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Attachment Parenting
Reintroduction & ? for NYC Mamas
Hi everyone. I've been gone for a long while, but have been lurking as of late, and am hoping to get reacclimated. Hope you're all well!
Here's my question: DH & I are thinking about spending a month in NYC between Thanksgiving & Christmas with DD. We lived in the city before we got married, but have not been there since I was pregnant. My sister lives there in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so we would stay with her. I am wondering how you mamas handle logistics like NIP, if you have a 2 year old (DD will be 26 months at that point), or the up/down thing with carriers. Obviously you can't run home for every little thing.
I guess what I'm asking is-- what does a typical day look like to you? I definitely will be wearing, but that sounds exhausting being out all day, and I will be by myself quite a bit, because DH & sister will be working. If I stay in Brooklyn for the day, I may break out the stroller, but definitely no stroller in Manhattan & on the train.
How do you do it? Just curious? Do you have a backpack for everything, including your carrier? Or do you do diaper bag/purse? This may sound stupid; I just want to be prepared & efficient.
Thanks for reading...this was more lengthy than I anticipated!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Reintroduction & ? for NYC Mamas
Great questions! I am an NY momma and i find it hard to go to the city without a stroller, because i fear (laugh if you want) peeing in public places while babywearing, unless my hubby is with to hold the babe should i need to go! But since your LO is older and she can stand in the stalls with you then i say go for it.
A backpack is a must, my shoulder diaper bag does not usually suffice on long baby wearing journey's i hate having to keep adjusting it when it slides down my arm.
Here is the link:
https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/39165027.aspx
If I have to take the subway, I wear DD in the Ergo about 90% of the time. Sometimes, if I know I will be out and about for an entire day, I will bring a fold-up stroller just to lug my stuff around and to have a place where DD can nap if the fancy strikes her. I push the stroller to the subway with the diaper bag attached to it (and can use it for shopping bags, etc. if I buy things while we're out) and then fold it up to carry it up and down subway stairs. Once we're wherever we are, I push the stroller and DD usually walks next to me (or I continue to carry her in the Ergo if I am in a rush to get somewhere by a specific time). Then I fold up the Ergo and put it under the stroller, in the little basket.
In this hot weather, I really prefer for DD to nap in the stroller vs. on me in the Ergo because both of us just become a sweaty mess otherwise.
If I only bring the Ergo with me, however, then I try to consolidate my diaper bag as much as possible, and plan on buying DD lunch while we're out, carrying only water and small snacks such as raisins or a little tupperware of blueberries with me, some wipes and a couple of pull-ups.
I nursed DD until she was 25 months old and NIP wasn't really a problem for me. I preferred doing so somewhere outdoors, like the zoo or Central Park, but to stop a toddler meltdown, I've even had to NIP in Starbucks.
And, this isn't part of your question, but since you'll be in Williamsburg, make sure your check out Mini Jake's (https://www.minijake.com/). They have a bunch of different children's activities there, although I am not sure if it's the same during the holidays. Other places I like to take DD are:
- the children's playground around 63rd Street on the west side of Central Park, there are sprinklers there in the summer, but even in November/December, it can be quite nice
- Books of Wonder bookstore on 18th Street (or 19th?) near 6th Avenue, and City Bakery across the street (City Bakery has a play kitchen under the stairs, so it's a fantastic place to go for lunch or a snack)
- the MoMa- it's super child-friendly
- The Museum of Natural History- kind of pricey, but a great day-long activity
- The Queens Zoo- a perfect space for a toddler to walk around (it's outdoors, though, but I have taken DD as late as November and it's open yearround)
Also, make sure you check out the local libraries, they have story hours at most branches on different days. FAO Schwartz also has a story hour. I think it's on Wednesdays.
Thanks ladies! You have all made excellent suggestions!!! I definitely want to travel as lightly as possible. I have a small arsenal of carriers, but I think my BabyHawk Oh Snap! SSC is the way to go. It has a longer body than the Ergo does, and I have no problem doing a front carry with her. That's what she usually prefers & I think I'd rather have her in front of me than behind me on the train....people can be so rude.
Where do you go to change diapers? Dept. store dressing rooms, just like nursing? Is there any gear you cannot live without? I guess I'm just thinking it will be cold, possibly snowy/rainy. I guess there's always the bus. What do I need to have with me, that's not obvious, to be prepared for a day out, in the city with a toddler? Can I pick your brains further? TIA!
This is so helpful, too! Thanks for the additional suggestions of places to go!
Re: diaper changes & gear. I don't know where your LO will be in November/December, but DD was already potty-ready by age 2. So the one thing I now always have in my diaper bag is this fold-up plastic toilet seat cover so we can use public restrooms:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BXHPEU/ref=oss_product
For diaper changes, using pull-ups is waaaay easier, since you can slide them on and off without a changing table, but if you've got a poopy diaper, you can't really get around needing a table. In this case, I usually tried to get to a Barnes & Noble. The restrooms on the children's floor always have a changing table. Buy Buy Baby on 7th Avenue & 25th St. and Babies R Us in Union Square also have changing tables. I can't remember right now whether Whole Foods has changing tables or not in the restrooms. And in a real pinch, I've laid out DD's changing mat on a park bench and done a diaper change like that.
Re: Buses
Definitely a good way to get around if you don't want to walk the distances between subway stops and wherever you are going, but just make sure your metrocard is loaded. If you have to pay in cash on a bus, you have to have exact change, which is a real PITA.
OH- I almost forgot one more activity. Check out Karma Kids yoga classes, especially the ones with Jessica. I've been taking DD to yoga since she was about 19 months old and she LOVES it. Jessica also teaches at the Yoga Room studios in Long Island City and Astoria, which may be about the same distance for you from Williamsburg (we go to the classes in Astoria). You can find schedules on line as the date of your trip gets closer.
This has all been incredibly helpful! I really appreciate it! Feel free to add if you think of anything else!
Oh yes!! I just moved from there 4 years ago, so I still have my Merrell Tundras for snow tromping, and the BH Oh Snap is ready for the winter coat! Now, all I need is a monthly unlimited metrocard and I'll be ready to go! Thanks to you mamas, I feel so much better prepared! Thank you, thank you.