We try whenever possible to take elevators, but so many subway stations have no elevators and very long staircases! (Only 1 in 5 NY subway stations are handicap accessible.)
Usually it's not too bad taking a stroller on the subway, but this Saturday we had three events and brought some extra stuff with us. Rookie move! Two days later, and my body is still sore from lugging the stroller up and down all those staircases.
Do you take the stroller on subways?
pomelo / 5220 posts
Never have.... I just push LO to daycare and home. Except lately, that hasn't been possible cause of the darn snow!
nectarine / 2272 posts
I take my umbrella stroller and carry LO in it. It's such a dicey situation because I feel so unstable on the stairs but it's the only way I can do it.
squash / 13764 posts
Yep. I have carried it up and down countless subway stairs! The elevators always make me nervous too--I am so paranoid about getting trapped in them.
eggplant / 11716 posts
I've taken my umbrella stroller a couple of times on the Path--it's pretty lightweight and has a strap, though.
pomegranate / 3411 posts
yes, but most stations in my city are accessible. i did get caught once and had to carry it up the stairs, usually people offer to help though.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
Yes we take our uppababy gluxe and a toddler carrier usually. I usually have her get out of the stroller and fold it up to walk up and downstairs. I find people will not wait for a stroller and will push their way down the stairs.
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
I've never taken it by myslef; if both dh and I are going we'll take the stroller. we're moving in 2 weeks though and our new station has an elevator--I'm so excited, I think I'll use it more on the subway, particularly if there's an elevator on the other end as well.
nectarine / 2272 posts
@bunnylove08: I've been SHOCKED at how few people help, and how many people literally push past you instead of waiting five seconds. Pre-LO, I always offered to help ppl with strollers and my husband offers almost on the daily.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
@hotchildinthecity: I actually prefer if they do not help. I find I'm quicker by just slinging the stroller on my side and rush up with LO in it. I have yelled at someone when they tried to push past me and they totally went back up the stairs LOL
I always ask if someone needs help too
pomegranate / 3127 posts
Yes 
it's really awful. I live by an el with like the tallest stairs in the city, and there are no accessible stations for three stops each way. My poor husband is the one who gets to carry the stroller, but even he's had enough. If there was parking in my neighborhood, we'd just forget the whole thing and drive everywhere.
nectarine / 2272 posts
@bunnylove08: oh I have to kinda carry mine by the back and foot rest so both my hands are full and I feel sooo unsteady, especially going downstairs.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
@hotchildinthecity: I do a similar, but I dont carry it infront of me. I put my opposite hand on the metal part that holds the wheel and my other hand on the handle and rest it on my hip.
I find people usually carry the strollers by the foot rest and our rest is bendable and I'm afraid of her tipping.
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@hotchildinthecity: @bunnylove08: If I'm using an umbrella stroller with a kid still in it, I can usually bump my way down the stairs one step at a time!
nectarine / 2054 posts
@hotchildinthecity: @hilsy85: @bunnylove08: You guys are amazing - we do take DS in the subway in his stroller, but DH always carries it - I don't think I'd be strong enough to manage! I'd love to be able to. Maybe I need to work out...
nectarine / 2272 posts
@Beehive: they're not joking when they say crossfit helps with real life stuff 
grapefruit / 4442 posts
@Beehive: my friends have stopped asking if I needed help because I go barreling with a stroller , diaper bag and LO in tow. LO totally knows the drill 
@mrbee: going up one at a time would drive me crazy! You're using a double stroller right?
nectarine / 2152 posts
I can't take the two on my own, so we have only traveled on the subway maybe 3 times with our twins!
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@bunnylove08: I only do that when going down a small staircase in an umbrella stroller with one kid!
With the double stroller or a long staircase, the kids get out and walk down while I carry it down on my own.
squash / 13764 posts
@Beehive: ha it's a workout for sure. When it's not rush hour I try to fold up the stroller and have LO walk up or down, but he will often throw a tantrum at the worst moment and i end up having to carry him and the stroller.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@bunnylove08: @hotchildinthecity: I hated that when we lived in NYC, no one ever offered to help. I nearly fell down the stairs one day in midtown trying to carry DS in the stroller.
Where I live now every single station is wheel chair accessible, and so are all of the busses and half of the trams! I think it's the law. It makes a huge difference in quality of life when you know you can easily go from A to B without even having to think about logistics and accessibility.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
I try to avoid it at all costs. When I have to, I carry umbrella stroller in one hand, toddler on my other hip, diaper bag on my back and make the older one walk, giving him my hand that's holding the stroller when necessary. Essentially there are lots of areas I just avoid unless I'm with DH.
persimmon / 1168 posts
I haven't yet as my boy is only 3 months old. I'm too scared to try to carry it with him so little inside. I use the carrier on the subway (and he has only been in it 4x) But I always try to help mamas/nannies when I can 
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
I do it a lot, but only stations with elevators, if we are going somewhere without an elevator I get off at an accessible stop and walk the rest of the way. I couldn't imagine carrying our vista up stairs!! You guys are awesome!
nectarine / 2272 posts
@travelgirl1: i wish more stations in my area had elevators :/. Near my apartment, it's not an option at all!!
coconut / 8234 posts
Yes! All the time, though I'm preferring not to just because I hate how much space the stroller takes up. I rarely use the elevators (of the stations that have them) unless I'm super tired. I actually don't mind it, maybe I've got good upper body strength for it, I've done numerous trips where I've been up and down the stairs.
People are actually surprisingly helpful to me but I prefer to carry it by myself. It makes it clunkier to carry the stroller with 2 people in my opinion.
My LO likes to sit in a seat now, so I've been stuffing my Tula Toddler carrier in my purse lately so that she can walk when she wants to and I can throw her on my back when I need to.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@hotchildinthecity: That must be so hard, especially with a toddler! I do a lot of moaning about our transit system (lots of non accessible stations, can't go on streetcars with a stroller) but it's not that bad really.
grapefruit / 4671 posts
Yes, I do it all the time. With both our Uppababt G-Luxe and Vista. When I am carrying the Vista, people look at me like I am crazy!! When we have more kids I have no idea how I will manage.
grapefruit / 4584 posts
I rarely go places with the girls that require the subway these days, but I do use the stroller - if I'm taking the subway, that means it's too far for my older daughter to walk.
If I know I'm using only accessible stations, I'll take our bugaboo since I'll only have to bump it up and down a couple of stairs (although this is a problem if the elevators are broken, which does happen). If I know I'm dealing with full flights of stairs at non accessible stations, I take the Yoyo, since I can fold it up and throw it on my shoulder while I hold LO1's hand and carry LO2 in the ergo. It's slow going but I manage.
I will say that I've generally had offers of help...probably because I always had a little baby AND a toddler with me. But the people volunteering to help are usually other moms and pregnant women. Once I had a guy help me lift my daughter's stroller over the turnstile when the handicapped door wasn't working, I was so grateful. I try to return the favor whenever I'm out and I see a parent struggling with a stroller.
pear / 1672 posts
I pretty much try to avoid it. I had a horrible time one day last summer that convinced me to get a good toddler carrier. I'm also lucky that I live at a subway station that has an elevator, but it's still hard.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
@mrsjazz: i know its now off topic but how do you back carry her, i cant get it down. I"m front carrying my 30 lbs LO and its reminds me of being pregnant again
coconut / 8234 posts
@bunnylove08: When I'm with DH, I just have him help me Or if I'm meeting friends I also have them help me because it's easier. When I'm absolutely alone, I used this video to help me figure out how to get LO on my back by myself:
grapefruit / 4442 posts
@mrsjazz: i dont know if I can superman my child LOL
Her daughter is so adorable.
I'm going to try this scooting way, have you ever done it this way?
coconut / 8234 posts
@bunnylove08: I've never done it that way. My LO can also get on my back and do piggy back so I don't have to really superman anymore. I just make her stand up on the couch and climb on my back and hold on.
grapefruit / 4582 posts
I pick my daughter up in manhattan everyday and we don't use a stroller (I wear the baby in an ergo). If we do have a stroller, for longer day trips out, people have ALWAYS offered to help me or I make DH help me carry it.
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