Travel to New York City with Your Baby – A Complete Family-Friendly Guide to NYC
Whether you’re into fashion or food, art or architecture, or just the buzz of being surrounded by millions of people, New York City offers something for everyone. And yes, that “everyone” includes babies and toddlers!
If you’ve been hesitant to book a trip to New York City because you’ve got a baby or small child, please don’t let that hold you back. I’ve got plenty of tips to help you plan a family-friendly trip to NYC.
What’s the Ideal Age to Travel to NYC with a baby?
The ideal age to travel to New York City with a baby depends on your comfort level and your little one’s needs, but many parents find that around 4 months is a great time to visit. At this stage, babies are still small, lightweight, and not yet mobile, making them easier to carry in a stroller or baby carrier while navigating the city’s bustling streets and subway system. They also sleep frequently, allowing parents to explore more without frequent interruptions. Additionally, NYC is filled with family-friendly attractions, parks, and baby-friendly amenities, making it a surprisingly manageable and enjoyable destination for parents traveling with an infant.
When’s the Best Time of Year to Travel to NYC with a Baby?
New York tends to have extreme weather in summer and winter, so I’d recommend planning your visit during the autumn season (from late September to November), and spring season (between March to early June). These are the times when the weather is mild and you can comfortably walk outside for extended periods of time—and ideal seasons for spending time in New York’s kid-friendly parks and playgrounds.
How Easy is it to Get Around NYC with a Stroller?
It’s definitely possible to navigate New York City with a stroller. I’ll share several stroller-friendly destinations you can fit into your itinerary a little later. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind depending on your mode of transportation.
Taking a Stroller or Car Seat in an Uber
If you’re using Uber, Lyft, or a similar car share service, make sure you have a stroller “travel system” that has a removable car seat and be sure to carry the base with you. This way you can easily install the car seat into the Uber. You can also request an Uber with a car seat already installed at a small extra cost.
Taking the Subway with a Stroller
This may seem a little daunting, but I promise you can do it. I lived in NYC and saw many local mothers with strollers on the subway. We took the subway several times during our trip.
Here’s what worked for us: Make sure you have two adults with you, one person to carry the baby down the stairs and a second to carry the stroller up and down the stairs. You must have enough strength to lift an entire stroller. Avoid the rush hour times because it gets very crowded and it can be hard to get onto the subway, and even harder with a stroller.
If your baby is a bit older, you can opt for a fold-up stroller on the subway to make it easier.
What are the Best NYC Neighborhoods for Traveling with a Baby?
You’ll be best sticking to anywhere in Manhattan below 96th street. If you want to go to Brooklyn, stick to the Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Williamsburg neighborhoods.
I’d recommend avoiding Manhattan Uptown, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island and other areas of Brooklyn besides the ones I mentioned above. Generally speaking, these areas are not as welcoming to tourists, they’re located far away from most of the sights I recommend visiting, they’re higher crime areas, and the subway trains can be unpredictable, which means you might end up spending much longer than you anticipated waiting for a train to get you there or back.
Top Things To Do with a Baby in NYC
Now that we’ve gotten the logistics out of the way, let’s look at some of the best activities to do with your baby in NYC.
Museums (American Museum of Natural History, MoMA, The Guggenheim, Whitney Museum of American Art)
There are countless museums in New York, but a few of my favorites include the American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art (MoMa), The Guggenheim Museum, and Whitney Museum of American Art. Museums are generally a great place to go with a baby since they tend to be climate controlled, stroller friendly, have bathrooms with baby changing areas (some even have dedicated lactation rooms), and offer special tours and hands-on activities to keep older kids entertained.
Walking The High Line
The High Line is a public park that’s built on a historic freight rail line that’s elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It’s free to visit and the perfect place to go for a long walk, taking in views of the city streets below and admiring the artwork and trees and plants that change with the seasons. You’ll find plenty of shade, seating, water features, and structures for kids to climb and play on as well as public restrooms throughout. There are several elevators that will take you between the High Line and street level, so you can easily visit with a stroller. Find elevator access and restroom locations here.
Walking through Central Park
Central Park is an 843-acre oasis in the middle of the city, filled with playgrounds, cafes, restaurants, castles, meadows, and more. Depending on the time of year and day of the week when you’re visiting, you can enjoy storytelling with professional storytellers, family birding tours, soccer, basketball, and more. It’s an ideal spot for picnics, playing, and getting out excess energy. You can also easily combine a visit to Central Park with a stop at a nearby destination like the American Museum of Natural History or Columbus Circle.
Walking Over the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic sights of New York City and the perfect way to take in panoramic views of the NYC skyline and the East River. It’s about a mile from one side to the other and takes about 30 minutes to make the journey (though of course that depends on how crowded it is and how fast you’re walking!). You can either start on the Manhattan side and walk over to Brooklyn or do the opposite—either way you’ll have the chance to stop at the bridge’s two towers to take in the view. When planning your visit, know that it can be extra windy and cooler on the bridge than in the rest of the city. And if you’re bringing a stroller, you might feel more comfortable planning your visit when it’s less likely to be crowded (in other words, avoiding weekends and holidays).
Shopping in SoHo
SoHo (“South of Houston Street”) is a famously artsy neighborhood full of galleries and shops. You’ll find luxury boutiques, independent designers, and stylish bars and restaurants throughout this area. SoHo is generally bordered by Canal Street to the south, Crosby Street to the east, and Sixth Avenue to the west and is accessible by Prince Street, Canal Street, and Spring Street subway stations. The main shopping streets include Broadway, Prince Street, Spring Street, and West Broadway. There are a few standout spots for kids, including Sloomoo Institute where they can make their own slime and The Evolution Store, which features skulls, skeletons, fossils, taxidermy, and all kinds of creepy crawly treasures.
Times Square
Times Square is known for its bright lights, eye-catching flagship stores, and street performers dressed up as familiar characters like Elmo. You can wander around to take it all in, do some shopping at the Disney Store or M&M’s World, or plan a visit to one of the kid-friendly exhibits like Ripley’s Believe It or Not or Madame Tussauds wax museum. There are also plenty of playgrounds nearby and family-friends restaurants that serve big portions and comfort food faves. Explore more of Times Square’s family-friendly options here.
Picnic Lunch in Bryant Park
Bryant Park is the perfect spot for a picnic or taking a break. During the summer months (June–September), there’s a kids’ corner for coloring and creating and in the winter they set up a “Winter Village” that’s modeled on Europe’s Christmas markets. You can find plenty of options to grab something to eat both from one of the cafes or restaurants in the park and nearby. Kids love to ride the carousel here. And you’re just a short walk away from the iconic New York Public Library with the lion statues outside. The library is a beautiful building that’s free to enter and you can check out the exhibits, collections, and library shop and cafe.
Shopping on Fifth Ave
If “shop ‘til you drop” is on your NYC itinerary, Fifth Avenue is a must-visit. Your kids can explore toys and treasures and shops like Tiffany’s, American Girl Doll Store, Lego Store, and FAO Schwarz. Many of these stores can get crowded at peak times, so plan to go early or prepare to wait in line. And when everyone is all shopped out, you might want to plan a stop at the nearby Rockefeller Center to have a snack and take a break.
Shopping and Sightseeing at Columbus Circle
On the southwest edge of Central Park, there’s a large traffic circle, Columbus Circle with a monument to Christopher Columbus in the middle. Kids might enjoy finding a spot to stop and marvel at the traffic and people. If you need a snack, bathroom break, or some retail therapy, stop by The Shops at Columbus Circle, a shopping mall that features sumo statues, colorful displays, and rotating art events and seasonal happenings. Check out their upcoming events here. If you’re already visiting Columbus Circle, you might also want to plan a stop at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. You can either reserve your tickets in advance or buy them on the day to get access to all the museum’s interactive exhibits and play spaces for kids of all ages.
Eat Lunch in the Nolita Neighborhood
Nolita, which means North of Little Italy, is a neighborhood that has it all—cafes with outdoor seating, historic brick and cast-iron buildings, and any type of restaurant you can imagine. While many of Nolita’s restaurants and bars are more upscale, you’ll still find kid-friendly options for brunch, lunch, or a special treat like gelato. The DeSalvio Playground is a popular spot for kids to climb and splash in the water in warmer months.
Urban Stroll through the Meatpacking District
Don’t let the name fool you. Though the Meatpacking District was once full of meatpacking plants, this neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan between Chelsea and the West Village is now home to fancy shops and restaurants. You can easily spend some time exploring the boutiques and cafes of the Meatpacking District along with other nearby destinations like The High Line, Chelsea Market, and The Whitney.
Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center
To get a true sense of the size and scale of New York City, you can plan a visit to the indoor and outdoor observation decks at the Top of the Rock where you’ll get unobstructed views of the city skyline. You can bring a stroller as long as it’s collapsible.
Walk Around the 9/11 Memorial
September 11 was a day that defined New York’s history. To honor the lives of those who were lost (including the firefighters and emergency service workers), it’s worth planning a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The Memorial is free to visit and open daily, featuring twin reflecting pools—a quiet spot to walk. If you’d like to dive more into the history, the Museum offers a Youth and Family tour that explores the events of 9/11 in key Museum spaces and includes an art activity that honors the victims of the attacks.
See the Statue of Liberty from The Battery
The Statue of Liberty is another iconic New York landmark that you won’t want to miss. If you’re not making the trip out to Ellis Island, you can still enjoy views of the Statue of Liberty from The Battery in Manhattan. This 25-acre park features gardens and playgrounds with granite slides, riverbeds, marshland, and more. Plus, you’ll find restaurants and public restrooms so it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours.
See the Wall Street Bull
The Charging Bull sculpture on Wall Street is a symbol of the American stock market and big business. It’s located in the Financial District in a small cobblestone plaza. While the statue is out in the open and there’s no charge to view it, this is one of the most popular photo spots in New York City, so you may need to wait for the chance to get your photo. You can also plan to hit up a few other nearby Financial District destinations, including Trinity Church, the New York Stock Exchange, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and The Battery.
Have Lunch in Greenwich Village
Greenwich village and the nearby West Village have evolved a bit from their bohemian past, but they’re still fun neighborhoods to wander around. Washington Square Park, near the NYU campus, has a beautiful fountain and arch that frames the Empire State Building if you line up your camera just right. Explore the area around the park and you’ll find all kinds of cozy cafes and restaurants, including Magnolia Bakery, the place that got everyone crazy about cupcakes!
As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do with babies and small children in New York City. The real question is: How can you fit everything into your itinerary?
In Conclusion
Traveling to New York City with your baby can be an exciting and rewarding experience when planned with care. From exploring stroller-friendly attractions to enjoying baby-friendly dining and taking advantage of the city’s many parks and green spaces, NYC offers plenty of opportunities for family fun. By preparing in advance, choosing the right accommodations, and embracing the city’s energy, you can create beautiful memories with your little one. Whether it’s your first trip or a return visit, New York City is a vibrant and welcoming destination for families of all sizes. So pack your bags, grab the stroller, and get ready to explore the Big Apple with your baby!
