NYC and kids

so My husband wants to take my 7 and 2 year old to see the tree and the lights/windows. Is this a crazy idea? Any tricks? Drive in? LIRR?

what if I need to change the 2 year olds diaper or my 7 year old needs to use the bathroom?

Is a week day less croweded than a Sunday? or it really doesn't matter?

I would appreciate any and all advice. Thanks

Re: NYC and kids

Weekday is definitely less crowded than a Sunday. I would take the LIRR and then subway or cab. You can even walk back. Usually restaurants will let you use their bathroom or you could go into a department or larger store.

Other fun things are skating in Bryant Park. It's free but skate rentals are $20. There is also the whole Bryant Park village which is nice to walk around, and a lot of outdoor food vendors if it's a nice day.

NYC and kids

I'm planning on taking my 2 year old in a few weeks. Going to take the train during the week, do the tree, store windows, lunch, and were also going to visit my husband at work.

Re: NYC and kids

I always drive in. We went to Rock Center on Saturday and all 3 kids (9, 6 & 1) were out cold before we even hit the FDR. Train/Penn would have been a nightmare to me with tired kids (and adults!)

We brought the running stroller because I feel they are safer in a crowd in a big stroller like that vs an umbrella stroller that people trip right over. We could also recline it and change a diaper in there if we need to. We wound up just using the bathroom in the restaurant we went to.

I work right in the area and I don't know if a weekday vs a weekend would matter much because the weekday you have the additional work crowd. Its ALWAYS packed over there.

Re: NYC and kids

Re: NYC and kids

My kids are 8 and 3 but we've been taking them into the city since my LO was only 1. I actually like driving in on the weekends, it's more relaxing and easier then dealing with the stroller on the trains. If you go on Groupon, they usually have deals for Icon parking, for only like $28'ish you can park in any Icon garage all over the city for the whole day. It's a GREAT deal and so much cheaper than paying train fare for our family of 4.

As for bathrooms, anytime we pass by a public bathroom I make my DD go so we have no issues and with my DS, I'll honestly change him anywhere I can find a private spot. It's totally doable, go and have a GREAT time!!

Re: NYC and kids

NYC and kids

We went last year when DD was a little over a year and drove in really early on Sunday morning and got parking right outside Rockefeller Center. We plan to do the same thing this year as it worked out so well and DD just fell asleep in the car on the way home.

NYC and kids

Just some tips - Bryant Park village is PACKED any time of the day. Lunchtime its next to impossible to walk through.

A big stroller in NYC with crowds is next to impossible anytime of the year. Also many restaurants do not have tons of space even for stroller folded up.

Bathrooms - the ones at Bryant Park are actually nice. I also use Penn ones cause they do clean them throughout the day. You can always use the Macys ones too.

Re: NYC and kids

We went in on a weekend last year and it wasn't so bad. We went early walked past Saks and the tree, went to the Lego store and had lunch.

If you drive in, you can change the baby in the car when you park and before you head home. If you have lunch, most restaurants have changing stations in the bathroom. NYC is very baby-friendly. Bathrooms aren't too hard to find if you're in a store or restaurant. RFC has bathrooms inside, too.

Message edited 12/5/2016 4:23:45 PM.

NYC and kids

We went yesterday with a 2 year old and 5 year old. it was tiring but def doable.. we trained it to Macys for the windows and Santaland and then walked to RFC to see the tree and Sacks light show and windows then walked back to Penn. We drove to Douglaston then took the LIRR from there-- they have something called a NYC pass on weekends -- it cost 17 dollars round trip for all four of us.. only works if you are traveling within the boros

Re: NYC and kids

We went yesterday with a 3 year old and 21 month old. We drove in -we found a coupon for a garage on 51st and 3rd that was under $25 for up to 12 hours. From there it was a short walk to the tree and the American Girl store.
We were in the city by 11am so it wasn't as crowded by the tree or on the streets/saks window display as when we left at 2:30. Keep in mind they are doing construction on one of the midtown tunnels so only one is open on weekends - we didn't hit traffic except for the merge at the toll booth plaza but later on in the day it was more congested.
If you decide to take the train just keep in mind what subway stations you will be using since not all have elevators and can be impossible to maneuver with a stroller. If you go on a Sunday though look up the holiday mat subway schedule - they have a special holiday old fashion subway car that runs several times on Sunday's (I think it's on the f line)
For bathrooms at least when we were younger and we went into the city my dad would always have us use the bathrooms in hotel lobbies since they tend to be clean.
Have fun and enjoy!!

Re: NYC and kids

We went Sunday morning with a 5 yo, 3 yo, and 4 month old. We left our house at 5:15 am and got there at 6. We parked right by the tree. No crowds. Then we walked down to Macy's and had breakfast at a diner before going to see Santa. IMO early morning is the best time with little kids because the crowds at night are too much of a hassle.

Re: NYC and kids