smelly and quite dirty! I’ve been a few times but definitely wouldn’t want to do it with a toddler. Lots of walking too.

It depends on your child. My eldest couldn't have coped with any of it at that age but my youngest could. You don't have to wait until 18 though. I really enjoy travelling with mine now they are a bit older. It was ok from about 4 as they are toilet trained and a bit more independent. Obviously you have to work around school then unless you are homeschooling. 😀

Are you trying to go before you need to pay for a seat on the aeroplane OP? Manhattan is a great city to explore but your son will get zero from it at 15 months. Whereas at age 5/6/7 he'll at least remember the visit.

@Mosschopz

It’s not the same but I took my 6 year old three years ago. We got a hotel with a pool (the Dominick in SoHo) so however boring the day was for her and it never was!) she could come back to her own fun. Massive age difference but that was what we did. She cooed WAY better with jet lag than we did too.

Yes - this is what we used to do when we travelled with ours at that age. We live in the US and we fairly regularly took them to NY, Boston, Chicago, etc. Having a hotel with a pool meant they always had something fun to look forward to.

OP - I'd wait till he's a bit older, only because I found it so much fun taking kids to NY once they were 7 or 8, and able to walk longish distances fairly reliably.

We loved the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum especially - it has a garden, so you can head out there periodically and recharge, then go back in, and there's loads to see.

I also took mine to a Broadway show, we ate out lots of different places, walked the High Line, biked round Central Park, did Top of the Rock, American Girl doll shop, did a night-time bus tour, admired the shop windows on 5th Ave, went to Chelsea Market and Gansevoort Market, had lunch in a bar in Grand Central Station, visited the Apple store in Chelsea.

We regularly got bagels or breakfast sandwiches from the local bodega.

The one area my kids hated was Times Square. Way too crowded.

We didn't manage to fit in the Museum of Natural History but if you do make it there then read The Rosie Project first.

I also love Boston for kids - there are several great museums including the Science Museum, the Children's Museum, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (although it's not aimed at kids, it's an amazing place).

It's also fun to take them to a game - ice hockey is great, basketball is also fun, baseball is loooooong.

I’ve been to New York without children and I think the jet lag would actually lend itself to a more kiddie family, ie you wake up really early and are yawning into your dinner by 7pm. Annoying for 30 year old me who was up for a bit of nightlife, but we actually got loads of sightseeing done as we were up and out so early.

In terms of sightseeing, I can’t see there was much we did that a toddler wouldn’t enjoy - museums, Central Park, viewing galleries at Empire State and top of the rock, ferry ride to Staten Island, high line.

We went to Rome when our son was around 18 months and had a lovely time sightseeing, although it’s a much smaller city and a much shorter flight time. Italians are also super lovely with children. But our son was quite happy wandering around museums and eating pizza - I’m sure you could do the same in new York pretty easily. We tended to go to a bar whilst he napped in his buggy in the afternoon, and then didn’t go out in the evenings.

BTW at 17 my daughter went and lived in NY for a while on her own. You definitely shouldn't wait till your son is 18 before you take him places.

Go for it! I've always travelled extensively with my dc. It doesn't matter if they don't remember it. It's about enjoying the moment. Also re the flight, you'll be fine. The cabin crew love little children. So you can always pop into the galley for a bit more room :) - I say this as an international cabin crew member, before anyone shoots my comment down.

I'm a single parent, love to travel and have been taking DS abroad since he was 2. We started off short haul though as I couldn't face long haul with a toddler! He is nearly 8 and we are doing our first long haul next year.

I say go for it.

If you adjust your expectations you can have a great time. The only real downside is the jet lag but just go to bed when they do and you’ll be fine. It can be a bit annoying waking at 5am in a hotel with not much to do though.

I took DC for the first time when they were about 15 months and had a great time, then again at 2.5yrs and 3.5yrs. There are some great playgrounds in Central Park, the Central Park zoo is good for little ones too. Staten Island ferry was a hit too. And lots of child friendly restaurants.

I’ll be going again, now also with DC2 currently 15 months, as soon as we can!

Add Lapland onto your list when DC is a bit older by the way! Took mine when he was 5 and it was magical.

@Biffbaff

We took an 11 month old to Toronto and Montreal and had an amazing time.

Haters gonna hate. You do you! Xx

Haters gonna hate . Wtf??

You'll be fine! Just before my mat leave ended and DH took over, I took 8 month old DS on a city break with me. We'd already flown together several times (lots of family overseas), and so I knew it'd be ok from that angle. I had a brilliant time, DS loved it (and was cooed over by half the city!). I'm doing the same this Autumn assuming covid fucks off, DH is going on a hobby-specific trip so we might as well travel at the same time.

If I was you I would probably go and deal with whatever the issue will be. As you said, you only live once.
I consider myself quite relaxed as a mother and I always loved an adventure. My little one was super easy to travel with until he was 15 months: never cried, all smiles, breastfed. Then from 15 months on he started to walk and to be VERY active and demanding. Every child is different but mine was ok to travel with until approx that age.
Now he's 2,5 and I am dreading my next flight (not that this will stop me in any way - I don't care if I will be tired, upset, hungry, covered in food and snot and mentally broken - still I will want to fly).

1-3 is the worst possible age for travel IMO. You still need loads of kit, they are beyond the babe in arms stage but not yet old enough to get anything from the trip. And flying is a bit of a nightmare at the crawling age. I'd wait a couple of years.