Travel to NYC with infant

[aguptakagan]

I am traveling to NYC by myself with a very squirmy (crawling & standing) 8 month old and trying to figure out the best way to get up there. I would prefer not to drive, as I get nervous about driving by myself without someone else in the car to check on her should she get upset, but driving is an option. Has anyone had experiences taking babies on amtrak or bolt/greyhound?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Not as an infant, but when my son was three we went to NYC on one of the discount busses to go see the Cristo gates and fart around and had a great time. I should have brought a stroller, though.

When he was an infant, we took trains places and went on road trips and were fine. If you need to pull over, you pull over. No biggie. My son slept a lot while we were in transit. Bring lotsa diapers and plastic grocery bags and wipes. One advantage to Amtrak is that you can get up and walk around with babe in arms.

[Anonymous]

DC to NYC on Amtrak is a breeze. I've done it several, several times with my now-toddler, starting when he was six weeks. And we're usually going as far as Pittsburgh.

If you have a carrier, it will make it a little easier to walk up and down the train with her. But unless the train's packed, you'll likely get a row to yourself, you can walk around, visit the sightseer or cafe cars, and you'll be there in no time.

I'll admit that changing a baby on a moving train isn't the easiest thing I've ever done, but still easier than doing it on an airplane.

[Anonymous]

Do you realize that 200 students were absent from a Queens school for suspected illness believed to be from possible swine flu? I would steer clear from trains/airplanes to and from NYC until there's more info or a drop in new cases over the next few days. Of course, I'm totally paranoid and fear mongering....

[Anonymous]

Go for the drive

[Anonymous]

Amtrak is easy with a baby. You can preboard. Sit near the dining car if you need bottles warmed up etc. Bring a carrier.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for amtrak with a baby - it was so great and easy. Take a snap n go/infant car seat and you will likely have an extra seat next to you for the seat and the baby. Also, if you sit in the seats that have the table, that is another place to hold the baby/car seat.

[Anonymous]

At 8 mos, her kid should be out of an infant seat and into a convertible seat, so the snap and go is probably not an option We go all the time and I suggest you drive or fly. You may be able to get a seat for $125, if you're flying on the weekend. Amtrak/bus are the worst options since they take a long time and you are stuck on the train/bus. Esp since she's at the squirmy stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 8 mos, her kid should be out of an infant seat and into a convertible seat, so the snap and go is probably not an option We go all the time and I suggest you drive or fly. You may be able to get a seat for $125, if you're flying on the weekend. Amtrak/bus are the worst options since they take a long time and you are stuck on the train/bus. Esp since she's at the squirmy stage.

Amtrak takes 3 hrs - driving and flying (when you factor in airport time) will take way longer than that. Driving can be up to 7 hrs depending on traffic and where in NY you are going (took us 7 to get from G-town to Queens).

Given that many infant seats go up to 20-22lbs or more, an 8 month old may certainly still fit in one, even if she normally uses a bigger carseat. I've also never been on a train where there wasnt an empty seat. I wouldnt take the prime business hrs train, but one in the middle of the day should be fine.

OP - I've driven, taken the train, and flown and the train was - far and away - the easiest and best experience.

[Anonymous]

I recently took the USAir shuttle. It is 30 minutes and a breeze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 8 mos, her kid should be out of an infant seat and into a convertible seat, so the snap and go is probably not an option We go all the time and I suggest you drive or fly. You may be able to get a seat for $125, if you're flying on the weekend. Amtrak/bus are the worst options since they take a long time and you are stuck on the train/bus. Esp since she's at the squirmy stage.

Amtrak takes 3 hrs - driving and flying (when you factor in airport time) will take way longer than that. Driving can be up to 7 hrs depending on traffic and where in NY you are going (took us 7 to get from G-town to Queens).

Given that many infant seats go up to 20-22lbs or more, an 8 month old may certainly still fit in one, even if she normally uses a bigger carseat. I've also never been on a train where there wasnt an empty seat. I wouldnt take the prime business hrs train, but one in the middle of the day should be fine.

OP - I've driven, taken the train, and flown and the train was - far and away - the easiest and best experience.

While I haven't taken Amtrak with my child, I have taken it on business and pleasure many times between NYC and DC the past 10 years and I can tell you I rarely see an empty seat on the weekend, especially in coach, and it is at least even in time, if not longer than flying, when you factor in all the delays Amtrak seems to be having the past few years. (I assume we're not talking about the Acela.) Also, on the train, if the kid figets and tantrums etc, you are stuck on it for 3 plus hours, whereas on a plane the agony is over in 45 minutes.

It has never taken me anything close to 7 hours to get to NYC, I have made it out to the Hamptons in a little more time than that. Not sure when you are leaving or if you drive in holiday traffic? We do it all the time and it is about 4 hours, door to door. Maybe 5 if you're talking the far perimeter of Queens or the Bronx. The advantage of driving is that you can stop whenever you need to, if the child is fussing, and you don't have the hassle of lugging car seats and strollers etc by yourself to the train station or airport.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with PP. I've done Amtrak, buses (Chinatown not Greyhound), flights, and driving. Amtrak is the best option. Even if the train is crowded the seats on the train give you MUCH more room than a plane or a bus ever would and you can easily walk around if you baby hates it when you're not actively walking him/her around somewhere. Its faster than flying too when you count in going through security and there is much less standing around and dragging things about. Its not cheap though. It'll cost just as much as flying. The worst though cheapest option is the Chinatown bus which usually runs about $35 roundtrip. Its usually pretty quick (I've never been on one for longer than 4 hours as opposed to driving myself and getting stuck in traffic. They communicate with each other so they now how to avoid it.)