When I moved to New York City with my two-year-old and my 6-month-old, I had no idea how to navigate being car free. Things that used to be simple, like grocery shopping, now required planning and effort. But with a little trial and error I learned to navigate walking, the bus system, the subway, biking and flying with my kiddos.
Being car free may be your choice or a financial necessity, either way, you can totally make a car free lifestyle work with kids. Here are a few things that helped me.
More than Just Getting from Here to There
Not having a car is a great opportunity for your children to experience the world. My kids travel to different cities on the bus, are able to see the East Coast while having a bathroom readily accessible for potty training; we pick up leaves and flowers to examine in the stroller; and we meet diverse, friendly people on the subway.
I never bring more than a board book and a bag of cheerios (that mostly end up on the floor) to entertain my kids for long subway rides. We play eye-spy, talk, and take in the world around us. Having a car free lifestyle is a chance for you to educate your kids about their surroundings and make exercise part of your daily routine.
Find Baby Gear that Works for You
Based on your lifestyle and how many kids you have, you’ll have to determine what gear you need. When my babies were younger we had a baby carrier and a single stroller. Then we graduated to a double stroller when they were both young toddlers. Then a stroller and a scooter. Finally, both kids could ride scooters or keep up with me when walking.
- Strollers
- Baby Wearing
- Bikes
- Scooters
Things to Look for in a Stroller
A stroller is a fantastic tool when you don’t have a car– and not just for transporting kids. I have carried furniture, groceries, and even my Christmas tree in my stroller. If you don't have a car payment it may be worth it for you to invest in a really awesome light stroller. But we got along with a stroller that cost less than $30 and managed just fine. If you are shopping for a stroller don’t forget to look up your local Buy Nothing Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or garage sales. Here are some things I really valued when looking for a stroller:
- Can it fold down easily? When I say easily, I mean with one hand. Often I would have my child in one arm and would fold the stroller to carry it down the steps of the subway in the other. You may find a foldable stroller allows you to comfortably visit more places like that hole-in-the-wall coffee shop that really doesn’t have room for you to park your stroller. Also, having a foldable stroller is a must for storage at home if you don't have an entryway or a garage.
- Can you carry it? Like I said, often you have to carry the stroller in one hand, so you need a light stroller. It turns out that there are two spectrums of light strollers: easy to use, expensive strollers, or umbrella strollers. On our budget, we opted for a double umbrella stroller. It was light and easy to pick up when going up the thirteen stairs to our apartment.
- What if I have two or more kids? With two children, strollers are a little more complicated. You can either get a tandem stroller or a double stroller. If your child is old enough you can get a stroller with a seat for your younger one and a standing platform for your older child. And if you have more than two kids and none of them are old enough to walk, you may have to combine a baby carrier with a double stroller. You can also look for a wagon or a triple stroller.
Baby Wearing
A baby carrier is more than transportation for your baby, it has been proven to be healthy for an infant's development. There are a wide variety of carriers to choose from: slings, wraps, carriers, and backpacks. Here are a few things to think about when selecting your carrier:
How long do you want the carrier to last? Some carriers grow with your baby supporting newborns through toddlers. Others only support a child at a certain age.
How much can you carry? I know some people who pack around their toddlers and have no trouble. I, on the other hand, stopped using a baby carrier when my son was a year old because he weighed close to thirty pounds and I could not support his weight without hurting myself.
Where are you going? A sling or wrap is great for holding your kiddo when writing a report or making dinner inside, but I would not wear one for long periods of time. A classic baby carrier is great when you are out and about for the day. If you are looking to hike or take your baby on a backpacking trip there are other more supportive carriers for more intense outings.
Biking with Infants
If you are a cyclist you may be wondering when is it safe to start bringing your little one with you. While there are no laws prohibiting biking with an infant, there are laws requiring children to wear helmets. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute strongly suggests that you wait until your child is a year old before taking them on a bicycle ride. Parents in other countries disagree stating that they ride with children much younger, thus ultimately it is up to your comfort level and compliance with your state helmet laws. When your kids are old enough, a kids bike seat or trailer is a great way to get around! My kids love when we use the bike and trailer for an outing.
Scooters for Toddlers
Around three years old, my daughter didn’t want to be strapped into a stroller (she was getting pretty heavy to push, too) but she wasn’t fast enough to keep up with me. I started to notice that lots of young children in New York got around on scooters. At first it frightened me, but after my energetic toddler practiced on the basketball court for a few months, she was ready to hit the road. Scooters are a perfect way to get your kids excited about going on errands and helping get their energy out before nap time.
Get going!
The key to being car free is having the energy to get out there! Whether you use strollers, baby carriers, scooters or all three (at the same time!), you need to find the gear that works for your kids and budget. Your kids will enjoy seeing the world even on mundane trips to the dollar store for diapers.