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It’s raining, and every curb has been swallowed by a puddle of unknown depth. But your two-month-old is scheduled to have his DTaP shot uptown. Do you slog 20 blocks on foot—or catch a cab, as anyone in their right mind would do? Despite what the infant-safety patrol will tell you, it’s not insane to take your little guy in a taxi or hop on the bus. Here’s how to bring your baby on board.
Click here for a printable wallet-sized list of elevators in Manhattan subway stations.
Taxi and Car Service
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission doesn’t require you to use a child safety seat in yellow cabs, but the fender-bender risk is high enough that you’ll want to lug one along. (And it’s the law in every other kind of car, nationwide.) Babies up to one year of age or under 20 pounds should always be secured in a rear-facing seat in the back.
For infants, a car seat like the Graco SnugRide is an easy option; it can be secured in a taxi without the use of its snap-in car seat base. NYC parents also favor the Triple Play Sit ’n’ Stroll, which has wheels that let you convert the car seat to a stroller. If you need to travel lighter, try the foward-facing Eddie Bauer Portable Car Seat; it weighs just four pounds and can be used with children older than one year weighing more than 22 pounds.
If you’re going to the airport (or just want to splurge), some car services provide car seats, including Diamond Car and Limo (212-254-9400) and Grand Transportation (212-956-6600). Even better, Kid Car New York (kidcarny.com) has age-appropriate car seats for infants, toddlers and older kids. For a $300 annual membership fee, any trip within Manhattan is $25, or $100 to $125 to the airport.
In a pinch, you can ride in a taxi or car service with your tot in a sling or front carrier, but in that case, don’t buckle the seat belt; it’s safer to go without than to strap it over your tot.
Bus
The sanest way to jump on and off the bus is to wear your baby in a front carrier or sling, especially if you’re also holding an older child’s hand. The official party line regarding strollers on mass transit is the “hold and fold” policy: Keep your tot on your lap (hold), and collapse (fold) his ride before you take it on board. Pick a lightweight, easy-to-close model like Maclaren’s Volo (for 6 months and up).
Subway
The same “hold and fold” rule applies here, but most moms ignore it and keep their tots in the stroller, hauling their seated offspring up and down the stairs. With any luck, there’ll be a sympathetic straphanger around to help. Or you can opt for the nearest station with an elevator (for a printable wallet-sized list, click here). Finally, lift (don’t roll) your stroller on and off the train to avoid getting a wheel caught in the gap between the car and the platform edge. However daunting parenting in transit may seem, it’s important to make an effort early on. After all, you already know the shortest route to Carnegie Hall: practice.
