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January 2014 Moms
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A car but no parking... any creative ideas to manage with baby?

sunnyplacessunnyplaces member
in January 2014 Moms
I live in a city where driving is my primary mode of transport; public transportation is fragmented and not very convenient based on where I live - not to mention it's currently on its second strike in 6 months. I have a car and park on the street. Parking is usually easy enough, on average it takes 8 minutes to find a spot and 5 minutes to walk to my apartment. BUT there are times when it takes 20 minutes to look and I'm parked four blocks away having to walk over San Fran hills (ugh) to get home. This has been the most dreaded aspect of staying in the city. We contemplated a move to the 'burbs but just weren't ready emotionally, socially, or financially. Oh and by the way, renting a parking spot will cost over $300 per month. Yes, that's not a typo - $300 per month to park my car, it's f*ing crazy here.

Does anyone have any tips/tricks/suggestions for managing baby and parking? For example, do you time out your errands somehow, store certain items in the car, use a carrier and not a stroller, etc. Thanks in advance!

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Re: A car but no parking... any creative ideas to manage with baby?

  • vstevensvstevens member
    This was me when DS1 was born - we were in Brooklyn with a car and had street parking only.  We had both a regular stroller and a Snap 'n' Go.  One was always in the apartment, and the other in the trunk.  I would just transfer LO in and out of the car in his carseat and snap him into the stroller.  

    It really wasn't a big deal at all.  There were no other tricks other than that, and if your baby is like mine most of the time he will be perfectly happy with the motion of the car / being snuggled in his car seat while you look for parking.

    __________________________________________________________

    DS1 born 08.02.11

    DS2 born 12.05.13

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  • jlm245jlm245 member
    We live in a big city as well and faced the same issues.  We got a Snap N Go but honestly we probably used it like three times tops.  (I also doubt the Snap N Go will be good for the hills there, it couldn't even handle the brick sidewalks in our neighborhood.)  I used a baby carrier when we visited family in SF.

    Also, you might not be driving as much as you anticipate.  With our first I only really drove to his doctor's appointments (easier than public transportation) and to the "good" grocery store/Target in the 'burbs.  Newborns are demanding and you really don't have a lot of time to do extra errands or fun outings.

    I would totally recommend keeping an extra carrier in your car though.  Carrying the baby/carseat can get heavy fast and most carriers are really easy to use.

    Good luck from another urbanite with a toddler, dog, and soon to be newborn and no parking! space :)
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  • sunnyplacessunnyplaces member
    jlm245, I hope you're right and that we won't have to drive much. That's one great thing about the city is the convenience and proximity of people and things. I'll lean on DH to grab groceries or babysit when he returns from work so I can go... Thanks again!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


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