Parenthood Without the Minivan: 5 Secrets of Kid-Friendly City Living
Living in the city with kids isn’t for everyone. But relocating to the ‘burbs once baby’s on board is no longer de rigueur. (Just check out this family in Toronto having a blast with their two kids *and* a downtown high-rise.) From brilliantly simple carriers that let you wear your baby hands-free, to contraptions that convert a car seat into a stroller (like a really boring Transformer), we’ve got must-know tricks of the trade that can definitely make family-friendly city life a reality. Have some tips of your own? Share your know-how in the comments below.
BABY WEARING = HANDS-FREE WALKING. Think you can’t power walk while carrying a baby? Think again. These days, slings and baby carriers are all the rage. Keeping your baby close is soothing for them, and can be for you too. You can buy a Metro card, go through a turnstile, and sit down on the subway, without ever waking up your little cherub. (Dear God, don’t wake the cherub.)
Don’t feel badly if you find it tough to figure out how these contraptions work. We’ve been there. Many carriers, like the Moby wrap, have how-to videos online that demonstrate how to get this around your bod and get your baby snugly and safely inside. It may not replace a stroller entirely, but can make short trips a little more efficient. Of course you might not want to wear your baby everywhere. The issue of just where it’s okay to bring your baby recently caused some brouhaha in Brooklyn. Oh baby.
A BICYCLE BUILT FOR 2 (OR 3). If you already use a bike to get around the city, you know it can sometimes be the fastest way to go. Before your kids are old enough to pedal on their own steam, there are a number of solutions for bringing the kiddos along for the ride. This Burley bike trailer attaches to mom or dad’s bike, holds up to two children at least 1 year old, and apparently doesn’t weigh that much (or so we’re told) when towing your offspring to school. Drop them off, and then bike to work or to your public transit stop of choice. You will probably get to work faster than your car-commuting counterparts. You’ll also get your exercise.
But remember: Safety first! A red safety flag attached to the top of the trailer lets cars know there’s precious cargo in tow. And when the kids are big enough, get them fitted for their own bike. Just like the cutie pies in this video, filmed at bike-friendly and kid-friendly Chicago shop, Heritage Littles.
TURN A CAR SEAT INTO A STROLLER…TA DA! Lugging all the stuff associated with caring for children can make you feel like a pack mule. This alone may make you want to throw in the towel (wait, did you remember to pack a towel?). From the stroller to the carrier to the diaper bag — not to mention your own stuff — what’s a parent to do?
Coming soon: the Doona. It’s a stroller that transforms into a car seat. And then into a robot. (Just kidding about the last part.) Say your Zipcar is 2 blocks from your apartment. You can tote the child down the street, then have a car seat ready to install once you get there. Another option is a little gizmo like this that turns your car seat into a roller bag. Just teach your kid to never EVER touch the icky sidewalk. Where’s the hand sanitizer?
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE YOUR KID’S STUFF. As any city dweller knows, living downtown means square footage is worth its weight in gold. And as we mentioned, kids come with a lot of stuff (almost a whole extra person’s worth!). The laws of physics be damned, you’re gonna fit a family of 4 in that two-bedroom apartment! But how?
In addition to smart organization techniques like vertical shelving, it’s important to jettison toys and gear as soon as you’re done with it. There’s a reason baby clothes are measured in months. They need a whole new wardrobe about once a quarter the first few years. Organize your friends with kids and have a swap-meet party. Trade toys, books, clothes. Make friends with a neighbor whose kid is a year older than yours and you’ll be in a great position to receive quality hand-me-downs right when you need them. See if there’s a Facebook group or email list for your neighborhood. Many towns have them and they’re an ideal way to hook up with other are parents to buy or sell some kid stuff. You can also get crafty, like the people who came up with these awesome ideas for upcycling your baby’s crib once she’s outgrown it.
GO OUT! JUST BE PREPARED. The great thing about the city is the easy access to all kinds of restaurants. It’s always good to ask around first to see if kids are welcome at your preferred eatery. Usually going early (brunch at 8:30 a.m. or dinner at 5 p.m.) will be a safe bet.
Complicating your plans is The Wiggle Monster — the child who is just learning to walk, and darn determined to do it anywhere. An ultra-portable baby seat like this one from Phil & Ted’s may be the key to your sanity. Though not inexpensive (see previous slide about the swap meet), the little clamp-on seat, called The Lobster, can be a lifesaver. It fits in a backpack or diaper bag and keeps your child from crawling under the table 100% of the time. Could you use it at home as a space-saver as well? What a good idea. After all, adaptability is how the human race — and parents in the city — survive.
BABY WEARING = HANDS-FREE WALKING. Think you can’t power walk while carrying a baby? Think again. These days, slings and baby carriers are all the rage. Keeping your baby close is soothing for them, and can be for you too. You can buy a Metro card, go through a turnstile, and sit down on the subway, without ever waking up your little cherub. (Dear God, don’t wake the cherub.)
Don’t feel badly if you find it tough to figure out how these contraptions work. We’ve been there. Many carriers, like the Moby wrap, have how-to videos online that demonstrate how to get this around your bod and get your baby snugly and safely inside. It may not replace a stroller entirely, but can make short trips a little more efficient. Of course you might not want to wear your baby everywhere. The issue of just where it’s okay to bring your baby recently caused some brouhaha in Brooklyn. Oh baby.
A BICYCLE BUILT FOR 2 (OR 3). If you already use a bike to get around the city, you know it can sometimes be the fastest way to go. Before your kids are old enough to pedal on their own steam, there are a number of solutions for bringing the kiddos along for the ride. This Burley bike trailer attaches to mom or dad’s bike, holds up to two children at least 1 year old, and apparently doesn’t weigh that much (or so we’re told) when towing your offspring to school. Drop them off, and then bike to work or to your public transit stop of choice. You will probably get to work faster than your car-commuting counterparts. You’ll also get your exercise.
But remember: Safety first! A red safety flag attached to the top of the trailer lets cars know there’s precious cargo in tow. And when the kids are big enough, get them fitted for their own bike. Just like the cutie pies in this video, filmed at bike-friendly and kid-friendly Chicago shop, Heritage Littles.
TURN A CAR SEAT INTO A STROLLER…TA DA! Lugging all the stuff associated with caring for children can make you feel like a pack mule. This alone may make you want to throw in the towel (wait, did you remember to pack a towel?). From the stroller to the carrier to the diaper bag — not to mention your own stuff — what’s a parent to do?
Coming soon: the Doona. It’s a stroller that transforms into a car seat. And then into a robot. (Just kidding about the last part.) Say your Zipcar is 2 blocks from your apartment. You can tote the child down the street, then have a car seat ready to install once you get there. Another option is a little gizmo like this that turns your car seat into a roller bag. Just teach your kid to never EVER touch the icky sidewalk. Where’s the hand sanitizer?
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE YOUR KID’S STUFF. As any city dweller knows, living downtown means square footage is worth its weight in gold. And as we mentioned, kids come with a lot of stuff (almost a whole extra person’s worth!). The laws of physics be damned, you’re gonna fit a family of 4 in that two-bedroom apartment! But how?
In addition to smart organization techniques like vertical shelving, it’s important to jettison toys and gear as soon as you’re done with it. There’s a reason baby clothes are measured in months. They need a whole new wardrobe about once a quarter the first few years. Organize your friends with kids and have a swap-meet party. Trade toys, books, clothes. Make friends with a neighbor whose kid is a year older than yours and you’ll be in a great position to receive quality hand-me-downs right when you need them. See if there’s a Facebook group or email list for your neighborhood. Many towns have them and they’re an ideal way to hook up with other are parents to buy or sell some kid stuff. You can also get crafty, like the people who came up with these awesome ideas for upcycling your baby’s crib once she’s outgrown it.
GO OUT! JUST BE PREPARED. The great thing about the city is the easy access to all kinds of restaurants. It’s always good to ask around first to see if kids are welcome at your preferred eatery. Usually going early (brunch at 8:30 a.m. or dinner at 5 p.m.) will be a safe bet.
Complicating your plans is The Wiggle Monster — the child who is just learning to walk, and darn determined to do it anywhere. An ultra-portable baby seat like this one from Phil & Ted’s may be the key to your sanity. Though not inexpensive (see previous slide about the swap meet), the little clamp-on seat, called The Lobster, can be a lifesaver. It fits in a backpack or diaper bag and keeps your child from crawling under the table 100% of the time. Could you use it at home as a space-saver as well? What a good idea. After all, adaptability is how the human race — and parents in the city — survive.
