Anyone been to New York City with a 3 year old?

[ToddlerYears]

Just wondering what we could do and whether it's feasible to take buggy on subway?
Also, if we go to a bar in the evening, would DD be allowed in with us?

You're a better Mum than me!

NYC is for grown up fun

we took ds1 when he was 2.5y, although we stayed with friends so slightly different.

We took him on the staten island ferry, which he loved. to the museum on staten island. to the enormous toys r us in/near times square. on the subway - which he adored, spencer the silver bullet from thomas the tank engine! to central park and on a horse & cart ride around it.

no idea on bars, friend we were with had a buggy, bit of a pita on the subway for her when on own, but ok with 2 adults.

Lots to do with a toddler.

Subway would be a real PITA with a pushchair. Most dont have lifts/escalators. Infact I didnt see any.

Bars - doubt it very very much.

Sorry, probably not what you want to hear.

We have been a couple of times, most recently in October for our honeymoon. Ds was 2 1/2 at the time... we left him with Granny

Oh dear, I'll be on my own during the day as DH is working, so think the subway is a no-no.
Can't remember what the buses are like ... didn't really pay much attention to buggy space while I was last there.
Does anyone know how easy it is to get on and off?

Hoping to stay in Chelsea so can walk to most places like MOMA, WTC site, the Highline ...

is there any way you would consider not taking pushchair during the day?

I would leave it at hotel, and just try and do things at toddler pace, with lots of rest stops. At least this way you'll be able to use the subway? You can always use taxis too, later in the day?

Seaport is lovely, well worth a visit, and you can get ferry from here, or one of monster boats?

We went to NYC with Katz last year. The girls were 7y, 6y and almost 4y at the time.

There is loads to do with children in NYC and we didn't get it all dne in the week we were there.

What we did do:

Children's Museum of Manhattan - good half day activity

Natural History Museum - spent nearly a full day here and didn't see it all

Central park - you could be in here for days; there are lots of playgrounds, as well as lots of green space to run round and rocks to climb' great for a picnic too

We got a 2 day hop on/off bus pass which was a nice way to travel round, see the sights and get from one place to he other.

We went up Top of the Rock. We went to Ellis and Liberty Island. We also went in the Guggenhiem - but to be honest I'd skip that and try the Met next time.

We are taking DD (now 8y) back in July as part of our summer holiday.

We found NY very very friendly. We stayed out of NYC and travelled in every day ont he train. We never had to stand. The minute we got on with the children someone would always get up and offer us a seat if none were free. They don't take no for an answer, lol. If you have a map out someone will come and ask if you are ok and need any help. One woman even walked way out of her way to show us where to catch the train from. It was the friendliest city I have been too TBH.

Have a fab time.

We found plenty of restaurants that are happy to have childrem in. There was a lovely texmex type one in Greenwich Village who simply couldn't do enough for the girls.

I wouldn't go in bars.

We never had a buggy with us, but IME it would be possible so long as you can fold it for stairs and you avoid travelling at rush hour - like you would have to in London.

We also visited Toys R Us and also the other big toy shop Schwartz. It has the floor piano in from Big. The girls loved it. And there were no queues to get to use it either.

The hop on/off bus would be ok if on your own - but ou need a buggy you can fold.

TBH though, we walked round loads.

Children's museum of Manhattan

We also got a book - Fodor's Around New york City with Kids which has good ideas to do and restaurant/cafe suggestions.

Second Hulababy's book suggestion. We went when dd was 3.5. We left the buggy at home and walked/took subway/occasional cab. It was fine.

Subway - hideous with buggy. But otherwise, NYC is brilliant with kids. Mine have been every year since age 2. They love:

Top of the Rock
Prospect Park in Brooklyn
Central Park Zoo
Barnes & Noble bookstores - lots of space to run around, great kids books, coffee shops and free Wifi
Walking down Park Avenue, seeing the big hotels and the posh car dealerships
Breakfast pancakes in the windowseat of a diner
Cable car to Roosevelt Island from 59th St

For bars, try somewhere like Heartland Brewery, which does food but isnt so restauranty. We took DS1 to here when I met up with some mates for drinks, and the staff were totally unfazed.

Thanks everyone.

Just wondering what to do about travelling with my LO in cab - will I need to bring a booster seat for her?
When we went to Berlin last year, none of the cabbies would take us because they didn't have a car seat ... don't want to encounter the same problem in NYC.

Cabbies will drive almost anyone in NYC!
I tend to sit in the middle of the back seat with DS between me and the lefthandside window (ie behind the driver), both of us seatbelted of course. That way I can hang on to him as the cab does flying handbrake corners. Have never ever felt unsafe, strangely. Never asked about carseats though and never been offered one.

Thank you pinkcheesy, and thanks for your list of things to do too!

Toddleryears - we took cabs to and from the airport, but none within Manhattan, etc. We didn't have car seats with us and had no porblem using the cabs.

Re going on buses - you MUST fold your buggy or they won't let you on.

I would definitely take a buggy - it is very tiring walking round NYC - but if you go on the subway, fold it and get your DC to walk up and down the subway steps. You don't need to go through the turnstiles, but you have to ask the booth attendant to open the gate to get on to the platform.

Like pinky says, cabs aren't fussed about booster seats.

Second the suggestion of Prospect Park Zoo; also the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens (nearby), and Prospect Park itself.

Have fun!

Well we've been in Manhattan for a week now, and loving it despite finding it not half as child friendly as London.
Haven't been on subway, but have found folding buggy on buses a real PITA, so cabs have been a godsend.

We're staying in an apartment on the Upper Eastside, a couple of blocks from Central Park and walking distance from all the museums and galleries I want to go to.

Have found all the playgrounds amazing, especially the water play / sprinklers during the hot weather. Highline also amazing, and Lincoln Center a fantastic space for DD to run around. We've been going to playgrounds in morning, and DD's been sleeping in afternoons, so I can roam around in galleries and museums. I'm going to be sorry to leave.

As for bars, they don't seem to have a problem with us taking DD with us. We;ve been to 3 bars and no one has questioned us having a toddler and stroller with us. In fact, have just come back from v posh Carlyle Hotel bar.

I paid a lot of visits to NYC when my kids were babies and I found it an enormously easy place to be with kids. I took the subway everywhere with a buggy (maclaren umbrella buggy, fold with one hand). Not once in all the time I was there did I have to carry the buggy up the stairs by myself. Someone always offered to help and people always gave up a seat on the train, even during rush hour. Restaurants all are childfriendly. Sometimes took kids to bar at night and had no problem.

Yeah, I can see how NYC would be easier with a baby, rather than a toddler who is liable to run off. Think people are lovely here, just some of the rules ... like no strollers in some of the gallery spaces (when the only time I can look at the art is when DD is asleep in buggy).

I'm going to be in NYC with our three (aged 5, 3 and 6m) for a week in July while dh is working there. Am a bit nervous (and had been wondering about buggy practicalities too - v. helpful reading the above!) but mailed a friend-of-friend who lives there with a 3yo and she gave many of the same recommendations as above + also said same as everyone else: very child-friendly.

She also recommended this website:
www.mommypoppins.com for ideas, child-friendly events (carnivals, street theatre, etc.), 'places to play', themed itineraries... You can also search by area. Looks like a useful source of info...

Have a good trip!